The Irish standard., 1906-01-13

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'You kin go" responded old Cy. cane
didly, en- let ne stay here n watch
fer AMI. won't be lunsome, n:
maybe he may come any day. I'd like
to ketch sight O. that wild man, but
I'd a good dea! rather ketch sight q
Amzi."
Eve might go down to the Lake
where we slept in the bushes and camp
there while waiting" said Martin.
thoughtfully, les likely to return that
way"
Then Levi suggested that they take
possession of the hermit's hut, since
it had been left unlocked. But Martin
said no to that promptly, and. as leav-
ing the spot at all had obvious draw.
backs. in the end they decided to camp
In little cove just around from the
hermit's landing spot and there await
him. To take possession of even his
miserable howell was against Martins
feelings, and more than that, while tho
guides were establishing permanent
camp, he and old Cy returned to the
cabin, and tried TO remove all evidence
Of the other mems visit Like many
who hesitate at no vandalism, they
used part OF the stake fence for fuel.
dug mp and carried off many of the po-
tatoes and onions, and left the debris
of their meals to mould on the table.
d." muttered Martin, as he
looked at the dissertation of this pitt
full home. I'D like to kick them, ons
at time, from here to the lake and
then pitch them in"
mo use gittin' rufled," answered OLD
Cy. hogs is hogs the world over, n
always leave their tracks," Then he
seated himself on a stump and chirped
to one of the squirrels who frisked and
chartered. and then leaped into his lap
And now ensued week of pleasant
camp life, devoid of incident, but de-
lightful to old Cy. and, as may be sur
missed from his method of life in Green
vale, where he was content to live alone
in howell. work for Aunt Comfort part
Of the time and fish and hunt the rest,
he borrowed no trouble and had few
wants. If it rained he remained under
shelter; if it was cold, he kept close to
the fire, oblivious to whether he had
more than days fuel on hand. and
as for clothes-well, if they covered his
nakedness and kept him warm. why,
patches were as serviceable as the orig
tnal material. And yet he was honest
and kind-hearted to a fault, loving his
fellow-man--if in sympathy with him
far better than himself, and keenly
alive to the beauties of nature and not
devoid of reverence for the Almighty.
Beyond that and like Aunt Comfort
he had an abiding faith that all wrongs
would be righted sooner or later, and
everybody get what they deserved. And
now he firmly believed that the long
missing AMI would in due time re-
turn in the person of this old hermit;
and meanwhile they had a chance to
enjoy this hunters paradise.
1.-THE only critter miss here is my
dog" he observed at the close of the
first day. when they returned to camp
with handsome buck and dozen par
fridge; eve sorter got used to talking
to him when I'm content, m he allus
understands me. A dogs better n
most humans fer company. m ketchin'
the drift o yer feelin's quicker. Ones
a dog loves yer, It's allus the same
never changes. and ye don't have to
keep warmin' it up. Me n AMI use
to be that way. an I'D he so now. If he
hadn't gone queer"
To Martin also, now that he was
forced to remain content. old Cy was
charming company, and his cheerful
optimism. keen enjoyment of wood life,
and childish gratitude for this, the one
supreme and altogether glorious epi-
sode of his life, a daily source of pleas
Ure.
And SO tire balmy Indian summer
days wore on.
Each morning and night they WIS.,
tied the hut. lest its owner return una
wares, and on these calls old Cy always
had a handful OF nuts ready for the
squirrels, who soon recognized a friend
and invariably ran to meet him. AND
how short these halcyon days were.
even to impatient Martin! They jour-
neyed up the stream that entered this
lake, watched the deer feeding in the
woods. surprised otter. mink. and
muskrat in their haunts. and by patient
waiting saw beavers at work on their
dam. They caught a few trout in the
spring hole that the hermit had located
for Martin, and, when more meat was
needed. killed another deer
One week and then another If this
matchless existence passed, and then
one morning, as they drew near to the
hut, there. sitting on the bench in front.
hatless, coatless, with tangled hair and
beard, was the hermit!
CHAPTER xxx.
AMI CURTIS.