The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-16
Eov fl< .4ykassGac Trspais,.l ALICE LENEANT's ROMANCE
BY RUFUS R. WILSON.

as on that summer evening she stood on ,,p:oe. with head bent forward, in the doorway of the great kitchen of the Kan- sas farm house. dressed in a robe of white, which we'll oomported with her slight figure and fair giriish face. now slightly flushed with excitement, while she watched some object moving slowly along the dusty prairie road. h a mo- men. she uttered the low shriek peculiar 10 females, and eNclairning: It's a dirty tramp. and he IS coming in here. Oh. dear, what will l do v beat hasty retreat into the interior of the kitchen Presently, however, she grew bolder. and returning again. looked at the intruder who had now turned in through the gate aay. and was approaching the house Soon he was 8 near that ,ke young lady caugh; sight of an open, pleasant coun- ieaance. and growing still bolder. step- ped into the doorway to meet him. He came up slowly. and lifting a uttered ha., said:
 Miss, you will pardon ny intrusion bu, as l have eaten nothing since yes,er- day morning. am as hungry as a bear. and should like something 10 eat. It's harder tor me to ask than II IS for you ;o s.ve. and know you won't refuse me"
 Miss Alice, with all her fears, had kind heart, and seeing that the tramp's haggArd face bore eloquent testimony 10 to what he said, she b2de him be seated. and hurried away in quest of food. in a few minutes she returned with generous bowl of mush and milk and gave |; to the s;sanger. He thanked her warmly. and ]: once fell 10 eating with the eagerness q; hungry man. As he ate, tie gifI whl.e pretending 10 read. ga, and watehed ..m closely. She noticed tha; the tramp was young, with face ;hAt was p.e- possessing. and though i; bore strong signs i dissipation. aas far from weak. He was tall and broad-shou,dered his dress, though frayed and ta,tered, VI as 10, asfiy; and his whole appearance gave evidence of better times He seemed to sro" restless under her furtivc but earnes, siances, and flushing deeply was abou, 10 speak. when sSe broke out suddenl, Wha, IS your name:' Never mind that. he replied rather o.;;erly, somewhat startled by the earn e.sness of the girls manner. Perhaps I, would he better f never had had one As !. IS you may call me anything you ike
 ' Well. then Mir. Tramp. how cid are yoa :"
 Tweniy-,hree. Miss replied the stranger. while d que; smile played abou, ms mouth.
 = How ioas have yoa lead this kind oi fife
 Nearly three years
 What lead you To i,:" What has sent thousands ot better fe..o.s n the dogs, @ine and women" WAS the answer.
 Have you a mother: She certainly ciai De .iving ar ycu worldn'; be uamo.'
 My mother. Miss said the young man sadly. died when was chilt. and nave no near relatives now litirg.'
 though, as mucn: tha, explains many things. But why don't you try and refsrm no one need be a tramp un- less they are mind 10. need they :"
 have tried hard to do better bu: wha; can fellow do when no one vii. hep him, and everybody IS dead SC; Asalns, him was the dogged answer
 When you are once down IT the mire rs hatdwork To climb, espe tally when there's rot one bu, stands ready 10 kick yoa back Tn again. instead of lending helping hand.'
 Da@ an tc4Cs 10 nefp yO0.
 ''fonr's, Miss, are the frs, encourag- ing words l have heard in many day, and shey sound pleasaa: to the ear: ye, what could you co. The speaker hay ins now anished his supper. sa, the bowl coHn on the steps. and leaning back against the door-siii as if 10th 70 go. and began 10 fan himself slowly with his hat
 = would do al, could for any one tha: wanted 10 do beoer-
 There's to~n ID ;he eas, where could get work and help; bu, r's seven teen hundred miles away, and have no money with which to pay my fare" and he paused and looked wisifully al the railroad which ran through the neighbor- ing aeld. If could get ,here-bu, what's the use ct talking abou, ~ha, can't be dore:-
 > How much ~ould you need to reach this place yoa speak of?
 T~enry dollars would do I;- but that. 10 man who can't muster ten cents. $ d sortane." He ceased speaking. for Alice had cisaTpcared- and through the half open door of the nall he heart the rust Ing of garments and the click of ,.ny eeos-heels as she ran up the stairs 4 moment, later she resErncd, and again sat aPon ,he doorstep, holding in her hand small pocke:-5cok. 4; the sigh, of ihls inc young man broke ou, earnestly: Really, Miss, did noi think tha, you wocid pay heed 10 what said IT xas all idle talk: So please forge, iI"
 Oh. no II wasn't Besides like your appearance and want ever so much 70 heip you do better Here are three len collar gold pieces; they xili take you where you want to go. and you can pay them back if you wzri 70 Shen you are able Nov please take them for don't need them. And promise me, 100, ina; you will try and do besser-
 The tramp blushed deeply, recoiled for memer' before the ouistre.ched hard