Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-11-19
JOHN PAUL.

he was OOuDtleSS Il tramp. his WOrD
and dusty dress, his crushed felt hat,
his dirty shoes, and the checkered mus
lin shirt, tied at the neck with bit Of
rusty black ribbon, and the little bun
die borne on his shoulder from the end
of stout stick, told the story plainly.
Added to this was the beard of a week S
growth, except the mustache, which had
not been touched by a razor. He was
rather a gay and good-looking fellow
for all that, with a keen eye, an open
countenance, and well-knit figure, and
lie strobe along as though he felt that
the wandering idler was really the king
of other men, and tramping a superior
art.
Presently he threw down his stick
and bundle, and made a leap in the
road, just in time to stop a runaway
horse, with the long reins Tapping about
his feet, and the wagon behind him
swaying from side to side. The occu-
pants of the wagon, a couple as old
fashioned as the carry-all in which they
sat, had been frantically crying to the
horse to stop, and now that some one
had stopped him, were profuse in their
thanks.
'Bob is not vicious" said the man,
whose language and dress showed him
to belong TO the Society of Friends,
"but two geese flew across the road,
and before l knew it he had jerked the
reins out of my hands and started on a
run. I'm obliged to thee, for il thee
hadn't caught him, he might have
spilled us over the high bank below
there"
The tramp nodded, and turned to go,
when the woman spoke.
"Friend," she said, "thee has split
thy coat up the back"
''Have I?' returned the tramp, feel
ing for the rent. 80 I have. must
get it mended somewhere"
Gas thee did it helping us-'said the
man, putting his hand in his pocket.
''I bar that" said the tramp, raising
his hand, and showing with his laugh a
set of white teeth. 81 don't take
money for stopping horses; but I thank
you for your intention"
'T tell thee what to do friend 1
don't know thy name," said the woman.
The tramp smiled again. and said,
"You may call me John Panl, if you
choose"
"Well, friend Paul, does thee see that
white house among the trees, off from
the road back yonder? Thee go there,
aud say to Rachel-that's our neice-
that her uncle and aunt, Mahlon and
Naomi Stacy, sent thee, and ask her to
sew thy coat for thee. She'll make it
passable at least.
"Thank you ma'am; I'll do so."
The tramp removed his battered felt
hat, made a bow rather more courtly
than might have been expected, and
the parties pursued their several ways.
A brisk two minutes walk brought
John Paul to the lane leading from the
road TO the Stacy farmhouse. Down
this lane he turned, and when half way
in it, heard a woman scream. The next
minute q pretty young girl, with her
hair flying over her shoulders, ran ont
of the house, pursued by great, burly,
rough fellow, who stopped when he saw
the other tramp coming The girl kept
on, but when she observed the new
conner, stopped also, in doubt whether
it was not confederate.
Anything wrong?" inquired John
Paul.
"That-that man !" gasped the girl.
There be tramps, and tramps. The
one to whom Paul advanced was of the
baser order, brawny, whiskey-sodden,
and brutal.
"What do you mean by frightening
this young lady ?"
"Take it easy, pard," reioined the
big tramp, grinning. "The gal gave
me q lunch, an wanted to sweeten the
victuals with kiss. There's no bones
broke"
John Paul's face reddened. He took
off his coat and threw il on the palings
of the lane fence.
Now" said he, quietly, "you'n
leave"
"When 1 git good an ready"
answered the other, insolently.
"No, sir-now.
cha ! ha i Suppose you spell able.
Do you see that ?" and he thrust his
fist under the nose of the younger man,
1t was dashed aside suddenly, and the
right hand of John Paul fell with full
force between the eyes of the tramp.
who fell, doubled in heap. He was
up in an instant, to go down again by
another facer. Picking himself up, he
made rush with both arms extended
toward his opponent. It was impossible
to parry this, and it was not attempted
Paul stepped suddenly aside, and before
his antagonist could recover himself,
caught him on the throat with his right
arm, and suddenly bending him over
his own extended knee, threw the great