Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-10
AN ADVENTURE WITH A TRAMP.

Lawyer CreaSey SAT III his Offlce, at the
beginning Of a pleasant afternoon in Octo-
Der, deeply engaged in examining count
less documents, bills, etc., that were scat
tered profusely over his desk. He seemed
in deep thought as he scanned first one,
then another, and, after few moments
consideration, thus soliloquized =
'"Tis Of no use what remains of Clay
toms estate, now the bills are paid, will be
hardly enough to defray Arthur's expenses
through college. I would gladly have
saved more for the son Of my old friend, but
find the accounts are correct, and all just
dues, as he directed, have been settled. I
think Clayton was. aware of this before he
died, though he never referred to it direct
ly3 that specializing business did the mis-
chief. But, after all, Arthur is better off
than was at his age"
He shaded his brow with his hand as Wis
ions came before him of a poor orphan boy
working hard at college to pay his expen-
ses, ringing the chapel bell, building fires,
etc., and teaching through vacations.
In school, he and James Clayton were
warm friends, though widely separated by
the laws of society, for James Clayton was
rich mans son, while Hugh Creasey was
poor and friendless. Perhaps the bond of
friendship existing between them was be-
cause they were natives Of the same town,
and each loved the rocks and rills of their
home. Thus at college they formed an at
ton which ayictod oftor oh
to manhood. James married a gay city
belle, and lived quietly in his native town,
where, not many years after, he laid his
wife away in the little churchyard, when
the violets were blooming, and the May
flowers waited their fragrance on the
breeze. Then he devoted himself to his
only son, and bestowed upon him the af-
lection of both father and mother; and
when, several years after, his health failed
him, and he learned his days ON earth were
made him the guardian of his child.
Lawyer Creasey was se]f-made man,
who, through persistent efforts by his own
exertions, was a worthy member of the
bar, and, at the time our story begins, was
pleasantly situated in the city Of Rutland,
his family consisting of wife and daugh-
ter, a pretty, winning maiden with large
brown eyes and waving raven tresses, who
was the life and joy of his home.
The afternoon passed away the evening
shadows gathered, and he wendell his way
homeward as the twilight shades were fall
ing. Arriving at his residence, fine
Gothic cottage in the suburbs, he was met
on the piazza by his daughter, who in
CURED
"Any letters, father ?''
He answered her inquiry by slipping in
! to her small white hand two envelopes, one
addressed in large, flowing hand, the 9th
er in fine, delicate tracing, saying, as he
did so,-
"Arthur and your old schoolmate, Jen.
ME, are models of punctuality."
They passed through the hall into the
little sitting room, with it's bright tapestry
carpet and tempting easy chairs. The wall
was ornamented with rich oil paintings,
and everything looked cheerful and home.
like. Mariana brought his dressing gown
and slippers, while her mothers pleasant
voice was heard saying
"Come, father, hurry The toast and tea
will be cold"
Soon they were seated around the table
with it's snowy cloth, partaking OF Their
evening meal.
'sSome of your bread, Anna ?" said he1
father, taking his third biscuit. "You
will soon compete with your mother, which
is the best compliment l can give your
"You are too partial, father. By the
way, mother, did you see strange looking
man with faded drab coat and an old
white straw hat pass here this morning /:
Helen Davis said he called there for some
thing to eat, and she was so frightened thai
she gave him the first thing she found il
the closet, which proved to be a loaf Of
rich plum cake. I told her it was not sub
stantial food for hungry man, while she
replied if I had been in her situation ]
wouldn't have done any better, for he wa.
a desperate looking fellow, with an evi
eye, and scanned the room very closet,
while she was getting it,,
81 hope he has left the neighborhood. ,
said her mother, who was very timid &C.
|havn't seen person of that descriptio,