The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-21

It was night at the Michigan Gen.

silent night; land only a few dim
lights broke the gloom into dense
shadows that were more fearful than
utter darkness, and no traveller was
so unfortunate as to be compelled to
linger in the dreary place.
At least that was the impression
the vast silence gave, but there were
two travellers who, when no trains
were coming or going, waited in the
depot through the chill morning
hour.
One was man who had come by
the latest train, and whom the con-
ductor had helped into the depot,
and who, through weariness, had
fallen asleep on the cushion. He
was tickeied through, and his desti-
nation was the grave; no one need
ed to glance at him twice to see that
he had almost reached the end of his
last journey.
The other passenger was on the
road to ruin he too, had nearly ar
rived at the terminus-at least his
pallid, summarized face, and ill-as-
sorted, ragged clothes seemed to in
dicate that he had nearly touched
the foot of the ladder; the world
had taken his measure and named
him tramp" but he had wrought
his own ruin; low and evil as he
was he never blamed any one but
himself.
This man mad been watching the
sleeper for a long time, had noted
his weakness, his respectable appear
ance, and that he had watch chain
at his vest pocket, and a respectable
satchel under his head, and he erept
near, nearer, with the one horrible
thought uppermost-he would rob
the dying man He had no fear of
the act. He hugged the baseness of
it in bis soul. But he did fear that
some one would come in and inter-
rupt his project. If the man moyed7
Why Ia turn of the wrist at his throat
would settle him.
He did not move. The tramp took
the satchel and the watch simulta-
neously and was ready to fly, but
the sick man merely groaned feintly
as his head dropped on the cushion.
In the face of actual death he slept
as quietly as child on its mothers
breast.
As the tramp looked with greedy
eyes at the watch to denote its COM
mercial value, he started and shiv-
cred as if an official hand had been
laid on his shoulder, stared wildly at
the face of the sick man and back to
the watch, which with open case lay
in his hand then he muttered some
thing that had the name of God in
it, and instantly it was back in the
pocket of the sick man and the satch-
Ell was under his head again.
What had he seen?
The picture of a captain in the
southern army, wearing the Confed-
crate uniform. A face that re.embled
that of man who, lay dying of
thirst, and was about to be trans
fixed by rebel bayonet, gave him
draught of spring water, and set
ting him on his own horse, turned
him 70 the north and said
"When you meet a vanquished
man spare him as l have spared
YOU"
And he raised his blue cap in the
air and swore to remember.
Now they had met again.
An hour later a carriage drove in
haste to the depot, and first of all
child came running in. She looked
at the tramp moment and hesita-
ted, then flung herself on the pros
trate man.
'sGrandpaI dear grandpal wake
up, we have come to take you
home.n
A gentleman and ladp hurried in.
Father" said the lady, kneeling
by him, I'VE missed the time, but
here we are now. Do wake up"
The tramp was tanning him with
his cap; certain dignity was in his
face as he did so. The sick man
opened his eyes, smiled feebly, and
said:
Give me-a-d drink-of-wa-
ter"
The tramp brought the water,
and knelt as he lifted the helpless
head and placed the cup of water to
the cold lips. When he laid him
back there was smile sealed upon
him. and the lady and the little girl
sobbed aloud.
The tramp rose to his feet, but
his cringing manner was gone.
''The battle is most over," he said,
gently, "He told me to remember,
and l did. 1 would have died for
him."
He had done better; he had lived
for him, and men touch their hats to
him now, who, three months ago
would have spurned him from their
doors.
Romance, do you say? No, my
dear sir, it is reality.