The Caldwell tribune., 1905-10-07
CHAPTER Ix.tContinued.,


n;abt Some say he was in drink; but
- a. be was always a sober man. Mr..
G.oroa Sidcote it was that found him
Wing in the road. He was insensibie Tor
shrps days. When he came to he couldn't
somember nor tell anybody how the acci-
sant happened; but he said he'd been
robbed, though his pocket was full OF
.sonev and his watch and chain hadn't
been taken. Papers they were, he said,
shot he was robbed of. But there's many
thinks he must have put those papers
romewhere, and forgotten because Of. the
knock on his head"
"Oh!" the stranger rubbed his hands.
G1'm better now," he said; II am much
hptter. Out in Australia caught
fsver, and it gives me a shock now and
ooain. Much better now. So-Old Dan
Tejehan fell from his pony--he had an
accident and he fell-from his pony--on
bis head-and was senseless for three
aays-and was robbed Of papers? Now,
who could have robbed him Of papers7
Were they valuable papersT'
swell, that l cannot say"
Did YOU ever see man In an hys-
terlcal fit! 1t is pretty bad to look at a
woman laughing and crying with uncon-
trolled and uncomfortable passion, but 1t
Is far worse to see a-man. This strong,
rugged man, seized with an hysterical
fit, rolled about upon ths bench. rolling
bis shoulders and crying at the same time,
hut his laugh was not mirthful and his
crying was O scream, and he staggered
us he laughed. Then he steadied him
self with one hand on the table; he
caught at another mans shoulder with
the other hand; and all the time, while
the villagers looked on open-mouthed,
he laughed and cried, and laughed again,
without reason apparent, without re-
Utraint, without mirth, without grief,
while the tears coursed down his cheeks.
Some of the men held him by force; but
they could not stop the strong sobbl lg
or the hccoughing laugh or the shaking
Of his limbs. At last, the ft spent, ne
Jay back on the settee, propped against
the corner, exhausted, but outwardly ,
calm and composed again.
"Are you better now?" asked the land.
lady.
1--WE been ILL.," he said, "and something
shook me. Seems as if I've had a kind
Of fit, and talked foolish, likely. What
did l say-what did I talk aboutT'
"You were asking after Mr.. Leighan
Who are your What do you want tc
know about Mr.. Leighan? You asked
about his health and his accident And
then you had fit of Mysteries. never
saw a man-nor a woman, neither-iE
such Mysteries. You'd best go home anG
get to bed. Where are you going tt
sleep? Where are you going tor
Where's your husband, Mrs. Exon
Where's Joseph?" he asked, unexpected
ly.
Mrs. Exon started and gasped. "Jo
seph's gone to Bovey with the cart. 81
ought to have been home an hour ago
But who are your"
william Shears''-he turned to one o
the men-'you don't seem to remembe
meT
why, no." William replied with 1
Jump, because 1t Is terrifying to be rec
Ognized by a stranger who has fits ant
talks about live mems ghosts. mo;
can't rightly say I do."
"Grandfather Derges"-he applied t
the oldets inhabitant, who Is general!
found to have just outlived his memory
though If you had asked him a week o
two ago he could have told the mos
wonderful things-"Grandfather Derges
don't you remember me~
mo, don't. Seems as II I be oil
enough to remember everybody. Blu
my memory isn't what it was. No,
don't remember you. Yet should say
now, as you might belong to these parts
Because you seem to know my name"
Il remember you, Grandfather, whe
you used to cane the boys in church"
"Ay, ay," said the old man. $50
did, SO did. Did ever cane you, mas
teri You must have wonderful men
cry, now, to remember that"
Don't you remember me, Williar
Clampt" he asked q third man.
mo, I don't" replied William, shor
~ as If he did not wish to tax his men
ory about man SO ragged.
I've been away a good many years,
he said, land I've come back pretty we
as poor as when left and sight NOR
ragged, 1 didn't think that beard an
rags would alter me so that nobod
should know me. Why, Mrs. Exon, doe
q man leave the parish every week fc
Australia, that should be 80 soon fo
gotten?"
de did not speak In the least like or
OF themselves. his manner of speec
was not refined, 1t is true; but there al
shades, SO to speak, which differentiat
the talk Of the masters from the talk {
the rustics.
have come back without anythin
except little money In my pocket. Nov
MRS Exon, give me some bread an
Sheese for supper: I've had no Dime
0elng Ill, you see, and shaken more ths
oit' l didn't want any dinner. The
IN have a pipe, and you shall tell n
the news and all that has happene
Fefhaps BY that time you will find o1
who am"
When he had eaten his bread ar
cneese he began to smoke, showing l
trace at all of his late fit. He talkt
SDout the parish, and showed that
Snew everybody In It; he asked wi
nao married and who were dead; he |
CURED into the position and prospects
an the farms; he showed the most
Innate acquaintance with everybody al
tne greatest interest In the affairs Of I
ene families. Yet no one could remel
Der who he was.
ALOuf O 20 ana