Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-01-06
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CHAPTER Ix.-tcontinuedJ


"He fell from his pony coming home
at night Some say be was in drink; but
then he was always a sober man. Mr..
George Sidcote 1t was that found him
lying in the road. He was insensble for
three days. When he came to he couldn't
remember nor tell anybody how the acci-
dent happened; but be aaid he'd been
robbed, though his pocket was full OF
money, aud bis watch and chain hadn't
been taken. Papers they were, he said
that he was robbed Of. But there's maRy
thinks he must have put those papers
lomewhsre, and forgotten because Of the
knock on his head"
"Ohr' the stranger rubbed hls hands
"Pm better now" he said: Il am much
bsttsr Out in Australia l caught
fever, and It gives me shock now and
again. Much better now. Sold Dan
Leiehan fell from his pony--hs had an
accident and he fell-from his pony-on
his head-and was senseless for three
days-aud was robbed Of papers1 Now,
who could have robbed him " papers
Were they valuable papersT"
well, that l cannot say"
Did you ever see man IN an hys-
terical hti 1t il pretty bad TO look at
woman laughing and crying with uncon-
Il far worse to see man. This strong,
rugged man. seized with an hysterical
ut, rolled about upon the bench rolling
his shoulders and crying At the same time,
but his laugh was not mirthful and his
crying was q scream, and he staggered
as he laughed. Then be steAdisd KIM
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-
straint, 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 sobDi ig
or the hiccoughing laugh or the shaking
Of his limbs. At last, the At spent. ne
lay back on the settee, propped against
the corner, exhausted, but outwardly
calm and composed again.
Are you better nowY' asked the land
lady.
I've been Ill.," he said, "and something
shook me. Seems as II I've had a kind
Of ht, and talked foolish, likely. What
did l say-what did / talk aboutr
you were asking after Mr.. Leighhn
Who are you? What do you want to
know about Mr. Leighsn7 You asked
shout his health and his accident. And
then you had a At Of Mysteries. l never
saw a man-nor woman, neither-in
such Mysteries. You'd best go home and
get TO bed. Where are you going to
sleep? Where are you going tor
where's your husband Mrs. Exon
Where's JosephT he asked, unexpected
ly.
Mrs. Exon started and gasped. 30
seph's gone to Bovey with the cart. He
ought TO have been home an hour ago.
But who are your
William Shears''--he turned TO one Of
the men-'you don't seem to remember
met"
"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;
can't rightly say ! do"
Grandfather Derses"-hs applied TO
the oldets inhabitant who is generally
found to have just outlived his memory,
though II you had asked him a week or
two ago he could have told the most
wonderful -"Grandfsther Derges.
don't you remember meT
mo, / don't. Seems as II / be old
enough 10 remember everybody. But
my mNnNIy lau WHAT IL WAS. no 1
don't remember you. Yet | should say,
now, as you might belong to these parts,
because you seem 20 know my name"
Il remember you, Grandfather, when
you used to cane the boys in church"
"Ay, sy," said the old man. 80 |
did. 50 l did Did l ever cane you, mas.
teri You must have a wonderful mem.
ory, now, to remember that"
Don't you remember me, William
Clampltf' he asked third man.
mo, | don't" replied William, short
", as II he did not wish to tax his mem
DRY about a man 80 ragged.
I've been away a good many years, "
be said, "and I've come back pretty well
as poor as when left and a sight more
ragged I didn't think that beard and
rags would alter me so that nobody
should know me. Why, Mrs. Exon. does
man leave the parish every week for
Australia. that / should be so soon for.
gottenY"
He did not speak In the least Ike on,
Of themselves. his manner Of speech
was not refined. Il Is true: but there ar.
shades so to speak, which diferentiats
the talk Of the masters from the talk OF
the rustics.
II have come back without anythlns
except a little money in my pocket. Now
Mrs. Exon, give me- some bread and
cheese for supper; I've had no dinner
Being H. you see. and shaken more thar
4 bit. l didn't want any dinner. Their
IN have a pipe, and you shall tell m,
the news and all that has happened
Perhaps by that time you will ind ou
who | am"
When he had eaten his bread and
cheese he began 10 smoke showing n,
trace at all Of his late IT. He tsiket
about the parish, and showed that A,
knew everybody In Il; he asked VIII
had married and who were dead: he in
CURED into the position and prospects Of
oil the farms; he showed the most In
innate acquaintance with everybody ant
the greatest interest In the affairs Of al
the families Yet no ons could remem
Der who he was
Asout $3.50 o'clock the door was open
ed again, this time to admit Harry Rsb
jahns, the blacksmith, who had been I'm
ishing the choir practice. He stepped Il
IA big, strong man, with broad shout
ders and brown beard. His eyes fsl
on the stranger
"Whyw be cried. "it's Mr.. Davis
Leighan come back again, and him n
rags"
80 1t is-it's Mr.. David" cried Mrs.
Exon. claDping her hands ~ro thinl
that aons Of ua knew him At frat sight