The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-08-26
A Tramp's Romance.


blood in large or small quantities, but
that-well, that it is romantic.
About four years ago Emma Roiand,
of Galveston, visited an aunt in Warren
county, Kentucky. 1t was summer
the season was-and one evening the
girl sat in the yard, half reading and
half regarding the enormous bumblebees
buzzing around. A Warren county
bumbebee will attract attention every
where. He can make YOU think that
he is tangling himself in your hair, and,
looking around, you will see him ten
feet away, clinging to a thistle bloom.
That's enough about the bee. A foot
step didn't arouse the young lady it
was voice that said:
"Can / get a drink of water
The arms and chin of a tramp leaned
on the fence. He was dressed in the
tramp's garb-a wardrobe at cnce SO de-
scribable and INDISPENSABLE.
81 say, can l get some waterT
EYES," said the girl.
"Must l 60 around to the gate, or
climb over the fencep
"Both, if you choose"
'Thats the way l like to hear people
talk" said the tramp, climbing over and
approaching.
"Now, where's the waterl"
"Ill bring it"
YOU'D better bring the well, for I'm
dryer than Darrell of tromophyle."
The girl went tot the house and returned
with a bucket of water. When the man
had finished drinking, she did not think
that he had exaggerated his thirst. In
fact, she did not think that his COMPARE
son had been adequate.
"What book are you readingP he
asked.
"Mill on the Floss"
"Overrated. l never liked it, All
depth or no depth, | don't know which
The novelist has tried to write story
without a well-detined plot, and has
failed. Goldsmlth's success as a plot
less and charming writer was bad ex-
ample"
"You shouldn't tear my favorite book
to pieces. like George Elliott and all
her works.
"You don't like Mill on the Floss
for you have been noddins over it fot
the last half hour. You only pretend to
read it because you imagine that in doing
so you develop literary taste"
81 think, sir, you are inpudent."
But truthful. Here's book you
should read" and the tramp took from
his ragged coat tattered copy of Bur-
tons "Anatomy of Melancholy" DIR.
johnson said that this book was the
only work that could induce him to get
out of bed mornings sooner than his reg
ular time for rising"
"And that's why you like It," re-
mark ID the girl "lf.Dr. johnson had
not made that remark you wouldn't find
the work so charming"
"That's all right. Give me some moie
water"
The conversation was pursued until
the tramp accepted an invitation TO sup
per. His ideas of Burton and johnson
were soon covered up with batter cakes.
The tramp, Mr.. Preston, remained all
night. Next morning, when he an
nouncad his intention of leaving, the
girl accompanied him to the spot where
sne sat when he hailed her.
"Why do you TRAMP around-have
you no homer
Eyes, as to the home. Don't know,
as to the tramping.'
"Whisky q
"Whisky."
"Why don't you quit y
81 will"
"WhenW
"Now, on one condition. That you
will consent to be my wife. Meet me
under this tree four years from to-day"
81 will"
He babe her goodbye. climbed the
fence, and was gone. No correspond
ence was carried on between them. The
manly, handsome face of the tramp hung
before the girl like portrait.
Several weeks ago the young lady Wis
tied her aunt, and one evening last week
she sat under the tree where four years
before she nodded over book. Bees
buzzrd around-the same bees, seem
ingly. On her lap lay "Mill on the
Floss" near her the tattered copy of Bur-
tons "Anatomy Of Melancholy" A
buggy drove up and a man alighted and
climbed the fence.
"Mr. Pre- ton"