Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-14
CHAPTER TX.


CHAPTER TX.
THE HERMIT.
"How do you do, sir?" said Martin,
pleasantly, but with inward trepida-
ton. my friend and myself and our
guides have just landed here and made
bold to CALL"
1t was civil speech and all true, but
1T brought no response. Instead, this
Rip-Van Winlle-like man looked again
at one and then another of the four
with his big round eyes, but uttered
no word.
II hope we are not intruding," con-
timed Martin; 1--WE certainly didn't
mean to, but it was curious to find q
human dwelling here"
Then this queer old man spoke.
What do you want" he asked, in
. not unkind voice, ARE you hungry?'
1t was like the first thought of say
age, or perhaps, of all wild animals.
"Oh, no." answered Martin, I'VE hap
pened to see your canoe on the bank,
and landed out of curiosity. Then we
followed the path and found your cabin
We had no intention of intruding, and
hope we are not"
It was all that could be said, but it
had no effect upon this Nick o. the
Woods, for he made no reply, but
turned and entered his cabin, closing
the door after him.
well, call that COOL" muttered the
6Nnfnr n in toll
aback, looked at Levi.
Guess we amt welcome" he said
again, glancing at the closed door, land
had best CO." 1t was seemingly all
that was left, and Martin, more aston
1shed than ever, turned and led the
way back to the canoes. 1--WE had cold
shoulder BEFORE" he said, when well
away, but none quite like this. Why,
the man must be demented.'
HE certainly isn't fond of society,""
responded the doctor, and then, as if
with common impulse, or perhaps be-
cause suspense had ended, both began
to laugh softly. But another and less
humorous side to the situation was
made pertinent by the sun, now vanish
ing into the wilderness-where to find
camp site. To camp where they were,
and so near this apparently insane
hermit, was not, perhaps, wise, and
yet curiosity to find out more about
him held them there.
I'm not going to give up this way"
asserted Martin, at last, after brief
discussion, "he's certainly harmless,
and I'm going to try him again. OF
one thing I'm satisfled-he isn't our
wild man.
Il don't want to meet him alone in
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 a 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-
parently half-insane and altogether
mysterious old hermit not 100 rods
away, they discussed him thoroughly
as might be expected.
As every detail Of his home had
been of interest, so now was he, as we'll
as those trifles.
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 keenly alive to the mystery
that had pursued them for many days,
and now, coming upon another, as great
II less dread, it absorbed all thought,
or, in the vernacular, it kept them
guessing" And lte' 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 uraided 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 squir-
rel, and even sweep out his abode
would be content to thus dwell in SOL
itude twice one hundred miles from =
human dwelling. It was unaccount-
able, and the longer Martin and the
doctor discussed it, the more SO it
seemed. .--..... = .,4
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, adown
through the still night air. from the
hermit's hut. came the low soft tvang-