The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-06-19
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Sunday, June 10. 1881.
THE LONE WOMAN AND THE
TRAMP.

If you please ma'sm, wost you give
me Q drink Of milk 2
Miss Fydeet had just come in from q
long and bottles search through the
pasture for q wandering brood OF young
turkeys. which had been missing since
morning.
She was warm and tired; one boot
was burst open on the side. her sun
bonnet hung limp at the back of her
head, her gray curls were in true artis-
tie confusion, and q vicious blackberry
brisr had torn her hands, until she
looked Is though she might have been
in skirmish with the Zulus.
But l wouldn't have minded all
that. was Miss Fydge,'s melancholy
comment to herself, If only I could
have found my young turkeys. They
do say there is Q company of tramps
loafng about the country, and
Just then the voice of an old man.
sitting on the well-curb, broke in
upon the thread Of her reflections, an
old man in o shabby coat, buttoued
closely across his chest, shoes thickly
coated with dust. and rude cane, cut
from the woods. upon which be rested
his folded hands.
Miss Fydget stared at the old man;
the old man returned her gaze. depre-
cstingly.
Perhaps you're deaf, ma'am.' said
the stranger. elevsting bis voice a semi.
tone or 30 higher.
NO more than yourselfr said Miss
Fydget. naturally somewhat irritated.
Miss Fydget bethoueht herself oil
the fiosting rumor she had heard. Per-
hsps this venerable vsgrant was one of
the very band now marching through
the wales and glens Of Rochemont; per,
haps even now he had a corps Of
bloOdy-minded coadjutors hidden be-
hind the stone wall. or under the moss
roof Of the ancient smokehouse. And
Miss Fydget was possessed Of several
pieces of antique silver, and had forty
dollars 10 an old teapot on the upper
most closet shelf.
Who are your curtly questioned she
"A man and o brother. the old man
answered. not without covert smile.
No you are not, said Miss Fydget,
incensed ct what she deemed an nm
necessary insolence, You're tramp
The stranger smiled.
'ls tramp. then, destitute Of ell the
privileges of humanity 2 he asked.
Eh 2 said Mics Fydget.
'Trsmps must live as well as other
people, pleaded the old man. Now
look ct me-
Yes. said Miss Fydget, I'm looking
at you; and dusty. shabby-looking
figure you ere. ! must say
I've walked fifteen miles since
morning. with nothing to eat or drink.
That's what they all say, said Miss
Fydget incredulously.
Would it be any great stretch to your
hospitality to give me slice OF bread
and Q drink of cool milk 2 he replied.
Miss Fydget stood for q moment
bordering the petition in her mind.
Look here. old mani she said, al
last. ! know perfectly we'll that you're
tramp; but l suppose that you're a
human after all. There's q pile oil
knotty pine stumps under the shed
you may split few Of them for my
cooking stove
But mx'am-'
Il knew how it would b. shrilly in-
terrupted Miss Fydget. You're deal
too lazy to work; you'd Q deal rather
starve than do an honest days work
any time
i beg your pardon, said the old
man mildly. 1t ia good many years
since I split pile of wood
iii 60 bail it is. said Miss Fydget
satirically.
But If you will get me the axe !
will try and do my BEST he added
meekly.
The axe 10 hanging up in the wood
shed, at the left hand side of the door,
said Miss Fydge:.
And she went into the house. leav.
ing her venerable visitor to do as he
pleased about accepting her offer.
After she was within the yellow
washed walls Of her own kitchen, how
ever, il occurred to her that she had
done rather foolish thing.
i suppose he'd as soon split my head
open ss the sticks Of wood, she thought
to herself. And of course he knows
that I'm alone in the world mean
in the house. But it's pretty much the
same thing with deep sigh. And
who knows but / may be murdered
within the next five minutes
'Thudl thudp came the sound OF the
axe. descending with slow, regular
strokes upon the knotty stunps of yell
low pine: and Miss Fydget listened
with sort OF terrible fascination, won
dsring. as she did 20. what sort OF re.
lation, IN the matter Of sound, the hu.
man tympsnum might bear to the pine
stumps.
What . fool I vast said she to her
self.
And with noissless movements. che
went across the kitchen floor and took
down rusty musket. which had hung
suspended over the old brick chimney
ever aimee abe was child.
Il don't know % could FIRE il of.
sad she; bat I'll try. il l see any signs
OF mischief.
It was unnecessary, however. She
poured out DO al of milk. frat thrift
ily pausing 10 skim 1t, ADD then cut Q
good thick slice Of rye bread. taking
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