Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-03-22
STRANGELY MET.

and how weak she looks and how sad r.
said Clara Story, the tears of beau
tiful, womanly compassion gathering
thick in the blue eyes and slowly cours-
ing down the blooming cheek.
She stood in the doorway of the
farm sitting-room, and the sunshine
from the broad summer fields outside
rushed about her and made living gold
/of her hair, and she stood in its light
with heavenly pity on her pure face
as though she had but newly alighted
upon earth from some fairer region.
She was looking at the figure Of an
old woman, crouched on a low arm
chair, at the opposite wall.
She was much travel-stained. The
shoes were dragged down at heel, thick
with the mud of many highways, and
in some places burst open; the dress
an old silk one-was very ragged, but
not as from wear; there were great
rents, as if the poor soul had forced
her way through thorn and bramble-
thickets.
Her head was uncovered, and the
gray hair fell disheveled and unkempt.
Her face was very pinched, very white
and hoilow-cheeked. She had all the
look of vagrant, wandering from
place to place, ready to take revenge
en- society for real or fancied wrongs
received from it
So thought Aunt Deborah as sh
came into the room at the moment
with plate holding golden pyramid
of blocks of butter.
Gracious sakes, child % cried Aunt
Deborah. "Where did you get this
creature, in the name of goodness !?
Why did you let her in at alp"
"Well, Aunt Deb" said Clara, quiz
etly, 81 can hardly say that 1 let her
in; but I found her on the road, just
at our gate, ALMOST fainting, and 1
brought her in. aunt, as am sure you
would do yourself"
"All very well, child, but this crea-
ture is tramp, and one of the seed
iest-and hate tramps, and you know
1 do; and I'm not going to have my
house-leastways it's my brother
Thomas, which is all the same-filled
with nasty creatures all over mud;
and heaven knows what they have
picked up in their woods and swamps
and bitches. So, my old woman, Just
let me see you tramp out of my house
: this minute p'
The old woman turned lack-luster
eye on the speaker and stared at her
as if hardly .comprehending her; but
Aunt Deborah's raised voice, the flush
on her face, and, above all, the express
i've gesture toward the door, were too
significant to be misunderstood.
The poor creature feebly rose and
with haf-bow, the grace of which
formed singular contrast to her dress
and appearance, tottered. rather than
walked, slowly toward the door.
She did not reach it, for Clara, with
fitful color in her cheek and certain
steely CLINT shining in her eyes, was by
the old woman's side and led her bach
to her seat. AS the poor old creature
reached it she sank down on the edge
then, sliding from it to the floor, lay
there, a heap of muddy rags, with the
WI te face, now insensible, staring out
fromf it.
.jShe has tainted, aunt. Fetch 3
smelling-bottle and glas Of water r
Her voice was stern, and Aunt
Deborah hal never seen such an ex.
preston il the handsome young face
claw, child p she sale, as she came
in with the two requirements and
busted herself about the insensibls
form, al never thought the poor crea
ture could be took SO hard. If 1 hae
looked into her face little closer
might have seer she warn't in no fiji
condition to tramp the roads. But
she added, in whisper, " she be awfu
dirty and she be trampw
II don't think she is tramp, as tn
rest are, aunt. She has some trouble