Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-21
: A Tramp's Romance.

and one evening the girl sat in
the yard, half reading and regard
ing the enormous bumblebees
buZzing around. A Warren coun-
ty bunblebee will attract atten-
ton anywhere. He can make you
think he is tangling himself in
your hair, and, looking round,
you see him ten feet away, cling
ing to thistle-bloom.
That's enough about the bee. A
footstep didn't arouse the young
lady. 1t was voice that said,
"Can / get a drink of water 2"
Two arms and the chin of a tramp
leaned on the fence. He was
dressed in the tramp's garb, a
wardrobe at once 80 describable
and Undesirable. II say, can 1
get some water? ?"
YES said the girl.
smut go round to the gate or
climb over the fence ?"
both, if you choose"
"That's the way / like to hear
people talk said the tramp, climb
ing over and approaching.
NOW WueT0 tue WuteE
"I'll bring it,
"You had better bring the well,
for l am dryer than barrel Of
bromophite."
The girl went to the house and
returned with a bucket of water.
When the man had finished drink
ing she did not think that he had
0nnrntn1 hsC fhfrof n font
she did not think that his COM
parison had been adequate.
"What book are you reading ?"
"Mill on the Floss
"Overrated. / never liked it.
All depth or no depth: | don't
know which. The novelist has
tried to write o story without
well.defined plot, and has failed.
GOldsmith's success as a plotless
and charming writer was bad
example,"
"You shouldn't tear my favor
lite book to pieces. like George
Eliot and all her works."
"You don't like Mill on the
Floss. You have been nodding
over it for the last half hour. You
only pretend to read it, because
you imagine that in doing go you
develop literary taste"
81 think, sir, you are impu-
dent"
"But truthful. Here's a book
you should read" and the tramp
took from his ragged coat later
ed copy of Burton's Anatomy of
Melancholy. CDR. johnson said
that this book was the only work
that could induce him to get out
of bed, mornings, sooner than his
regular time of rising"
"And that's why you like it,"
remarked the girl, taking the
book. "If DIR. Johnson had not
made that remark you would not
find the work so charming"
"That's all right. Give me some
more water
The conversation was pursued
until the tramp accepted an in
vitation to supper. His idea ofBur-
ton and johnson were soon covered
up with batter cakes. The tramp,
Mr.. Preston, remained all night.
Next morning, when he announc-
ed his intention of leaving, the
girl accompanied him TO the spot
where she sat when he hailed her.
"Why do you tramp around;
have you no home ~
ayes, as to the home. Don't
know as to the tramping."
"Whisky?'
"Whisky."
"Why don't you quit ?'
"I will"
"When ~
"Now, on one condition; that
you consent to to be my wife.
Meet me under this tree four years
from to-day
81 Will.'
Goodbye" and he climbed the
fence and WAS gone. No cores
pondence was carried o. between
them. The manly. handsome face
of the tramp hung before the girl
like a portrait. Deep, earnest eyes,
q merry laugh, accompanied the
tramp.
Several weeks ago the young
lady visited her aunt. One even.
ing last week she sat under q tree
in the yard where four years be-
fore she NODDED over book
Bees buzzed around-the same
bees seemingly. On her lap lay
Mill on the Floss; near her a tat.
tered copy of Burton's Anatomy
of Melancholy. A buggy drove
up. A man alighted and climbed
the fence.
"Mr. Preston
s'Miss Roland"
There was no indication of 9
3.oDopin the hapdGo pnaIy raoood