Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-07-29


landlord. s'There's always tramps
and burglars around. They're a crop
that don't belong to any particular
season of the year."
AS turned away-I did not notice
it at the time, but it came back after
ward, as things do come back, like a
sudden flash across the dark shield
of memory-a man who was lounging
on the steps looked hard at me.
colored little, and thought to
myself, & Well, he will know me the
next time he sees me,'' and forgot
all about it; for I had mothers black
bombazine to match, and Lil's spring
bonnet to buy, and some dinner china
to select, and the doctors prescrip-
ton for Leeman to fill out at the
druggists, so it was we'll on to seven
when turned old Pomp's head homo
ward in the suburbs of the town, with
feeling of eIation which was quite
pardonable, when one considers my
experience in the marketing line and
my exceptionally good success.
The sunshine was warm and still
on the high road, and was rather
glad when ut last we came to the cool
shadows of the Red Swamp, where
the birds were all silent in the noon
heats, the sweetest of odors came
floating up from the tangled recesses
of fern, on either side of the sol
itary, railed-in road.
All at once old Pomp gave side
twist start-his ancient idea of shy
ing-and thcnI saw aman, pale, dusty
and tired-looking, sitting on fallen
log; was like mother-who would
never let the shabbiest or meancst-
looking vagabond go past our house
without q draught of milk, or piece
of frcsh-baked pie, or slice of her
famous homemade brcad-cake-and
stopping to think, 1 drew in old
Pomp's reins.
" Are you going toward Lennox
Cross Roads?'' SAID 1. (" Yes. -
e Then jump in; Pm going in that
direction, too, and I'll give you
lift. -
He thanked me in silent, droop-
ing sort of way, and seated himself
on the board at the back of the wagon,
toward which pointed with the handle
of my whip.
{" You look ill.," said I.
g am not ill.," he said, with 81
smothered cough Only tired with
my long walk. didn't know it was
so far to Lennox.
"I suppose you arc going for
work?' said I. Deacon Brierlcy
has good many hands just now in
his tobacco factory"
& No." said he; !" am not going
to work. "
1 asked no more questions. I did
not like the idea of mans shroud-
ing himself in mystery in that sort of
way; and as I glanced around once
more sudden revelation came across
me like blaze of light. 1t was the
same man who had eyed me so kccnly
on the steps of the Parker Hotel.
Then 1 remembered my mothers
words of caution, Leeman' reiterated
exhortions, the landlords friendly
words of warning.
And in spite of it all, had delib-
erately thrust my silly head into the
jaws of danger. There was only one
thing for me to do-to get out of the
scrape as well as 1 could.
cast about in my mind how to do
this, and presently, with beating
heart, dropped little paper parcel
of blue ribbon into the road
"Oh," cried, checking up Pomp.
"I've dropped my parcel! Would
would you mind getting out after
it?'
" Not in the least, f" said the stran-
ger; and he climed laboriously out of
the wagon.
He had scarcely set his feet on the
ground before I laid the whip on old
Pomp with will, and ratified away
over the long, straight road at pace
that seemed positively marvellous to
me and Pemp both.
So we left our passenger behind in
the middle of Red Swamp. could
see him standing there, blank and
astounded, the sole figure in the long
perspective, as l venturcd to look
back; but only whipped Pomp the
harder; and never let him bate his
pace until we were out of sight of the
Red Swamp.
"I've out-generaled him." said L
to myself, " and I've saved Leeman' s
twenty-four dollars. I'm sorry about
the blue ribbon; but it was only a
yard and quarter, after all, and 1
can trim LIPS hat with something
else.''
They were delighted at my prowess
when l related my adventure at home
Leeman declared that was capital
little market-woman mother shud-
dered at the idea of the desperate
tramp alone with me in the tangled
wilderness of the Red Swamp; Lii
declared that was heroine.
Wasn't it a good idea for Kate
to drop the blue ribbon, and send him
after it!'' said she.
Kate was a goose ever to let him
get into the wagon" said Leemar
knitting his brow.
I" Kate mustn't 90 by herself such 2