The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-12-30
CHAPTER XIV.
IN THE WILDERNESS ONCE MORT

IN The WILDERNESS ONCE MORE.
Never before, during old Cy's unfor-
tunate and hand-tO-mouth existence,
had SO much delightful expectation
! entered as the morning he left Green
vale rs Martins companion, attired in
new brown corduroy. The best of any /
pleasure is in anticipation, and the old !
man, now barbered into more human
semblance. looked 90 years younger.
Then the busy world they soon en-
| tered, the rushing trains, the crowded !
cities, the hurrying people, the hasW !
meals the night on train, were one
| and all so great a change from his !,
simple life in Grcenvale. that he almost ,
lost his senses. His sleeping-car eX- '
perience. and his first one. was almost
| ludicrous in its effect upon him.
ut sOrter seemed Just like bein' in a
collin m clankin' right along toward
Kingdom come" he said next morning
In response to Martins inquiries as to
hc'sy he slept. on every time the train
rocked, thought I'd got thar" 1
But when the border of the wilder.
ness was reached, old Cy felt more at !
home. for forest lakes and streams had
been his lifelong companions. He was
somewhat surprised at the extensive
purchases Martin made at the little '
village store. and especially at COM
plete suit of mems clothing with double
sets of flannel underwear, but asked
no questions. Neither did he have any
idea OF the real and ultimate object
OF the trip, and was not told until our
old friends Levi and Jean had pushed
the wcll-loadcd canoes 20 miles I'D a
broad stream, and the first camp was
made. All that day old Cy had been
like boy in his enjoyment of this
new wonder world of dark bordering
forest disturbed only by the ripping
stream, the cry of an eagle sailing over
mountain top. or the clatter of a flock
of ducks rising out of lagoon; and
then, when the tent was pitched, sup
per eaten. and Martin was reclining
upon his blanket and slowly putting
his pipe. he told the story of the her.
init. and who he was suspected to be-.
THE doctor and I had a trip full
OF unusual and mysterious experiences
last spring." he said, land it's only
surmisc on my part, even now, who
the hermit was. First we were visited
by the wild man about whom told
you, then We came upon secluded log
cabin that might have been his lair
and might not A week later we dis
covered human prowler at night,
equally mysterious and finally this
hermit-a morose, harmless, old man,
who had made friends of the squirrels
and evidently was averse to our COM
pany. l have suspicion he is the
long-vanished AMI, and if so, you are
the only one who can tell, and also
the only one whom he would be likely
to remember. If it is AMI, he is,
without doubt, partially demented.
But whether or no, if he recognizes
you, his old-time companion, we have
established fact which l can use to
bring David to terms. If it is not
AMI. no harm is DONE"
AN twas fer him We bought tn
extra clotbes?" queried old Cy, with
keen interest: then adding, after
pause, with visible emotion, "Mr. Fris-
bic. how fer is 1t to whar he was livin',
m kin We fetch it in another day? If
1t turns out TO be Amzi, I'll jist squat
down an Dlubber like baby. I'm sure
on t."
Martin smiled.
I'm glad I brought you. old friend"
he answered. watching his face and
eyes that glistened in the freight.
III 1t proves to be AMI, you alone can
reach his memory and maybe induce
him to return to Greenvale." Then,
. the astonishing effect such return
would have on that village flashed
1neg his mind, he added, I'D give a
cool thousand for the chance to walk
up to old Dave and say, Here's your
brother AMI; found him in tho
wilderness
ITO Be Continued.l iil