Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-03-07
"TRAMP, TRAMP"

\ 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 be-
fore had tlamed in their October brill
fancy; the air frosty and fresh-iust
the night to 90 bowling swiftly home
III "A hight wagon over a well-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 "howling home. 4"
as she lighted the lamp and placed it
In the center Of the pretty tea-table so
daintily set forth with her wedding
glass and silver; the supper would not
DE NJ TO eat II he were much later,
ana Mrs. Cuthbert was too conscien.
tious housewife not to feel alarmed
III 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-tire cracking
on the hearth, and settled down in her
favorlte armchair, with her sewing to
Keep her hands busy, while her ears
were ON the alert for her husbands
step, or cry from the baby upstairs.
She was quite alone. it being one of
those periods that SO often befall
American housekeepers. when the
help has taken it into her head to
depart without waiting for "A successor
10 be appointed.
The fire snapped and blazed. the clock
tucked ON, and all was quiet. But if Mrs.
Cuthbert had CHANGED To look up, she
might have seen a face pressed close
against the window-pane-an ugly
face with Il rough beard and tangled
HAIR broken nose that looked most
unprepoSseSslng ilattened on the glass,
and eyes that CLEANED greedly at the
silver on the table-but she did not.
and all was quiet.
The clock struck seven, and Mrs.
Cuthhert started, surprised and dis
tressed She forgot about the supper
frl2zlng away To nothing in the oven,
and began to worry about her husband
1t was such a 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 a spirit of
mischief took possession of her in
their stead; the door was locked. and
she would make him wait few min
utes to pay him out 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 re-
gardlng her a short time before was
thrust into the room, and then fierce
voice demanded:
WHY don't yer come and open the
door for me 2"
Mrs. Cuthhert nodded her pretty
head, and, without turning round, an.
swered. saucily:
No, sir, don't mean to let You in
tonight
The ngly face looked thuuder-struck.
then frightened, and finally two grimy
paws ciutchcd the window. shutting
ii with a crash that made the glasses
quiNer, and the ugly face WAS gone
on dear, NOW he's angry al.
ways do carry my fun too far" cried
Mrs. C4rhoert, springiug from her
chair and rushing INTO the hall.
George George"
She turned the lock.
George
The porch was empty. hut She
caught sight 81 a dark figure hurlyjn-
mp the path To the barn.
"Oh. you're not going ,o hide frnp,
me IN that way, SIR, She called out.
running drwn the steps and ou to,,.,ri
the barr.
The dark figure was SWALLOWED nm,
in the great black doorway hefor, She
reached il.
"olb YOU great goose she said