Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-11-23
CHAPTER xIII.-(continued.)

Friday, Nov. 27.-I have quite an inn
portant piece of news to-day, Mr.. Diary.
30 no more grumbles, please, about your
having sunk into weather report. Yes,
sir, have met stranger-fancy that
visitor, in the winter, at Polleven!
Mr.. Hermann-for that Is his name
has been a dabbler in science, he tells
me, all his life. l shall snare him be-
fore long and lay my spoil in triumph
at fathers feet Since the weather has
been so bad, it has been very lonely for
him indoors, poor dear, with only ignor-
ant me for company. l am certain MIR.
Hermann will be just the man for him. A
good stiff talk will brighten him up won
derfully.
CHANGED upon him this afternoon. He
was struggling along the cliff edge in
the teeth of the wind. His age should
be about sixty, but he is very well pre-
served. He is clean-shaven and close
cropped and is altogether very neat in
his appearance. His eyes behind his
glasses are absurdly young, if l can so
describe them. They are so active and
clear that If II were not for the wrn-
kles above them, l should have knocked
ten years off his age, He asked me the
way olltNtht anu as L WAS DOunu
for the village, l took him in charge.
On the way he told me that he had just
taken room at the inn there. He is
writing a book, it seems, and wanted a
quiet corner. He will find it at Polleven!
He speaks with but slight accent, hav-
ing lived much in England, though his
father was German. as his name de-
notes. This was his first walk, and he
seemed much impressed with the wild
ness of the scenery.
| told father about. him at supper He
said he would be very pleased to meet
him.
Saturday, Nov. 2S-I am filed with
the triumph of success. Mr.. Hermann
and father are hard at it over their pipes
in the study. They do not seem to be
opposed on any big question, which is
most lucky, for some very learned men
get into dreadful tempers with each 9TH
er when contradicted.
1t Is the butchers day at Polleven, so
l walked there this morning to give the
orders. l met Mr.. Hermann coming up
from the quay. He is very fond of sail
ing. he said, and had engaged a small
trawler and two men, so that he can
have a good blow when the weather per-
mits. He kept on rubbing his hands
and beaming upon me, as If he had
struck upon some new idea which pleas
ed him. l told him l thought he had
done a very sensible thing, aud that In
my opinion a great many cieves men
would write the better for dose of fresh
air taken daily. He laughed good deal
at this and comriinentvd me on my wit
l. 80 IL. "a kl..A
there were plenty Of chops in the house,
/ asked him to lunch, saying that my
father, who was an Invalid and could not
go out much, would be delighted to make
his acquaintance. He accepted at once
and we walked back together.
Later.-Father says that Mr.. Her
mann is unusually we'll read, and lhat
he had had a most interesting talk with
him. Yet he did not seem very en-
thusiastic about him. l hope they did
not quarrel. 1t rather spoiled my tri-
umph. Father did not seem to have
anything definite against him-only a
general impression that he was queer
fellow l think this rather absurd.
Sunday, Nov. 29.-Mr. Hermann sat
behind me at church this morning. He
sang the hymns in a high voice that
would have been amusing under ordinary
circumstances. After church he walked
with me some distance up the hill. He
condoled with me on my lonely life, and
that always annoys me. Indeed, l am
afraid l was rather rude to him about
it. To make amends, l invited him to
tea on Tuesday.
Monday, Nov. 3O.-Father is not so
we'll to-day. He has had more trouble
with his cough, l fear, though he tries
to make light of it. l wish had not
asked Mr.. Hermann. l must take care
that he does not see father tomorrow.
The doctors were most particular in their
instructions that nothing should over-ex-
cite him; l fear that the two might get
into some silly argument.