South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-08
Turned from the Door.

] ~" s'"up' ne'e, Sasu L, auu L shut
the door In his face, did. The wind
blew SD could hardly do It, and the
sieet was beating up the panes. and the
bare trees were groaning and moaning
as IL they suffered in the storm. No
tranps here; I'm lone woman, and I'm
afraid o. EN-
Then the man hadn't sceu yet, for
tho dark, went away from the door.
Champ, champ, champ, came the man
back again. and knocked at the door
knocked not half 80 loud rs he dill be.
fore-and I opened il. ho. and angry.
This time saw his face-a pale ghost
OF face-witL yellow-browp hair. crop.
ped close. and great, staring blue eyes.
and be put his hand against the door and
held it open.
How near is tie next house, ma ann"
said he
Three miles or more" said I; snu
drinks TO be got there; il Is Miss Nit.
tens, and she's Ms set again tramps as 1
am
81 don't want drink," said the man,
though do want food. You needn't
he afraid to let me in, ma'Am. I've been
wounded. and am not able to walk far,
and my clothes are THU, and it's bitter
cold. I've been trying to get to my
parents ut Greenbank. where I can rest
TIL I'm better; all my money was stolen
from me three days ago. You needn't
he aIraid; let me lie just before the fire,
aud only give me n crust. tile stalest
crust. to keep me from starving, and the
Lord will bless you for it,"
And then he locked at Inc with hi,
Mill clue eyes III a way that would have
made me DO it If il hadn't been I'd seen
so much of these impostors. The war
wns just over. and every bcgga- tina,
came along said lie was soldier and
travelling home, and had been wounded
and robbed. One that hal Leen fool.
ish enough 10 help limped away out or
sight. rs he thought. and then-for |
was at Tue garnet wndow-shouldered
his crutches and tTamped with tue stron.
gcst.
NO doubt your pockets arc full Of
money saif1, and You only wan, n
chance l." rob and murder me. Get o.
way with you
Drusilla. that's my niece, was Taking
cakes in the kitchen. Just then she
came TO the door and motioned with Ter
ncutI, TO me, DO let him stay, auntie,'
amt If hadn't hat good sense | might.
but | knew better than chick ..f six
teen.
Go away with you!" Gays /, louder
than before. Il won't have this any.
longer"
And lie gave a kind ,f g-oau anil
took his hand fro the lstcp, anil went
champ, champ, through, the frozen SHOW
again; AMI thvughs hin gone, when
there lie was once more, hardly with
knock at ALA faint touch, like Guilds
oow.
Aud when l opened again he came
quite in, and stood leaning on his cane.
pale "a ghost, his eyes bigger than
ever.
We'll, Of all impudence - said T.
lie looked at me and said: Madam,
| have mother u, Greeubsnk Iwant
to live TO see her. shall mol If | try
to go any further to-oigh,
"They all want TO see their natLcrs."
and just then it came to aiy mind | hoped
that my son Charlie. who bad been d
real soldier. an officer no LGd come to
ne. 'nind ..'ou. wanted W see his, and
would soon
81 have been wounded. as you see,"
said hc.
Don't go showing me your hurts"
sail / +; they buy 'em, 50 they told me,
to 60 begging will, now. real the
papers, l tell Sc, and I'm principled, and
80 ia our Clergyman. again giving any
thing unless it's through some well or.
ganized society. Tramps are my abom-
ination. And as to keeping all night,
you cant expect that OF decent folks
-go"
Drusilla came 10 the door and said,
Let him stay. auntie, with her lips a.
gain, hut 1 took no notice.
So he went. and this time he did not
cUloe back, and sat down by tho Ere,
smelt the baking cakes aud the apples
stewiDg, and the tea drawing On the
kitchen stove, and | ought 10 have been
very comfortable, but | wasn't. Some
thing seemed Juggling at 10Y heart all
the time.
gave the IRE poke, and lit another
candle TO cheer yselfup, and / went TO
the work basket 70 get a suck lad been
knitting for my Charlie, and rs l went
to get IL saw something lying on the
hoOr. picked it up. II was AT old to-
bacco pouch, ever so much like tho one
| gave Charlie with the fringe around it.
and written on il in ink, From G.. +. To
u. III :; and on the inside was Iit OF
tobacco, aad an old pipe, and letter,
rumpled old letter; and when spread
1t out saw ON the top, My dear SON
] know the boggar must have dropped
IL, and my heart gave one light thnmp.
as though IL had been turned into a ham.
mer.
Perhaps tie story was true and he had
mother. shivered all over, and the
Gre and candles aud the nice comforta.
bic smells might as we'll not have been
at all. / was cold and wretched.
! Aad over and over again bad TO saw
TO myself what / heard our pastor say
often: Never give anything TO chance
beggsrs, my dear friends; always no.
alnR Nnnr alma ON .-nrth.. ..o.......