Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-05-21

the WOODS after dark, though, re-
sponded the doctor.
But night was near, twilight already
falling, and in little cove just around
from the landing, they pushed ashore
again and made hurried camp.
And now beside the cheerful fire
once more, with the dark forest on one
side, the little lake in front and the ap-
mysterious old hermit not 100 rods
away, they discussed him tn oroughly
as might be expected.
: As every detail of his home had
been of interest, so now was he, as well
as those, trifies.
In the busy world one man is SO like
hundreds of others in garb, habit, and
thought, he ceases to be Of even pass
ing interest. He may be neat or SLOW
emily, handsome or homely, bright or
stupid, brave or cowardly, or any one
Of the many extremes of human ma
ture-no matter. He is but one grain
of sand among millions just like him,
and we care not even what his name
may be. But to Martin and the little
doctor, still keen1y alive to the mystery
that had pursued them for many days,
and now coming upon another, as great
il less dread, it absorbed all thought,
or, in the vernacuIar, it kept them
guessing" And for reason.
The hermit, for such he must be
called, was no different in dress and ap-
pearance than any man OF his age
would be who had turned his back upon
humanity for many years, his habita-
ton as good as such unaided would be
likely to erect-in fact, better cared for
and with more of refinement about it
than one would naturally expect. But
the absorbing question was how and
why any human being much less one
who would plant flowers, tame a squir-
rel, and even sweep out his abode
would be content to thus dwell in sol
itude twice one hundred miles from a
human dwelling. 1t was unaccount-
able, and the longer Martin and the
doctor discussed it, the more so it
seemed.
And then, when the cracking fire had
grown silent and they paused in the
chat to watch the moon, round and red,
creep in sight over the tree-tops, adow1l
through the still night air, from the
hermits hut, came the low soft twang-
ing of a jews harp very family; We;
60 perfect was the Stiffness even the
melody that unique player rendered
could be distinguished, and way down
upon the Suwanee river whispered
through the forest over and over again
Then came others of the same sad re-
frain, to end at last with the saddest
of all, Home, Sweet Home"
In silent establishment now Martin
and the doctor sat listening until The
lowIy. pitiful playing ceased, and ther
looked at each other.
A new and still more unaccountablt
and pathetic element of mystery haG
been added to this hermit's character
That he tanned squirrels was nat,Ira
enough; that he cared for flowers wa:
surprising; but to find he had sou
Rstuned to melody was astonishing.
And he was content to live tnu
alone, buried in painless wilderness
year after year?
1t was past all comprehension. a
When morning came, Martin decided
bl1L AO5 c1OA0 u1I5AI- pOSSIUIy sOOCbtl
some consideration from this quee
hermit, at least to the extent of re
plies to a few questions, and armet
with can of condensed milk and twl
or three cans of fruit as peace offer
ings, he made him a call. How he sua
ceeded can best be told in his owl
words.
Il found him on his knees he re
ported upon his return, shut he wa
not praying merely pulling weeds il
the garden. He looked up when bad,
him good morning, and then kept OF
wedding without word asked on,
or two questions, but obtained no an
swer, and then little in doubt whethe
had best throw the cans at him anC
run, or try again, paused. Present..
he arose, looked at me with those moor
eyes, and asked what wanted. Moth
ing said, except to find out whether
you are lonesome, and if you will &C
, cept what I've brought
He shook his head, turned away
faced round again, and started for the
cabin, and followed. Here he sa
down on the bench, lowered his fact