Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-03-09

z K 7 HEN Meyer came to Pine
N/ Vile he gave his name as
Wilhelm Windmeyer, and 1t
was promptly changed by the citizens
to Bill Meyer.
He came direct from the fatheriand
to make Pineville his home. He thought
It was his duty, too, to tell every body he
had left a sweetheart behind, and that
1t was for her sake that he was work
ing to make home. Her name was
Lenken. She was very, bea utiful,. he
said, and so good that 1t seemed almost
u miracle she had lived to the age Of 20.
1t was this loyalty to the girl he had
promised 10 marry, and who was SO far
away, that made Meyer a favorite with
everybody in Pineviile.
But Meyer was a slow, easy going fei
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
Peterkin. The wages were low, but
1t was steady job, and that was what
Meyer most desired.
During his first year in Pineyille
Meyer gained little sum of money,
and lost four fingers and part of his
nose. He was trying to whistle Die
Wacht am Rhine" down the barrel of
an old musket, when the gun went off
accidentally and carried away part of
his nasal organ. The fingers were cut
Off with a small circular saw used for
cutting firewoo1.
Two fingers on one hand were cut of
first. When the wounded: hand had
been tied up, Judge Peterkin, his daugh
ter Molly, and Aunt Phyllis, the cook
followed Meyer out to the woOdshed to
be shown how the accident had occur
red
"It must have been q piece of pure
carelessness on your part" said the
Judge, looking very severe. snow
show me how 1t was DONE"
Il vas singing Over die garten vall,' .
| said Meyer "Den pick up shtick OF
wood like dis" picking one up with his
unwounded haIl. "Und den 1 hold il
| like dis, und den de shtick 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 d.
vested Of part Of an ear, two toes AND
| q 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 a wreck" said Molly to him one
| day.
we'll, maybe So" he sighed. But in
q moment the confidence In his sweet
hearts steadfastness returned. "Oh
she vas so goot, Miss Molly. und sc
bea utiful," he said, dat 1t makes nc
difference to her how l look. She vas
true all de time"
Then Molly thought she would see II
Meyer would not pay her compliment
/ How does Lenken 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 vas
different
Miss Wiggin was Molly's rival beauty
| In Pineville. and the reference to hel
made the latter flush very red In tn,
face. Meyer laughed merrily.
"You don't look pooty ven you lool
hke dat. Miss Molly" he said.
Then there came changes, and Meyer
did not profit any by them. Judge
Peterkin died, Miss Molly married, ant
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
IN good humor. His every thought. ac
and deed was to accomplish somethin,
to bring the day nearer when he coul,
write to Lenken and tell her that he hat
made q home for her. 1t was all 70
Lenken.
How long since you heard from Len
ken" Molly asked him one day.
Meyer thought awhile
"a little over two years ago" he re
piled.
"And when did you write to herT
"Oh, dat vas tree years ago"
Meyer, you ought to be ashamed o
yourself" cried Molly. You must 81
down here. right now, and write Len
ken long letter, and tell her that yo
are still alive. Why, don't you know
that she is grieving all the time, an
imagining that all sorts of accident
have befaIlen you?"
Maybe so. never t'ink Of dat"
"For all you know, too. she may hav
got tired waiting, and married som,
one else
That brought Meyer to his feet, ant
made Kim prance around on his woodei
eg pretty lively for minute.
J mo. nor he cried. "Lenken woult
not do dat. Lenken is true. Wy, sh,
tink / vas married, too. maybe" TIL,
thought seemed to tickle him greatly
F.You fink I:would marry anybody bu
ttsenksnY' he asked.
= ne Asgsc dea,t su,pess ye,