Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-07-24
MISS RACHEL'S TRAMP.

MISS RACHEL'S TRAMP.
Miss Rachel was tall and angular, with
sharp gray eyes, and way of looking
"daggers" at whoever chaneed to offend.
She lived in quiet farmhouse with her
father, a meek little man who moved ac-
cording to the laws of the ruling genius
of his house. She had few intimate
friends, for all stood somewhat in awe
of her uncertain disposition.
There was one, however, who laughed
at her whims and usually succeeded in
making her laugh, too. This was Miss
Mollie Banks, also maiden of uncer-
tain age, who lived next door. She it
was who was seated in Miss Rachel's fa-
vorite chair this sunny afternoon, list
ening to the list of grievances which her
friend poured into her sympathizing
ears.
"Of all detestable things under the
sun that boys the worst!'
"Worse than man? Now just think
what horrid creatures they areI" said
Miss Mollie, laughing.
"Well, laugh if you want to; s'posed
you would; but if you'd been in my
shoes for the past week you'd got enough
ont"
"What's he done now? Did he leave
muddy tracks on the foor?"
"Humphl that's nothing compared to
it. You see, it's churning day, and he
managed somehow to spill the cream on
the floor. Wasn't l mad! And that
miserable idiot grinned and said, Mis-
sus, shall l call in the pigs?'"
"Very thoughtful in him, I'm sure"
said Miss Mollie. "He wanted to save
you the trouble of taking it up"
'Humphl l saved him the trouble of
eating strawberry shortcake and biscuit
and honey for his supper! He will feast
on bread and milk for while now."
"How can you be so cruel?" laughed
Miss Mollie. "Ain't you afraid he will
play some trick on your"
Out on bench under the window a
boy sat eating his allowance of bread
and milk with woeful look on his
freckled face. As Miss Mollie spoke he
dropped the spoon noiselessly into his
dish and bent forward to listen.
'Mel Me afraid of that boy! Why
1 amt afraid of nothing"
'Only tramps," said Mollie.
"H'ml Well, don't just like them"
"Like them? Guess you don't! Would
you dare to close your eyes at night
without looking in every closet and un-
der every bed in the house for fear some
tramp might be hidden there?"
"We'd better be sure than sorry, and
l will own I'm some afraid of tramps." :"
Then they talked about pickles, and
carpet rags, and the minister's wife's
new "bunnit," and wondered where
Perkinses folks went visiting yesterday.
Outside of the house a boy set his
bowl carefully on the bench and then
climbed the back gate to mediate.
He sat there quietly for some minutes,
when an idea struck him so forcibly that
it knocked him from the gate down to
the soft grass, where he rolled and kick
ed and hugged himself in delight.
'Afraid of tramps, is she? Bad luck
to her; it's meself that will sind the
same to visit her, the ould cat! Oh, Pat,
me bye, its jewel We are. Hoorayl"
Whack! went stout stick across his
back and brought him to his senses di-
rectly.
"What are We doin', ye spalpeen?"
said gruff voice.
"Och, murder, dad! Be aisy, will ye?
It's only taking exercise l am"
Exercise? Well, to-morry We goes
into the pertaty field with me; ye'ye had
enough of this"
With a rueful face Pat watched the
stout laborer shoulder the bundle of
tools rolled up in his coarse frock and
start down the road. When the red
flannel shirt disappeared, he turned to
confront Miss Rachel.
"What were you saying to that vaga-
band, you rascal?" said she, catching up
a stick and waving it threateningly over
his head.
"Don't, now, missusl That's only
dad"
"You are telling an untruth. 1t was
a tramp. 1 saw his bundle-stolen
things, no doubt. Now tell me Just
what you said,"
"Wen, he only remarked that it was a
foine evening, and asked me who lived
in that house?"
"And you said"
eyes; said that feeble old man as
deaf as post lived there alone with his
darter, as foine missus as liver"
"What did you tell him that we lived
alone for? He'll come and rob us. Oh,
dearl What shall dor"
"Don't worry, missus," said Pat, back
ing off to safe distance. 81 tould him
that missus kept all her jewels in her top
beaury drawer, and the ould man kept
his chink in tin trunk under his bed.
So it was no use for him to come sneak
ing around, for he wouldn't get nothin'."
With cry of dismay Miss Rachel
turned toward the house.
"What's the matter now?" asked Mol
lie.
matter enough That boy will ruin
syetp And she gave her friend an
account of the whole affair.
"Well this does look serious. I'll tell
you what to do. Come over and get
Wills old gun-the lock is broken so
'twon't hurt you. But no one else will
know the difference, and you can scare
them all the same"
"Father is out milking, and 1 can't
leave the house alone"
"Tell Pat to stay and watch. Come,
hurry; it's most dark now."
So with strict orders to Pat they de-
parted