Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-12-07
JOHN PAUL.


and dusty dress, his crushed felt hat, bis
dirty shoes, and the checkered muslin
shirt, tied at the neck with bit Of rusty
black ribbon, and the little bundle
borne en- his shoulder from the end of a
stout stick, told the story iplainly.-
Added to this was the beard OF weeks
growth, except the mustache, which
had not beer touched by razor. lie
was rathera gay and good-looking fel-
low for all that, with keen eye, an
open countepance, and well-knlt
figure, and he slrode along as though he
felt that the wandering idler was really
the king OF the other men, and tramp
ing superior art.
Presently be threw down his stick and
bundle, and made leap in the road,
just in time to stop a runaway horse,
with the long reins tapping about bis
feet, and the wagon behind swaying
from side 10 side. The occupants Of the
wagon, a couple as old.fashloned 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 hot 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 knew it be had jerked the reins
out of my hands and started ona run.
Pm obliged to thee, for if thee hadn't
caught him, he might have spilled US
over the high bank below there
The tramp nodded, and turned to so,
when the woman spoke.
'Friend,' she said, thee has split thy
coat up the back
Have ~ returned the tramp, feeling
for the rent. so 1 have. l must get
it mended somewhere
AS thee did it helping us said the
man, putting bis hand in bis pocket.
Il bar that, said the tramp, rising his
hand, and showing with his laugh a set
of white teeth. 1 don't take money for
stoppipc horses; but thank you for
your Intention
Il tell thee what to do, friend !
don't know thy name,' said the so
man.
The tramp smiled again, and said,
You may call me John Paul, if you
choose
We'll, friend Paul, does thee see that
white house among the trees, of from
the road back yonnderi? Thee go there
and say TO Rachel-that's our Diece-
that her uncle and aunt, Mahlou 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 bow rather more cOurtly
than might have been expected, and
the parties pursued their several ways,
A brisk two minutes walk brought
John Paul 10 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 pretty young girl, with
her hair flying over her shoulders ran
out of the house. pursued by a great,
burly, rough fellow, who stopped when
be saw the other tramp comlng. The
eirl Kept on, but when she observed the
newcomer, stopped also, in doubt
whether it was not confederate.'
Anything wrOng?' inquired John
Paul.
'That-that man y gasped the girl.
There be tramps, and tramps. The
one to whom Paul advanced was OF the
Das er order, brawnY, whiskcy-soddcn.
brutal.
What do you mean by frightening
his young ladl?'
Take it easy, pard,' rciOined the big
ramp. grinning. The gal give me
unch, an wanted to swecten the
victuals with o kiss. There's no bones
oroke.'
John Paul's face Redeemed. He took
of his coat and threwi it on the pallnss
Of the lane fence.
Now said he, quietly, you'll leave.
when git good an ready answered
he other, insolently.
No, sir-now.'
'Ha {! ha! Suppose you spell able.
Do YOU see that?' aud he thrust his fist
lnder the nose of the'younger man.
II was dashed aside suddenly, and the
-ioht hand of John Paul fell with iuil
orce between the eyes of the tramp, |
who fell, doubled IN heap. He was
ID in an instant, to go down again by |
another iacer, Picking hlmselfup, he
made a rush with both arms EXTENDED
oward his opponent. 1t vas imposSl'
,le TO parry this, and it was not al"
empted. Paul stepped suddenly aside,
md before his antagonist could recover
himself, caught HIM on sthe throat with
,ls right arm, and suddenly ben ding
i'm over his own extended knee, threw
he great mass OF flesh 10 the ground
Nth force that made quite an audible
ound. The rufan lay there for a min
,te or so motlonless.
Thee hasn't killed himf' timidly in ]
lured the girl.
No, miss said John Paul, out I've
,jyen his backbone a jar that makes
4, s,cl y Ggbting. . Come, sir, get
pn With pure -s7s~1gthc man began 10
hs tainmelt5 lt5r,;f nm and 90, or I'll