The Irish standard., 1906-01-20
& -
| The Hermit
IA A Story Of the Wilderness
70 By CHARLES CLARK MUM ~
A.. ...or Of Pocket Island. ." Uncle Terry
and "Rockhaven."
Copyright, 1905, by Leu and shepard
CHAPTER XXIX.-CoSr1NuEp.

CHAPTER XXIX.-CoNr1NuEp.
''Oh, mddlin' so," answered old Cy,
his face glowing with excitement; "it's
AMI fast enough, n he owns it up,
but he can't make out how or why I'm
here. an he don't low he's got a
brother Dave N a grown up gal, Angie.
He's sane enough so fur's livin' here.
II how he does it, n all about the gar
den n squirrels, but jist the mint
shift back to old times. he either gets
wary or don't rec'lect. He thinks 1
como here lone, too, n when come
way, he acted worried for fear
wouldn't come back, N kept Begin
would. It's Gurus case, m l can't
make it out. He acts like man woke
up out of a Sleep"
Had best call on him now" asked
Martin, aftera long pause. "or wait unit!
tomorrow? He isn't likely to go off
again, is he?"
Wal, dunno" answered old Cy,
cautiously shaking his head, Il dunno;
we can't stop him ii he does. l s'posc
an all we kin do is to be keerfu-
mighty keerful. My idee is best so
back to him bime by N stay spell
longer n mcbbe eat with him. Yeve
got to sorter connect him with us by
his feelin's. callate."
II might go off with the guides few
days." rejoined Martin. after consid-
ering old Cys "idee," land give you
a chance to renew old ties again."
WAL, mebbe, though you might
come round thar artcr a spell. jist ter
git him ulster SEEM you agin, n then
keep shady"
would it be best to show him An
gie's picture now or waltz" querieti
Martin, anNiously. 1--WE got them with
me-"
Pm glad on it," answered old Cy,
eagerly: 'I'll take 'em N when the
right time comes II use 'em as sort q,
c;incher."
II am going to let you manage mat
ters entirely and exactly as you think
best" asserted Martin, after long CON.
sideration; "yon know him best. he was
your staunch friend once. brought
you here for that purpose, and now
I'll not speak, move, or show myself
until you say the word.''
But the question of Martins showing
himself to the hermit settled itself, for
hardly had he ceased speaking when
footsteps iu the underground were
heard and the hermit emerged
How do you do, sir?" was Martins
greeting, as he rose and extended his
hand cordially. you remember me,
don't you?"
For one moment the strange reclusc
looked curiously at him, then to ola
Cy and back.
II remember you," he answered
pleasantly, graspng the proffered hand;
IAN the squirrels didn't hurt We, did
they? tanned EN-"
1t was child's answer, and IL flashed
on Martin that this rec,'lse had driftcd
back to that mental state.
For sh ort time he glanced curiousl,.
at the camp and its belongings, smi!-
ing in vacant way and then at old
Cy. You're going to live with ma
now, Cyrus. amt your he asked plain
lively. '"rhere is room 'nough, and you
can help me cut wood"
Martin sighed and turned away.
He had been in suspense so long
hoping for the best and dreading tn q
worst; for two weeks his fears had i'll.
creased daily, and now to find the long
lost AMI, the father of the girl he
loved, mental wreck and in his sec
ond childhood, was pitifa,.
1T might be wuss," old Cy responded
to his regrets later, after the hermi,
had left them; hes childish now an
sorter wanderin,' but mebbe his mind
III come back arter a spell by coaxin'.
callate most any on us nd get that
way Twin all stark lone this 20 years"
Old Cy, with his homely speech.
kind heart, and "borse sense" was
right. and Martin knew it. 1t was none
the less pitiful. however. and that
night as he. left alone with the two
guides, sat by the campfire watching
Its glow and listening to the low wave
wash of the lake. his Thoughts flew
FAR away TO vine-hid porch, the
rnstlinr Of falling leaves. and a fair
face with bewitching eyes.
The fire had burned low and both
guides were asi, ep in their bark shell
ter when cid Cy returned.
Il think we best stay round few
days." he said, on then go way
spell. AMI is kinder gettin' fond o.
havin' me round helpin', m arter a
few days things ii come back to him,
mebbe. l doubt we'll git him back 10
Greenvale, though, 'thout We fetch him
back; he's that wonted here"
1t was not reassuring report
For three days Martin passed the
time as best he could He killed
deer and sent half up to the hermit,
who, with old Cy was hard at work
cutting and riling winters store of
wood. He added few brace of part
ridge to this gift-offering later on,
called on the two who were now nv
Ing together, and talked as best he
could with Amzi, and then, at the close
OF one day, as he stood watching Levi
and Jean busy preparing their evening
meal, he heard canoe crate upon the
sandy beach close by, and, looking up,
saw the two officers just landing.
CHAPTER Xxx.
UNWELcOMC VISITORS.
For moment Martin stood looking
at these men in SOptchIocc ocfop;uh