Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-09-08

intense excitement under which
Iaborcd. joined his companion TIL"
Two walked into the open air. and
soon We're beyond the borders of tn,
forest.
Thomas went to the home of his
grandmother. Mrs. Harrington. which
was large and handsome house
abode of Crazy Jim. Mrs. Harrin..
about three miles distant from the
ion was a widow. aged sixty-tvc
years. She had not lived happily with
her husband. and after his death had
retired to the country residence just
'mcntioncd. there to spend. far from
HE city friends with whom she had
been long intimate. the remainder of
disappointed life. She possessed Il
striking countcnance. bordcred with
snowwhite hair, and in her youth
must have been very handsome. But
her severe trials aided by the inroads
Of age. had caused her face to as
sumo stern and wIinklcd aspect. The
habitual expression in her eyes was
serious and melancholy. AS might be
expected. her temper had not been i'm
proved by her unpleasant experiences.
and for the most part she was not IL
particularly agreeable companion.
Nevertheless. she was a woman of
strict integrity and of honorable pur-
pose. so that had her lot in life been
happy she would have enjoyed Il Sc
rene and beautiful old age. As it was,
;he arrival of Thomas Bcrkins. her
favoritc grandson. had chrered her
somewhat. and she was glad to have
MN spend the summer days with her
until 1t was necessary for him to re-
turn to school IN the city. where his
parents lived.
Thomas had plenty of leisure time
for rambling about the country and
visited the hut of the hermit frequent
ly. Al first the old man was shy and
distant. but the friendly manner of
'hc boy finally won his confidence. and
The relations between the two became
very cordial. Jim was sometimes quite
rational. and told interesting stories
concerning his travels i'm his younger
days. but he was often luncy and mel
ancholy. and when Thomas found him
IN that condition he did not remain
with him long.
Onc day Jim called at the house of
Mrs. Harrington to ascertain whether
Thomas was there. II was the first
time he had ever approached the resi-.
d"ncr. il having been his custom for
many years only to stop at such
houses rs werc occupied by the few
I'D acpuaintanccs who gave him food.
II happened that the servant girl
was out and Mrs. Harrington herself
camc Ia the door.
rs Thomas Berkins in the house,"
asked the old man.
'H\p " NIr,
sharply. while she regarded the caller
with II suspicious eye What do you
want of him.
Il just wanted to see him few
minutes. He Is quite friend of mine,
you know
~ friend Of yours. I am surprised.
specialize boy"
Perhaps not, ma'am. ! am an old
tramp now. but was once as re-
'lrcctahlc aS "ou are. \ big misfor-
tunr ruined me. None Of us can tell
what we may become before we die"
The last remark as well as the sad
aud sincere manner of the man,
caused Mrs. Harrington To rclcnt She
Thought of her own cmbittcrcd life
and her lonely old age She rcmcnl-
full uf mrrr!mcnt. and she sighed us
she r,Tilizrl that she had been trans
formed Into a sour and severe old
woman.
Il. tuo have known misfortune" she
said. ''and | am sorry IL have offend
ii yea have plenty. while you are
rvi,lrnily very poor. tann"t assist
vuu. In spme way. to better your con
'iitlpnt"
"No: am tpn old ta change am
auly waiting fur death thank you
Tor your kin'lnrSs hut there i moth
ng yuu can du for me.
trazy Jim turned away and walked
81 the raad. followed by the plying
eyes uf Mrs. Harrington. lie was ra-
tional rn.lgh during the conversation,
hui the talk had rrarhe,l the haunting
m' mary II his early misfortune. and
sssfn b. was muttcring wildly ta him
ss'lf
Aficr supper rhat day Mrs. Harring-
usu t"ii her nephrw ai.tut the call uf
d. ulsi h.Fmit and then rauiiuuetl the
biy MT IA cinfinE- - aS~.s'iate with
singular a character. nn the ,sr,Hind
THAR. although b. might D" the victim
.f q grs'at misfurtune. h. was Bat nnw
4 suitailr companion for r'speetahle
lssy
q ran teu von a ssr-r,.t." rv,,li..I
fhsmBs. *which may tttg-a ytru ta ~
xarl crazy Nm diHrreutly than you
Hssw ds ! have thnaElii that perhaps
7 uuxht % ksSp tbe -sr'i. a. i mizht
b. lu aa#=l ts reveal it ansi nilght
.sVrn eytu=R rau paln lat ntN that IiTu
AaN raih~i heFs'. Hmfi ttas riFs-umssansg.s
arr what fhry arr. I thiuk Z bad issii,.r
slsak Nua ysur~rh have fsli uta that
whru roa wrnr yaung wuHan.
ysur father rsniIzihsd yan b. hnwk
yumr rnHaSrmfmf wtfh q fsuuE usam 10
whnfu Yuu Wrrr assoHt,liy Hft8ehfti
and ta m8FrF mas hnn ytsH ia
nls ttyr. anh uifh shssfu yau affs-r.
war,ls Hvosl anhapFslif ! hffs it viii
nai -tarfh Yau huf fha1 rhvitsl hitrr
r. ~ uflasr thHm t'raNY Asmt
''inu.ss= l,ls.r' erissi fiar sil hsly.
Thoroughly eNfitst
"Nsf 81 an a. hi~ hH fru SEEKS
aga { fsmuf a Wisis tu ehis.h were
wriitru titss~e w~rsls 4amn.s sYtu-
iuri,sn. frum hfs fFtssma Msfw4 E
tsnr,fy ~ had sTissfufig gsFsss-rvtsl
thls Riislu wBh marh can.
Mr. harrfnTtuu tuFus-i pate ani
is'atssl hs-f lss'ad an aslss hBui ausi sffh
Z shaflaal Aer rFes itssF rulsstisHsH wern
lirnf,smif,iiF wffrred anA slfr FsssIle1 usA
~Is'ak exes1si In irs'sslsilmE afsssats.
"l,-s Ia nfu-l b. tHsHs 80 af lasf
said. 4 reuas-1uisnr asa fl1r asf 80
walich I gave him faaI fniale il.sw
happy we wssFr 'hsw Nfitiar af ~
bad ans ss@g,isisn - fhr asrk aass
that rise fulBre ctsiflsAsssl f,F 49, r.asr
ftsflsrr 1 tsssssFsf sffsF ss54 asarrrIsss4s EfIsf