The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-03-19

Y 4 HEN meyer came 10 inc
wv vile he gave his name as
Wilhelm Windmeyer. and it
was promptly changed by the citizens
10 Biil Meyer.
He came direct from the fatherland
to make Pineville his home. He thought
it was his duty, too, TO tell everybody he
had left a sweetheart behind. and that
it was for her sake that he was work
ing TO make home. Her name was
Lenkcn She was very beautiful lie
said. and so good that 1t seemed almost
"a miracle she had lived to the age of 20.
1t was this loyalty to the girl he had
promised to marry, and who was so far
away, that made Meyer Il favorite with
everybody in Pineville
But Meyer was a slow, easy going fell
low, and the one thought about Lenken
seemed to occupy every Granny of his
thinking apparatus, to the exclusion of
every other thought. He was very
small man, and that. and the wooden
leg he wore. he said. had saved him
from doing duty as a soldier.
Meyer found employment with Judge
Peterkn. The wages We're low, but
it was a steady job, and that was what
Meyer most desired -
During his first year in Pineville
Meyer gained little sum of money,
and lost four fingers and part of his
nose. lie was trying to whistle Die
Wacht am Rhine" down the barrel of
an old musket, whcu the gun went Off
accidentally and carried away part of
his nasnl organ. The fingers were cut
off with a small circular saw used for
cutting lrewood.
Two fingers on one hand were cut off
first When the wounded hand had
been tied up, Judge Peterllin, his daugh-
ter Molly, and Aunt Phyllis, the cook.
followed Meyer out to the woodshed to
Ice shown how the accident had occur
red .t..
1T must have been a piece of pure
carelessness on your part" said the
Judge. looking very severe. Now
show me how it was DONE
Il vas singing override garten vall.' i"
saId Meyer. Den I pick up alshtick of
wood like dis" picking one up with his
unw0unded hand. "Und den | hold 1t
like dis. und den dc shtlck ship like
dis, und den my fingers vas cut off like
dis And that was how Meyer came
to lose the second two fingers.
The second year Meyer laid up an
other small sum of money, and was di-
vested OF part OF an ear. two toes and
a good deal Of his hair The ear and
toes were lost accidentally. and the
hair Incidentally. from natural causes.
WHY. Meyer, Lenken won't know
you when She sees YOU again. you are
such wreck" said Molly TO him one
day.
Vel. maybe sO,' he sighed. But i'm
u moment the confidence in his sweet
hearts steadfastness. returned. oh
she vas so gOOt. Miss Molly. ind SO
beautiful" he said dat it makes nc
difference to her how look. She vas
true all de time
Then Molly thought she would see il
Meyer would not pay her a compliment
How does Lenkcn look. Meyer? Does
she look something like me?' she asked
Like your he exclaimed. "Lenker
don't look like nobody. Miss Wiggir
look like you, maybe, but Lenken VA,
different"
Miss Wiggin was Molly's rival beauty
in Pineville, and the reference to he
made the latter flush very red in tn,
face Meyer laughed merrly.
You don't look poorly ven you looI
like dat. Miss Molly" he said.
Then there came changes, and Meye
did not profit any by them. JudS
Peterbin died, Miss Molly married, an,
Meyer had to look out for himself a
best he could. True. Molly still inter
ested herself in him as much as posi-
BILE but she had new cares and new
duties now that claimed her attention
most of the time.
But Meyer was always hopeful, ant
I'm good humOr. His every thought, ac
aud deed was to accomplish something
10 bring the day nearer when he coul,
write to Lenllen aud tell her that he hat
made q home for her. 1t was all TO
Lenken.
"Bow long since you heard from Ler
kenT Molly asked him one day.
Meyer thought awhile.