Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-10-22
Tramp, Tramp"

even from the many-tinted naples and
sumacs that an hour before had famed
in their October brilliancy; the air fros-
ty and fresh-just the night to go bowl
ing swiftly home in light wagon over
a we'll graded road. with the prospect of
a bright fire and hot supper at the end
of the journey.
Mrs. Cuthbert wished that her hus-
band would come bowling home" as
she lighted the lamp and placed it in
the centre Of the pretty tea table, SO
daintily set forth with her wedding glass
and silver the supper would not be fit
to eat if he were much later, and Mrs.
Cuthbert was too conscientious house
wife not to feel alarmed at the idea of
her good things being spoiled. But, like
the even-tempered little woman she was,
she only put an extra stick on the wood
fire cracking on the hearth, and settled
down in her favorite m.chair, with her
sewing to keep her hands busy, while
her ears were on the alert for her hus-
bands step, or cry from the baby up
stairs.
She was quite alone, it being one of
those periods that so often befall Ameri-
can hOusekeepers, when the ''help" has
taken it into her head to depart without
waiting for a successor to be appointed.
The fire snapped and blazed, the clock
ticked ON, and all was quiet. But if
Mrs. Cuthbert had chanced to look up
she might have seen face pressed close
against the window-pane-an ugly face
with rough beard and tangled hair, a
broken nose that looked most unprepos-
sessing fattened on the glass, and eyes
that cleaned greedily at the silver on
the table-but she did not and all was
quiet.
The clock struck seven, and Mrs.
Cuthbert started, surprised and distress
ed. She forgot about the supper friz-
zing away to nothing in the oven, and
began to worry about her husband-it
was such lonely walk, if it was only
two miles, and she did wish he would
come.
Footsteps on the front porch sent her
fears to the winds, and spirit of mis-
chief took possession of her in their
stead the door was locked. and she
would make him wait few mlnntes '-S 70
pay him for making her wait so long.
She bent her head and pretended not
to notice, even when she heard the steps
descend from the porch and tramp over
the grass to the window.
The sash was violently thrown up and
the ugly face that had been regarding
her short time before, was thrust into
the room, and then fierce voice de-
manded:
"Why don't you come and open the
door for me ?"
Mrs. Cuthbert nodded her pretty head
and without turning around, answered,
saucily:
"No, sir, don't mean to let you in,
tonight"
f The ugly face looked thunder-struck
then frightened, and finally two grimy
paws clutched the window, shutting il
e with a crash that made the glasses quiv
e er, and the ugly face was gone.
"Oh dear now he's angry always
J do carry my fun too far" cried Mrs
Cuthbert, springing from her chair ant
= rushing into the hall.
e George George l''
: She turned the lock.
: "George!"
The porch was empty, but she caugh
y sight of dark figure hurrying up tn
70 path to the barn.
It "Oh, you're not going to hide froI
% me in that way, sir J" she called ou
running down the steps and on towar
|. the barn.
n n The dark figure was swallowed up
,e the great black doorway before 81
l. reached it.
"Oh. you great goose !" she sai'
p standing on the threshold, 'don't yC
III suppose l can find you? You had be
= ter give yourself up at once
}" Then she waited. The dark fgu
crouched still closer behind the old ca
Id riage, and there was no answer.
Of 81 shall find you, sir; | know evel
ne 4, corner" she gave warning; then, wi
:, arms stretched out before her, commen
ed to search. In and out among Il
cd barrels and boxes she went in the utt
ed blackness, calling out merrily now al
ID. then that she would find him and pu
u y; ish him for giving her so much troubl
o. Once she almost touched the shrinkil
figure but it held its breath, and s
IL passed on.
in 1t was weird game fhide-and-seel
'as the dark figure with the ugly face CO
~ ng ering among the wheels, listening wi
id a strange kind of savage fear to the lig
ng footsteps that sounded now here, N
the there he heard them climb the ladd
and patter about in the loft overhe;
then come down again, and the voice
,nt I not so merry now-repeat her assurar