Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-11-04

L SAID; LOT Inougn lHy 1edr was Sonos :
still stood looking at him.
'.No; of course you don't. Folks
don't notice me much. But I've seen
you though"
'Then it must be that you live near
here" l said. hesitatingly.
Il don't live anywhere" was the
quick reply. I'm a tramp. and young
ladies don't like to make the acquaint-
ance of tramps. Hadn't you better run
away now ?"
But | still stood there, and asked him
one question more; which was if he had
really no friends to whom he could 60?
"Friends !'' and he looked at me
strangely; but in moment added,
81 thought 1 had once,-but it seems
1 was mistaken. Everybody has fair
weather friends, you know. Mine were
all that kind-but one.'
"And why do you not go that one ?''
1 asked.
He laughed gloomily, and was silent
for moment; but then he said,
Il tried to once; but they brought
me back. didn't thank them for it,
but I'm going to wait now"
Doubtful of his meaning, said,
"Where is your friend ?-what is his
name 2"
"What's that to you, miss p he asked.
"You don't suppose I'm going to tell
all my secrets, do you?''
"Oh no; but l might kelp you in
some way"
"What-eh-help? | haven't asked
you to help me, have 2"
He said this with such look that I
was almost frightened again. Still l
stood there. Il would help you if I
could" | replied.
Would you? Would you? Keep on
talking in that way. You've given
me the first kind words I've had since
since"
He did not say since when, but stop
ped and looked at me. though it was
plain enough he did not see me. It
seemed as if he was looking through
me, at something beyond.
What was it you were saying ?" he
asked at last, low and earnestly, SEEM
ing to recognize me again.
81 said | would like to help you if I
could"
Suddenly rousing himself, he replied,
rather sharply, Il don't believe it No
body wants to help me. !"
Indeed | do l will if l can; but I
have no money only this; and l turned
my purse, which contained solitary
nickel and two street car tickets, almost
inside out, to show that SO much of what
l said. at least, was true.
Then a smile came over his face-a
smile IN which there was no bitterness,
and he said,
"Put it back put it all back don't
want any money. l am above money.
Tramps can get along without it,
81 thought everybody wanted money"
l said. "But if you did I suppose you
could earn il"
THAT'S easy enough to say, miss
and | don't blame you any for saying
it. Of course you've never tried tc
earn money. But have. I've tried
and would have tried again but
here he paused. though he quickly con
tinued-"but I'm above money now
can get along we'll enough without it
We're mighty independent-we tramps
No poor relation no run down house.
on our hands; nothing to keep in re
pair; no taxes to pay; nothing in the
savings bank to worry about; nobody
dying and leaving us fortunes-that W,
ever hear of. We're mighty independ
ent, miss-you can't tell anything abou
it till you have tried it. But I hop,
after all you'll never come to that"
81 hope I never SHALL" I replied
"But don't yet understand why yo'
need be "a tramp as you call your
SELF"
'Of course you don't. You can't un
derstand what you don't know, miss
and you can't know anything until yov
have learnt it. I've been learning, an,
now know all about it. But why d
, you come here alone ? tell me that
II come to visit my sisters grave"
said. Il stayed late to-day, becaus
| there was much to be done there"
, "And what good will it do her 2 She
, all right now, of course; you can't hel
her any,"
} ..That's cruel thing for you to say
) sir. 1t cannot be that you ever had
sister to love-"
"Yes, l have. and more And ther
t after another brief pause, and wha
seemed great efort-'I've wife an
, two children over there p and he poin
, ed with the stick on which he had bee
r leaning towards the cemetery from whic
: | had come. "What's sister compare
with them !? I've had sisters and they'l
a alive now for aught I know, but all th;
+ were worth caring for are over ther