St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-08-31
A GENTEEL TRAMP.
he Ooght to Havo Been Ashamed
OF Himself, But He Wasn't.

OA aImSeIIs BUT he wasn't.
He wants a nights lodging. MAJ am.
said Hannah Ann.
Very well. said Miss Eliot; ''le'
him have it. There's the barn cham
Der unOccupied. and the little cot bed
stead is very comfortable. I'm sure"
But Hannah Ann still hesitated. with
the door-knob in her hand.
Whats the matterae" brusquely in
Quired her mistress
Begging pardon, ma'am." said
Hannah Ann. ''5ut aint certain he's 5
the barn chamber sort of company.
He's very gcntccl-looking. and"
Miss Eliot turned her specialized gaze
upon Hannah Ann with a mild tOler-
ance which was akin to contempt.
Hannah Ann" said she. ''dOn't be
afoolr'
mo, ma'am," courtesied Hannah
Ann. who had not lived for twenty
years in her mistress service without
being well accustomed to her mistress
ways.
There's the genteel ones and the
roughs." said Miss Eliot. And one
is every bit as bad as the other. And
we sha'n't have a bit of peace in the
country until this tramp nuisance is
absted. Is he old or young. Hannah
Ann?"
'.Middle-aged. ma am. should say
'Then he ought to be ashamed OF
himself for not going to work to earn
an honest living" said Miss Eliot.
sharply. PUT him into the barn
chamber. Hannah Ann. and give him a
bowl of tea and bite of cold victuals,
and be sure you turn the key on the
outside of the door after he's fairly in
for the night. One cant very well turn
a fellOw-creature away from ones door
with such a thunderstorm as this
brewing"-with 4 glance at the dark.
ening West-''but it does make ones
blood creep. the idea of letting 'em in.
after all the horrible stories in the pa.
pers. And l all alone i'm the house
with only Hannah Ann and the bound
boy. do believe I'll send down to
SOpus' and borrow his big dog until to.
morrow morning; there's no telling
what mischief these ruffians may be
contemplating. Yes. I'll borrow the
dog, and then we shall be SAFE"
So little Tim Trottersby. the bound
boy, was sent down to NeighbOr Sopus'
for the loan of a muscular, square
jawed bulldog with glistening teeth
and red, hanging jaws, who arrived
on the scene of action with a growl
that made Miss Eliot's blood run cold.
Dear. DEAR" said Miss Eliot, "what
a horrible-looking beastr'
Hes drefful savage. ma'am," said
little Tim. who. ostensibly leading the
dog. was, i'm reality, being dragged
along by the rope. and only released
himself from the Mazzeppa-like fate
by throwing the slip-knot of the fast
ening Oser a hook at the side OF the
kitchen door. "'Taint safe for no one
to pass in or out while he's here"
But what are ye to do?" gasped
Miss Eliot. instinctively recoiling. as
the animal displayed his threatening
jaws and immense rows OF bristling
teeth in a portentOus yawn. Little Tim
scratched his head.
Don't know. ma'am," said he.
Guess you'll have to go in and out Of
t'other door,
Mrs. Eliot bit her lip in vexatiOn;
but then. as her thoughts recurred to
the tramp, she told herself that per-
haps it was just as we'll. under all cir
cumstances to have a savage dog about
the place.
In the meantime Hannah Ann was
doling out a meal of cold odds and
ends to a Misunderstanding individual
in seedy black, with aoleather bag be-
side him C..burglar's TOOLS" thought
Hannah Ann. as she eyed the leathern
receptacle with dubious glance), and
a bald spot on the top of his head. He
did not wear particularly fierce ex-
preston of countenance, nor was there
a murderous glitter in his eyes-in
fact, there was nothing belligerent in
his appearance.
Can not see Miss Eliot?" said he,
mildly, as he drank up the last OF his
weak and lukewarm tea
..Missus is engaged. special" said
Hannah Ann. But she says you're to
sleep in the barn chamber. and it's
very comfortable there"
I'm the barn chamber! repeated
the old man. in accents Of some sur.
prise. not to say distaste. Hannah
Ann fired up at once.
Il guess you've slept in worse places
than that afore now" said she; and
AWAY she whisked the tin tray upor
which the rejection of the stranger
had been set out
The old man was duly locked int
the barn chamber, and duly uni locke'
again at dawn. by the deft fingers O
E.ngah Ann. " no scudded away again
1;tsy w. bsS ,sessa ~ Vaess " ~