Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-07
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CHAPTER IX.-(Continued. }

lying in the road. He was insensible for
three days. When he came to he couldn't
remember nor tell anybody how the acct
dent happened but he said he'd been
robbed, though his pocket was full of
money, and his watch and chain hadn't
been taken. Papers they were, he said.
that he was robbed of. But there's many
thinks he must have put those papers
somewhere, and forgotten because of the
knock on his head"
oh" the stranger rubbed his hands.
I'm better now" he said; Il am much
better. Out in Australia | caught a
fever, and it gives me a shock now and
again. Much better now Sold Dan
Leighan fell from his pony--he had an
accident and he fell-from his pony-on
his head-and was scnseless for three
days-and was robbed of papers? Now,
who could have robbed him of papers?
Were they valuable papersY
Well, that l cannot say"
Did you ever see a man in an hys-
terlcal fit! 1t is pretty bad to look at q
woman laughing and crying with uncon-
trolled and uncomfortable passion, but it
IS far worse to see man. This strong
rugged man, seized with an hysterical
Mt rolled about upon the bench rolling
MS shoulders and crying at the same time,
but his laugh was not mirthful and his
crying was scream, and he staggered
as he laughed. Then he steadied him
self with one hand or 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
stralnt, without mirth, without grief
While the tears cOurscd down his cheeks.
Some of the men held him by force; but
they could not stop the strong sobDl lg
or the hiccoughing laugh or the shaking
of his limbs. At last, the fit spent, ne
lay back on the settee, propped against
the corner, exhausted, but outwardly
calm and composed again.
Are you better now?" asked the land
lady.
I've been ill.," he said, ''and something
shook me. Seems as if I've had a kind
OF tit, and talked foolish, likely. What
did | say-what did | talk about
You were asking after Mr.. Leighan.
who are you? What do you want to
know about Mr.. Leighan? You asked
about his, health and his accident. And
then you had a fit of Mysteries | never
saw man-nor a woman, neither-in
such Mysteries You'd best go home and
get to bed. Where are you going to
sleep! Where are you going toy
"Nhere's your husband Mrs. Exon?
Where's Joseph" he asked, unexpected
ly.
Mrs. Exon started and gasped. 20
seph's gone to Bovey with the cart He
ought to have been home an hour ago.
But who are you?"
'William Shears'-he turned to one of
the men-''you don't seem to remember
me?"
why, no." William replied with a
jump, because it is terrifying to be rec
ognized by a stranger who has fits and
talks about live mems ghosts. mo; I
can't rightly say l do"
Grandfather Derges applied to
tho oldets inhabitant, who is generally
found to have just outlved his memory.
though if you had asked him a week or
TWO ago he could have told the most
wonderful things Grandfather Dergcs.
don't you remember me-"
NO, | don't. Seems as if l be old
enough to remember everybody. But
my memory isn't what it was. No,
don't remember you. Yet l should say.
now, as you might belong to these parts,
because you seem to know my name"
Il remember you, Grandfather, when
you used to cane the boys in church."
"Ay, ay," said the old man. $50
did, SO l did. Did ever cane you, mas
ter? You must have wonderful mem
Dry, now, to remember that"
''D0n't y-n,, -,
Clampit?" he asked third man.
NO l don't" replied William. short
ly, as if he did not wish to tax his mem
CRY about 4 man so ragged.
I've been away good many years"
he said, and I've come back pretty we'll
as poor as when | left and a sight more
ragged. l didn't think that a beard and
rags would alter me so that nobody
should know me. Why, Mrs Exon. does
a man leave the parish every week for
Australia, that l should be so soon for
gotten?"
He did not speak in the least like ono
of themselves. his manner of speech
was not refined, it is true; but there are
shades, so to speak, which differentiate
the talk of the masters from the. talk of
the rustcs.
except a little money in my pocket. Now,
Mrs. Exon, give me some bread and
cheese for supper; I've had no dinner
Being i'll, YOU see, and shaken more than
a bit. | didn't want any dinner. The,
I'll have a pipe, and you shall tell me
the news and all that has happened
Perhaps by that time you will find out
who | ann
ha had
cheese he began to smoke, showing no
trace at all of his late fit. He talked
about the parish, and showed that he
knew everybody in it; he asked who
had married and who were dead: he in
qured into the position and prospects of
all the farms; he showed the most in
innate acquaintance with everybody and
the greatest interest in the affairs of ali
the families. Yet no one could re1ren-
Der who he was.
Aoout $3.50 o'clock the door was OPEN
ed again, this time to admit Harry Rab-
Jahns, the blacksmith, VINO had been fin
lshlnS the choir practice. He steDped in
a big strong man. with broad shoul-
ders and brown beard. His ewes fell
OH the stranger
why" he cried, Its Mr.. David
Leighan come back again, and him in
rags!
50 it is-it's Mr.. David" cried Mrs
Exon, clapping her hands. ITO think
that none of us knew him at first sight.
And that You should come to my house.
of all the houses in the parish, first, and
me not TO know you, and you in this con-
dition. But you'll soon change all that;
and III make up the bed for you-and
your uncle and Miss Mary will be down
right glad to see you. Mr. David, To