Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-01
SHE FACED THE MUSIC.
THE ADVENTURE or An iNoePENo-
EMIT YOUNG WIFE

- TAssghs Sshs WIS., Nssdssssiy NssvssA
So - So DID .. ~ Fie.ss1-sAs -
Tramp - ths Lsasay 1ssA. sss H
Vs. chissIrs~s cd shs CssssvsS 0tA.
That in every mans nature The germ -
lsass Of ehivalry exists vas very euusangiy
proven BY an incident which befeil TAR M
tive Of New Orleans travelling two vseks 10
New England The lady vas alone. Der hus-
band having been conn -iisd to remain over
In Boston On bushes. vhise she coottnusd on
10 ioin Der sister ruzticatinz in . rural vtiaxe
WHEN John basie her an a6sctionats adieo u
the depot that morning shs wAS immen.say
amused ss bis great solicitations for Der "sar
fare Again and again be regretted the CO.
forced delay. and laid many charges upoo his
young and pretty wife - TO the safest way o.
reaching her destination After leaving the
trunk line shs MAS obliged 10 take oranco
rod an hours ride landing her In the small
town Knowing ais wifes passion for Walk
ing on country roads, this careful hustand
cautioned her under any and all circumstances
10 y ait for the train. and not TO think OF at
rsmpting the distance on foot She listened.
q. women will. determining all the while to
obey her husbani strictly if-hls injunctions
s6u In Wild LtI NoufciAEhNS. thS 49,
On the through line passed Oh without con
tretemus OF any kind, but 10 Madams's chag
rim on stepping of at the wayxide station,
about 4 O'Clock, sleepy cross eyed official
greeted her with the unwelcorne information
that the train hal gone on its afternoon trip,
and would not leave again till some time after
dark. Three long, lonely hours in a dull rail-
road waiting room was enough To try the
~ i..san oh <UirtfRa1 woman
THAT STUPID JOHN
The round oro hung in the western sky on
it, downward course. the foliage, freshly
FURNISHED by q passing shower, CLEANED with
ieweled rain drops, the earth gave ous
sweet summery smell, tempting the ver'est
laggard to come forth and luxuriate In ma
lures smiling mood The young woman
looked up and down the long track WITH
wistfui. appre,iative eyes, to where the steel
rails narrowed and were lost In the heavy,
overwhelming foliage Would John mind
70 very much, she began arguing with her
self: it was such "A step. those five short miles
under tho blue heavens with every living
thing responding u the bright notion Full
OF old fashioned prejudices, as she termed
her husbands scruples regarding feminine
prudence it could not BARN any human be-
INF il she stretched her cramped limbs by .
brisk turn up the road John should never
know. il would he all right. and with
ouieted conscience the disobeslient wife went
into the office, made all the necessary ar
rnpgements as To the forwarding OF her lug
gage, and with light heart, stepped OIL at
sharp pace MY what an idiot | would
have been" she reflected, ITO pay attention
to that stupid fellow and spend this divine
evening hanging round that stuffy little sta
ton IN be in n - long before dark and
sleep like top after this stroll" With long,
springing steps size rapidly covered the dis
lance, and soon the small red rooted depot
faded far away in the back ground. Every
breath Of the pure cool oxygen was stimu-
lating as elixir, and every foot OF the way
lent more interest to the charming vicinity.
What had that tuesome John been thinking
Of TO plan cheating her out Of SO much limo
cent pleasuref
These reflections continued for some time,
when, great heavens! about fifty yards
ahead, q mars form issued suddenly from
the underbrush and made straight for the
track, with his face set toward her The
poor little wifes heart fell like stone. heavy
as lead in her terrified bosom Every mo
ment brought new developments in the way
Of a torn, SLOUGH hat, a rough, red beard,
dingy, flannel shirt patched trousers and
pair Of disreputable boots fetching into
clearer prominence every movement the
uglest specimen of an unmistakabe tramp.
What should she dot Her trembling heart,
6uttering like u struggling bird, sent every
drop of blood into the throbbing brain which
for q minute refused utterly TO act On he
came, and to her excited Imagination she
seemed TO catch the CLEAN of ferocity in his
professional eye, Then, like a wave Of fresh
despair, her last lingering hope was washed
away by the consciousness Of pair of big,
solitaire diamond earrings, jeweled bar
pin and various other pretty, costly trinkets.
TOOK HIM UNAwAREs.
Its all that hateful Johns fault after
all" the convenient conscience of this sum-
mer bride whispered; ''if he hadn't given
me such lots of handsome things that terri
BILE tramp would never think of noticing
me-" But what good did it do abusing the
much longed for and ever faithful John
when that sulky brute was gaining fastl
Now, in the long, slanting rays Of the set
ting sun she could see the wicked, greedy
look in those deep set evil eyes. The bloated
countenance as repulsive as those hard, cruel
hands grasping the heavy stick across his
brawny shoulders Desperate. but outward
ly calm, her resolve was quickly made, and
quieting her throbbing nerves, the plucky
little woman quickened her pace and in two
minutes more was facing the music.
Good evening"" she began in a gentle.
ladylike way. 'If you please, be so very
good as to tell me the distance to N;
am entirely alone, have los; the way and
want you to be kind enough to help me-" 1t
was too much. Tie man ha,i plenty Of grit
and could have wrung that slender, white
throat without wiiking, but to be appealed
to as a friend and gentleman in such .
straightforward. natural way. knocked his
pins clean from under bin. Every dead
ened spark Of manhood quickened in that
tough old breast, and before he knew it his
hat was off and he bowed with positive
grace.
True he lad to turn his covetous eyes from
those sparkling diamonds, but he rose to the
occasion all the same, and with chisalric
grace replied, Madame, am very sorry,
but really am a traveller like yourself and
rather stranger in these parts Is there
anything else in which | could assist you'll
NOT Good evening; a pleasant journey" and
Of that old tramp walked without once look
ing back
John was told, and after the conventional
lecture forgave his imprudent wife.
Orleans Times Democrat