Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-05-16
" Tramp, Tramp"

"Tramp, Tramp"
A GOOD STORY
lonely country road, with the night
closing upon it the sun set and the sky
black, and white streaks where he had been
the color gone from all the earth, even from
the many-tinted naples and sumacs that an
hour before had famed IN their October
brilliancy; the air frosty and fresh-just the
night to go bowling swiftly home in a light
wagon over a well-graded road, with the
prospect of bright fire and hot supper at
the end of the journey.
Mrs. Cuthbert wished that her husband
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 conscien.
tious housewife 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-fre
cracking on the hearth, and settled down in
her favoiite armchair, with her sewing to
keep her hands busy, while her ears were on
the alert for her husbands step, or a cry
from the baby upstairs.
She was quite alone, it being one of those
periods that so often befall American house
keepers, when the "help" has taken it into
1er head to depart without waiting for
'uccessor to be appointed.
The fire snapped and blaz'd the clock
licked on, and all was quiet. But if Mrs
Cuthbert had CHANGED to look up she might
nave seen face pressed close against the
Il. 4 al
beard aud tangled hair broken nose that
looked most unprepossessing 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 distressed. She forgot
about the supper frizzing away to nothing in
the oven, and began to worry about her hus-
bandit was such lonely walk, if it was
only two miles, and she did wish he would
come.
Footsteps on the ont porch sent her fears
to the winds, and spirit of mischief took
possession of her in their stead the door
was locked, and she would make him wait
few minutes to pay him for making her
wait so long.
She bent her head and pretended not to
notice. even when she heard the steps de-
scend 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 a
short time before, was thrust into the room,
and then a fierce voice demanded;
"Why don't you come and open the door
for me p
Mrs. Cuthbert nodded her pretty head, and
without turning round answered, saucily:
No, sir, don't mean to let you in to-
night"
The ugly face looked thunder-struck, then
frightened, and finally two grimy paws
clutched the window, shutting it with
crash that made the glasses quiver, and the
ugly face was gone.
"Oh dear now he's angry-I always do
carry my fun too far" cried Mrs. Cuthbert,
Springing from her chair and rushing into
the hall.
George Georgel' l'
She turned the lock-
"Georgel"
sight of dark figure hurrying up the path
to the barn.
"Oh, you're not going to hide from Inc
in that way, sir " she called out, running
down the steps and on toward the barn.
The dark figure was swallowed up III the
great black doorway before she reached it.
"Oh, you great goose !" she said, standing
on the threshold, don't you suppose | can
find you? You had better give yourself up
at once.
Then she waited. The dark figure crouched
still closer behind the old carriage, and there
was no answer.
al shall find you, sir; know every cor
| ner," she gave warning; then, with arms
stretched out before her, commenced TO
search. In aud out among the barrels and
boxes she went in the utter blackness, call
ing out merrily now aud then that she would
lind him and punish him for giving her so
much trouble. Ouce she almost touched
the shrinking figure but it held its breath,
,nd she passed on.
1t was weird game of hide-and-seek :;
the dark figure with the ugly face covering
tmong the wheels, listening with a strange
kind of savage fear to the light footsteps
that sounded now here, now there he heard
them climb the ladder and patter about in
the loft overhead, then come down again,
md the voice-not so merry now-repeat
her assurance of finding the truant, aud a
sudden desire entered his brain to spring
upon her and choke her. 1t would not be
the first time he had done such deed, but
|
and again she passed him all unconscious.
He saw her pause in the doorway, dimly
outlined against the sky, and then disappear
down the path.
"Ef she amt the pluckiest un !" he
grnwled, as he crept from behind the carriage.
" Hanged if she amt a ghost or suthn. -
And with this peculiar comment on Mrs.
Cuthbert's bravery, he shook himself and
made his way out Of the barn with a side
long gait, as ii he were used TO sinking in
and out of places.
Mrs. Cuthbert meanwhile sped on TO the
house, her steps fastened by the idea that
her husband might be there--perhaps he
might have slipped out of the barn while
she was up in the loft, or perhaps he had not
gone into the barn at all.
Alas for her hopes The sitting-room was
empty, and just as she had left it.
Not despairing yet, she snatched up the
lamp, aud determined TO search the house,
From room to room she went, calling upon
George, and looking into every closet and
behind and under every article of furniture,
but not glimpse of her husband gladdened
her ewes, aud at last she sat down by the
baby's cradle and burst into tears.
"Oh, how can he be so cruel !" she sobhed,
" and for such little thing, lie might
have known ! was only in fun; but maybe
he's only in fun himself. and will come in
soon"
Cheered by this last reflection, she trotted
briskly down stairs, stirred the fire into
blaze, and stood watching it, too fidgety
TO settle to her sewing again. The wood
famed noisily, then glowed a silent red,
then crumbed and fell, an untidy, dreary
mass of whitened ashes and dying embers,
and still her husband did not come.
The clock struck nine, aud Mrs. Cuthbert
looked at it reproachfully, as if it were the
time-piece's fault that it was 20 late. Where
,oas her husband ? Perhaps he was wan
dering about in the dark, unable to find the
house. Why hadn't she thought of that be.
fore She would put lamp In every room.