The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-04-13
P A 7
By CAROL H. PIERCE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation 1911

the road to Geneva. l was walking
along enjoying the beautiful prospect
about me-Lake Leman and white AL
pine peaks In the distance-when
ahead Of me saw a figure topped by
a conical hat. greenish coat and
knee breeches. Over his shoulder he
carried staff, to an end of which was
slung q bandanna handkerchief, evil
IDENTITY containing the wayfarer's lug
gage upon my word" said to my
self, IF there isn't son Of the Elmer
aid isle tramping along here in Swift
2erland."
There is kinship among those who
speak the same language that comes
out when they meet in foreign lands
1t was this feeling that induced me to
increase my pace till reached the
man. When did so he turned toward
me a good natured face and on seeing
that l was amused at his appearance
said jauntily:
1.-The top of the morning to you. SIR
How are you, Pat?' l replied.
And how did you know me name
was Pat?" he asked.
''Oh, you green islanders are all Ell
Their Pat or Mike. l had an even
chance Of hitting your name"
you're not English" he rejoined,
unless you're a colonist. I know that
by your talk"
'I'm an American. But what the
dickens are you tramping for here in
notwithstanding for a chance to
carry mortar to the top Of some new
buildingY
"Where there's q fellow to do all the
work.
My reply to this was a smile. The
man puzzled me. His brogue was not
so broad as that of an Irish peasant.
And why an Irish peasant should be
looking for job in Switzerland could
not conceive.
Whether it was that I longed for the
companionship of one who spoke a
common language or because there
was something very much alive with
my fellow traveller l don't know, but /
enjoyed his company so well that l
was in no hurry to part with him.
Coming to a village. we sat down to-
gether at table in the grounds of
hotel on the margin of the lake and
ordered a luncheon. Pat talked glibly
all the while, his chat sparkling with
wit and humor, so that l was very
agreeabl entertained. l undertook to
pay for his lunch as we'll as my own
but he wouldn't have 1t. | insisted
that 1t was low price for me to pay
for having been so pleasantly cheered.
but he said that he had. or thought he
had. money enough to take him to
Dublin. and as long as it lasted he
would pay his own way.
The result of the meeting was that
We Travelled together to Geneva. There
he named cheap hotel he proposed to
stop at, and I was so loath to part
with him that chose the same hos
telry. He intended to set out on his
walk the next day toward Dijon,
thence to Paris, Calais and across the
channel and over England to his home
in Ireland. But the next day he was
taken down with rheumatism in one
OF his legs and &C ldn't move.
He did not quit Geneva for two
weeks. 1t was one of my stopping
points and I kept him company. in
other words took care of him. then sue
ceeded in inducing him to permit me
to purchase a ticket for him to Dub
lin. Indeed, there seemed to be no
other way for him to get home but by
train, for he couldn't walk and he
hadn't sufficient money to ride. I told
him that l would make tour Of Ire
land before returning to America and
would see him there If he found it
convenient to pay the loan then, well
and good. If not l would not miss the
amount. On parting with him I asked
him to tell me what he was doing in
Switzerland. He smiled that good
natured smile Of his and said that
would be explained when I saw him
In Ireland.
It was several months before start
ed on my Irish tour. and on reaching
Dublin I posted letter announcing
my arrival to the address he had given
me, q village not far from the city.
The next afternoon note from Pat
was handed to me stating that he had
had relapse of his old trouble. rheu-
matism, and could not get out. Would
I kindly come with the bearer? The
bearer was liveried servant.
thought there must be some mis-
take. but said nothing. / went out
side, where found carriage with q
coachman In the same livery as the
bearer Of the note. / was put into the
carriage and driven for an hour when
we turned into handsome place As
we neared the house I saw gentle
man sitting on the porch with one leg
resting on q chair. On his face was a
broad grin. evidently at the surprise
plainly visible on mine, for he was
none other than my fellow traveller.
Pat
He thus explained the case. He was
q gentleman's son and like others Of
his kind went out into the world to