The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-09-05
a Singular, Dnrk-Facel Old Man,
4gF Clad i'm Loose Robes

a Singular, Dnrk-Faced Old Man,
II Clad i'm Loose Robes.
mistakable and restless look of the
daft. On his head was a crown of but
tons, silver, bone, pearl, presumably
sewn together on cardboard, and
making a headg9ar of remarkable bril-
tiancy. Behind1 him walked a gray
haired, gray-eyed woman in ordinary
garb. Her look was clear and steady.
Her demeanor, in every way sane
Yet though it was plain to see she was
commonplace, rustic woman, there
was something august in her carriage,
nnaccountably so, perhaps, but as nat
nral as the studied pose of the other
was constrained md unnatural Her
Eyes were set fairly upon the fantasti-
eal figure before her with q meek, pa
7tient look and an evident interest be-
yond his ludicrous pomp and preoccn-
patton.
1t was not surprising, then, to the
notary that this apparition, empha-
sized in the magic atmosphere Of the
summer twilight, should have made
Brabon cry out with astonishment:
'.AMons! What is this monsieur? I
have been i'll st. Pyx many times be-
lore, but I declare this is new!'
I y "
bo1," said the notary, taking chair
ind docking Mt his watch, to be assured
ae had time to tell the tale before GO
ing for his customary evening chat
with NJ. lie Cure in the prCsbytery rose
garden. I5s,a, : .a :....z5.. 5.
There is q tale?' 3
"Well. as you villa history, moth
ing absorbing, but very human, very
Ouching. Old Cesaire Moisson, man
with a large family, a thrifty, sober,
4 Eod-fearing man, c1lce owned the mill
by the River of Angels
eyes. I see it from here-tlle suat,
White building near the cluster Of will
lows yonder." =. =.
Exactly. Well, he was man with
considerable family, I said-did L
hot?-alld when the epidemic of small
box occurred in the village-th that was
many years ago, monsie eur-poor Mois-
4 IONS family was attacked, and one
lfter another, his wife and children,
,assed away, and he himself, indeed,
I'LL there was only left his son Zeph-
lin, whom you saw go by a moment
tince--'' #s 0
Tt left him so-the small pox p
ss''No. He was not at home when the
Epidemic occurred; he was at college.
Did Cesaire nianag dto put by enough
ilyer to educate the lad-the brightest
f his brood and M. LIE Cure also con-
ributed, for he had hopes that Zeph-
in would become a priest
Then, I presume, the shock of the
reat calamity unbalanced the young
nan's mind ~ +. rs ss
That may be pretty true, monsieur,
hough for a long time after the affair
he was thought to be perfectly sound
mentally. Well, Zephrin was obliged
10 leave college and take up the bust
iess Of the mill-a lonely task it must
have been for one Who had tasted the
yweets of knowledge. Then every
austy timber Of the mill must have
ieemed to him like a ghost of the hap
.py days when the place was brimming
h xitil laughter and good cheer.
ssHe was not liked by the villagers
I. u account of his silent and arrogant
Il manner; he was unlike any other mill
& II who had ever been known. When
che inhab abitants came with their grists
he received them with the grand air of
i seigneur Of the old days, who, amid
i his courtly entourage, received the
f seifs Of his depend deDts. It's like that
8 .lWays, grumbled the crones; ); poor
tarents fill their children's minds with
Oolish notions OF greatness! Poor old
Eesaire himself rest to his bones
was not like this peacock Cesaire
4 xnew his place bon yieux "a miller is
miller, IL his head be crammed with
Latin or flour dust!'
Every one y pitied Zephrin. Of.
Il course, on account Of his great be-
eavement, Ind the business Of the