Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-02-01
CHAPTER xxxII.
HOMC BUILDING IN THE WILDER
NESS

! HOME BUILDING IN THE WILDER
NESS.
When Martin, aided by his guides,
had made their own camp ready for
the night and supper was disposed of,
he started for the hermit's hut He
had learned from Jean that all was
well with AmZi and old Cy, and now
call on them was in order.
The October new moon was bright
in the western sky, the evening air
cool and crisp, the leaves falling from
the birches rustled beneath his feet,
and as he came in sight of the hut,
I CHEEKY light cleaned from its one
, small window. He halted a moment
at the gate, for out from this rude
home came the sound of music once
more. 1t was not sad refrain now,
but that cheerful old-time dance tune,
'The Irish Washerwoman," and az
Martin paused to listen a moment, it
carried him back to his boyhood when
measures, and then clasped Angles
supple waist when Balance and
swing" echoed from the bare brown
rafters.
And now 500 miles away from those
old associations, he was listening to it
once again, twanged by her father on
a jews'-harpi
1t bore the same joyous mood as of
yore, and, more than that, assured
him that this strange recluse and old
Cy were now quite content and happy
And why shouldn't they be and con-
tinue thus here? And what was to be
gained by insisting upon changing con-
iitions and almost dragging this poor
old man back to Greenvale and to sur
roundings long since forgotten?, 1t
was but the same conclusion that had
first come to him when he left here
with the officers, now returning with
convincing force. And what harm
could follow? AMI was content-the
ties of his manhood were severed,
earlier feelings dead and buried, he
and old Cy, two fossils as it were, were
happy together and could be of mu-
tual help and comfort. They were, or
could be properly provided for during
winter; old Cy, absolutely without ties
in Greenvale, would be glad to remain
here, and why not?
Then another and the vital object
of his coming here occurred to Mar
tin-Angie's rights. He had consult
ed a legal friend and found that if
her father was still alive, David could
be made to pay over to him or his
child one-half the income of the prop
erty since he left. The property could
not be sold anyway without Amzi's
signature, and beyond that, Martin held
a claim on it as well. More than this,
AMI would doubtless sign any neces-
sary papers, and here were four good
and reliable witnesses.
All this came to Martin as he stood
watching the one little window light
and listening to that old-time dance
music.
- And now he advanced cautiously and
peeped in at the window.
A fire burned in the small stove, a
queer tin lamp, a sort of can with a
handle, was alight on the table, old
Cy with pipe sat on stool, and
the hermit, squat on his bunk, was
still twanging his jews'-harp. A curl
GUS picture of backwoods enjoyment,
unique, yet pathetic.
For moment only Martin glanced
in, then knocked on the door. A
come in" followed, and then he en-
tered. There was no ceremony; old
Cy rose and shook hands with him cor
daily, but the hermit remained on his
bunk smiling.
We'll, I'm back" asserted Martin,
"and how are you, boys? l see you
are taking comfort"
ooh, we're gittin' on famous" re-
sponded old Cy "Ain't we, Amzi?"
AMI nodded, still smiling. We've
bin chopin wood" he said, j." m Cyrus
sharpened the AK on a stun, n built
smoke house, n we've got a lot o.
nuts fer the squirrels
Back to childhood and for good"
thought Martin; then aloud, That's
right, boys; now is the time to get
ready for winter. How are the squir-
rels?"
"Oh, they're asleep now" answered
AMI, eagerly, "Ill feed 'em in the
! mornin'."
"Still the child" thought Martin,
land no thought beyond his daily life
here, not even curiosity" For a little
time he chatted, first with one and then
/ the other, and then inviting old Cy
to come to his camp early next day,
babe them good night.
Jean was asleep when Marti- cached
/ camp, but "Old Faithful'-Levi-still
awaited him beside the fire. For a
u
maturing his plans.
Levi" he asked at last, "how far
is it to the nearest settlement"
Bout three days goin', n mebbe
five gittin' back" came the answer,
after pause
WELL" continued Martin, with q
laugh, 81 thought of about everything
when we came in but pens, ink and
paper. and those l must have as soon
as possible"