Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-11-21


er with some money. To her astonish-
ment, he took no notice of her action,
and, lifting his hat with q grace which
would have done honor to aChesterfeld,
walked quickly out of sight.
A few days after, that identical tramp
in truth, he looked typical specimen
of the tramp, from his shirt button, con-
spicuous by it's absence, his dirty shoes
called at the cottage. Now, Mrs.
Winters pet aversion was tramp; the
very name suggested visions OF murder,
fire and robbery. When, perchan e, she
did give employment to such people, 1t
was under the pressure of some stern
necessity, and always with fear and trep-
idation
He wanted some kind of work, m'm;"
tnat was the tenor of James message
from the kitchen. A hurried and anxious
consultation with that ancient and
worthy domestic, disclosed the fact that
the ''kindling was most out" Relying
upon the assurance of the intrepid Jane,
who promised to keek an eye on him,
she was told to show him to the wood
pile. Later on, Jane set him down to
dinner in the kitchen, and, acting upon
pre-arrangement, took the liberty OF
giving Mrs. Winters wink, whereupon
that wise and cautious woman ensconced
herself behind . convenient ambush,
and proceeded to study Mr.. Tramp.
For the first time in her life, her opin-
ion wavered. The cap which half con-
cealed his face when she had first seen
him, vas now laid aside, disclosing to
view broad, white forehead, surround
ed by q handsome crop of brown curls.
His face was sunburnt, but there was no
installing the beauty in every line OF it
"a youthful face with not even the
shadow of mustache to hide the clear
cut refined mouth. He came and saw,
and was almost conquered. There could
be nothing bad, she argued, in that
comedy young face. She had seen honest
brown eyeslike these before, somew here.
He certainly could not be one OF the
class which she detested 80 much. Yes,
she would get him to give the flower
garden hand, also.
They are busy every day now among
the flowers and weeds, Ella and Mrs.
Winters taking a hand. The tramp
proves valuable acquisition. His taste
and knowledge about matters hortlcul-
tural surprise them. He preserves q
stolid silence except when spoken to,
and to Elias surprise never once recalled
the incident of the dog fight. Owing to
her secluded life, Ella Winters ideas OF
men and things were mostly gathered
through the medium of the modern
novel; therefore she could not be blamed
if her imaginative mind found ample ex-
ercise in the study of this brown-eyed
youth who so badly played the role OF
tramp. His age might be twenty-one
or twenty-five, and an expression that
crept over his face sometimes in furitive
manner, reminded her of the pictured
face upon the mantlepiece.
"What do you think of our gardener,
now, mammal" inquired Ella; over her
teacup one morning.
"My dear, think he is just splendid"
answered her mother, looking radiantly
through her glasses at Ella.
"What do you think found him doing
yesterday" went on Ella, with a peculiar
smile.
Mrs. Winters looked up now with a
shade of alarm upon her face. Was she
wrong after all to allow herself to be so
so easily Invested of her fears? But hel
anxiety was allsyed by the smile upon
Elias face.
Il surprised him reading this
mamma" holding up a pocket edition OF
"I.es Miserables," in triumph. "In
French. too" continued Ella, noddine
her little head in a wise manner.
Ella is helping him to tie up some rose
bushes to-day, and tries to draw him
into conversation. His usually reticent
manner changes q little, and he aston
ishes her by his knowledge of books and
their authors. His language and man
ney evince the greatest taste and culture
but he soon checks himself, az ifby al
effort, and relapses into almo suller
silence. To her surprise he came to tn!
parlor window one day and presented
her with an exquisite half blown rose
and she accepted it from the handsome
vagabond with as much grace and thank
as if it had been given by prince-ay
and blushed, too, under his gaze, as sh'
pinned it to her bosom. Willie Gayno
is expected in week, but there is littl'
said about his coming, and Ella seems T.
have lost much of thefervor with which
she had awaited his prompt arrival
month ago. A great change had conn
"o'er the spirit Of her dream" in tina
one short month, and che dared no
question her heart, which even nov
could tell her . strange story could
give voice to the truth.
Mrs, Winters, whose fears had beef
sleeping all this time began to feel SOM
SLIGHT aualms of sconcience, and wa
GLAD when the work of improving tn
garden was nearly at an end. Just nov
She is holding q serious consultation will
Jane in the kitchen, regarding the ad
visibility of dispensing with the. "hire'
man."
"Things are in the best of order, Jan
averred, winding up with an emphati
assurance of his being to he- mind
perfect gentleman, never asking q ques
ton, and always speaking to her Jane
as if she were "a born lady"
The warmth Of the girls defeus
showed plainly enough that he had car
tured that side of the citadel.
} Willie Gaynor's arrival is close q
hand. Ella was restless and nervous te
dav. and resorted to the invariable paI
acea for all her troubles-the dogs. Cal
ing Niggers and Ruby she held up
; warning forefinger, and administered
lecture upon the evils arising from figh'
ing with strangers. Niger and Rub
winked in an apologize manner, an
wagged their tails in q way suggestive
comprehension and compliance, an
Ella bravely tried to divest her mind
tramps, troubles, and cousins for th
nonce. She walked quickly, her nerve
at the highest tension, until she becam
; oblivious of time or distance. Eve
Niger and Ruby showed signs of wear
ness, and looked up appealingly to the
young mistress, who as yet showed n
! eigns of returning. She was walkin
down q steep incline, an old waterhous
; where rough stones and fragment.
.. rock made every step hazardous. Sh
, uoa II, doan fhonuht and taking littl