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he hero。
A man of forty； judging him fairly； with long hair curling at the ends； dramatic eyes； and a forked brown beard like those that were imposed upon the West some years ago by self…appointed 〃divine healers〃 who succeeded the grasshopper crop。 His outward vesture appeared to be kind of gunny…sacking cut and made into a garment that would have made the fortune of a London tailor。 His long； well…shaped fingers； delicate nose； and poise of manner raised him high above the class of hermits who fear water and bury money in oyster…cans in their caves in spots indicated by rude crosses chipped in the stone wall above。
The hermit's home was not altogether a cave。 The cave was an addition to the hermitage； which was a rude hut made of poles daubed with clay and covered with the best quality of rust…proof zinc roofing。
In the house proper there were stone slabs for seats； a rustic bookcase made of unplaned poplar planks； and a table formed of a wooden slab laid across two upright pieces of granitesomething between the furniture of a Druid temple and that of a Broadway beefsteak dungeon。 Hung against the walls were skins of wild animals purchased in the vicinity of Eighth Street and University Place； New York。
The rear of the cabin merged into the cave。 There the hermit cooked his meals on a rude stone hearth。 With infinite patience and an old axe he had chopped natural shelves in the rocky walls。 On them stood his stores of flour； bacon； lard； talcum…powder； kerosene； baking… powder； soda…mint tablets； pepper； salt； and Olivo…Cremo Emulsion for chaps and roughness of the hands and face。
The hermit had hermited there for ten years。 He was an asset of the Viewpoint Inn。 To its guests he was second in interest only to the Mysterious Echo in the Haunted Glen。 And the Lover's Leap beat him only a few inches； flat…footed。 He was known far （but not very wide； on account of the topography） as a。 scholar of brilliant intellect who had forsworn the world because he had been jilted in a love affair。 Every Saturday night the Viewpoint Inn sent to him surreptitiously a basket of provisions。 He never left the immediate outskirts of his hermitage。 Guests of the inn who visited him said his store of knowledge； wit； and scintillating philosophy were simply wonderful； you know。
That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests。 So； on Saturday nights； there were extra cans of tomatoes； and sirloin steak； instead of 〃rounds；〃 in the hermit's basket。
Now you have the material allegations in the case。 So； make way for Romance。
Evidently the hermit expected a visitor。 He carefully combed his long hair and parted his apostolic beard。 When the ninety…eight…cent alarm…clock on a stone shelf announced the hour of five he picked up his gunny…sacking skirts； brushed them carefully； gathered an oaken staff； and strolled slowly into the thick woods that surrounded the hermitage。
He had not long to wait。 Up the faint pathway； slippery with its carpet of pine…needles； toiled Beatrix； youngest and fairest of the famous Trenholme sisters。 She was all in blue from hat to canvas pumps； varying in tint from the shade of the tinkle of a bluebell at daybreak on a spring Saturday to the deep hue of a Monday morning at nine when the washer…woman has failed to show up。
Beatrix dug her cerulean parasol deep into the pine…needles and sighed。 The hermit； on the q。 t。； removed a grass burr from the ankle of one sandalled foot with the big toe of his other one。
She bluedand almost starched and ironed himwith her cobalt eyes。
〃It must be so nice；〃 she said in little； tremulous gasps； 〃to be a hermit； and have ladies climb mountains to talk to you。〃
The hermit folded his arms and leaned against a tree。 Beatrix； with a sigh； settled down upon the mat of pine…needles like a bluebird upon her nest。 The hermit followed suit； drawing his feet rather awkwardly under his gunny…sacking。
〃It must be nice to be a mountain；〃 said he； with ponderous lightness； 〃and have angels in blue climb up you instead of flying over you。〃
〃Mamma had neuralgia；〃 said Beatrix； 〃and went to bed； or I couldn't have come。 It's dreadfully hot at that horrid old inn。 But we hadn't the money to go anywhere else this summer。〃
〃Last night；〃 said the hermit； 〃I climbed to the top of that big rock above us。 I could see the lights of the inn and hear a strain or two of the music when the wind was right。 I imagined you moving gracefully in the arms of others to the dreamy music of the waltz amid the fragrance of flowers。 Think how lonely I must have been！〃
The youngest； handsomest； and poorest of the famous Trenholme sisters sighed。
〃You haven't quite hit it；〃 she said； plaintively。 〃I was moving gracefully at the arms of another。 Mamma had one of her periodical attacks of rheumatism in both elbows and shoulders； and I had to rub them for an hour with that horrid old liniment。 I hope you didn't think that smelled like flowers。 You know； there were some West Point boys and a yachtload of young men from the city at last evening's weekly dance。 I've known mamma to sit by an open window for three hours with one…half of her registering 85 degrees and the other half frostbitten； and never sneeze once。 But just let a bunch of ineligibles come around where I am； and she'll begin to swell at the knuckles and shriek with pain。 And I have to take her to her room and rub her arms。 To see mamma dressed you'd be surprised to know the number of square inches of surface there are to her arms。 I think it must be delightful to be a hermit。 Thatcassock gabardine； isn't it？that you wear is so becoming。 Do you make itor themof course you must have changes… yourself？ And what a blessed relief it must be to wear sandals instead of shoes！ Think how we must sufferno matter how small I buy my shoes they always pinch my toes。 Oh； why can't there be lady hermits； too！〃
The beautifulest and most adolescent Trenholme sister extended two slender blue ankles that ended in two enormous blue…silk bows that almost concealed two fairy Oxfords； also of one of the forty…seven shades of blue。 The hermit； as if impelled by a kind of reflex… telepathic action； drew his bare toes farther beneath his gunny… sacking。
〃I have heard about the romance of your life；〃 said Miss Trenholme； softly。 〃They have it printed on the back of the menu card at the inn。 Was she very beautiful and charming？〃
〃On the bills of fare！〃 muttered the hermit； 〃but what do I care for the world's babble？ Yes； she was of the highest and grandest type。 Then；〃 he continued； 〃then I thought the world could never contain another equal to her。 So I forsook it and repaired to this mountain fastness to spend the remainder of my life aloneto devote and dedicate my remaining years to her memory。〃
〃It's grand；〃 said Miss Trenholme； 〃absolutely grand。 I think a hermit's life is the ideal one。 No bill…collectors calling； no dressing for dinnerhow I'd like to be one！ But there's no such luck for me。 If I don't marry this season I honestly believe mamma will force me into settlement work or trim