The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-11
Niflllfs Eagle
THAT TRAMP.

Twas just turning the best room UPSIDE
down, sweeping. dusSzng and efaAa4n. Il.
The ssaahgas streamed Ia Through the
Creepez oEeR the wfndcYza which I had
opened, and tie sound az she htras singing
outside made me wish hadn't 20 auch
work co do4n that dusty rooaa Suddenly
heard the CLICK Of the cato hatch. Some
body coming. Azdnswith nay head wrapped
up In a dzsoer and eAy sk1zs turned up!
Thsa there was ohe wrap OF knnSk1as On
the Pzaal OF the froesanoss which was open.
Thtakfns Il Sae WIaezv jenkins rt4la boy
come ever to nsCcow tAs ha.ohes to chop
Andl1ogss for he oazne regularly every day,
I sesPped Int the eatty.
Ii was tramp. Re was young man
with heavy beard, dressed in blue canvas
and astraT hat. bat with that standing
and half ashamed hook which vaQabonds
seem to carry with them everywhere
Now cur home was seldom visited by
tranRs It was a good piece off the road,
and they generally stopped at the black
smiths on TIE corner OF "a Deacon Thomas
half ray CD tee hill.
What do you wazty'' 7 said sharply.
But relsated inmate sfeerward He
looked at ma so piteo1Stys he seemed so hot
and tired and dEsst<y that I felt sorry for
him.
was always considered the fool OF the
family, I was everybody's slave II the
boys wanted an eCTaRd run or button
sewed on It was always, 'tTSaIly'n do IT,
Sally was a2ways the G1e left behind when
there was a party and only 1nery enough
for two L was Sally who stayed home
from meeting and lent her boots 20 one Of
tho others Yet believed I liked doing
things for thea and for a kiss or lind
word woG4d willingly have gone through
ire and water
Now that Uncle XII was coming from
California % make Us = vista il was who
was LEFT st hone co clean up and make the
house smart, while Floss and Peggy had
bad gone TO the village 70 buy some chintz
fSC his room curtains and a new white
Oovsr@ss for his bed-
4 want something to eat and rest"
replied the tramp,
Il only mother had been at hornel She
Was away consulting over Martha Phillips
SICK baby, for she was rare nurse, and
valued Tho importance Of bang called upon
on such occasions Father and the boys
were moving IN the meadow nile away.
Ny impulse was at once 20 invite the
stranger in He really seemed to have a
respectable look under his rags and wretch
ed dress-at least I thought 50 for mo-
ment, and felt not the slightest fear Of
him. Probably he would go before the
others czms home and none would be the
wiser
Come IN, said you do look tired
out Come IN and FL get you something
TO eat" He gave me grateful look and
followed ne 10 tia kitchen There quick
Is SCI a table The instinct OF hospitality
Ewoke IN me- l set before him some cold
beef, fresh butter, a loaf of bread, and then
drew him some cool cider from the cellar.
He ate leisurely and quietly, but made e
good dinner
I don't know what possessed me, but
after he had finished his dinner I asked
him If ne wOuLd take nap on the lounge
in the sitting room Father always lay
there for short time in the evening
There I left my tramp and went on with
my work I swept out the parlor, busted
the manteIpiece and pictures, set fresh
flowers IN the vase on the red cloth of the
center table, and after giving = few touches
10 the brass door handles and putting new
ribbons on the curtains returned TO the
sitting room
The fact OF it IS I vas filed with anxiety
lest my mother or the girls or my father
should come home while the tramp was
there. If they did, woe betide me knew
l should neTer hear the end Of 1t. 'Just
Ike Sally" ANY more tramps been
around, SaIly7'' Sally, heard from that
tramp and such ike speeches would be
diuned in my ears night aud day forever
The tramp l found preparing 10 go; but
somehow he seemed 70 hesitate.
Are YOU going, sir2'' ] asked well, I
hope YOU feel better" I didn't add Call
again. - words that were on my lips StIl
be fingered
Can I do anything more for your" IN
CURED Oh how I regretted that speech a
moment zfterward
4-Yol1aTe been such dear, good young
lady to me-" he said warmly, ''thso I'm
going 20 ask loan Of you"
beIleEe looked 1hun1erstruck
q have no money to buy a ticket TO Har-
ristovn- Won't you be so kind as 60 lend
ne sO4nes
Dear, dear, what would my folks say If
they thought I was going to lend money 10
a tramp. But lend it I dh-yes, l put
into his large brewn hand the whole Of my
six months savings. I felt almost afraid
OF nv folly at the time, but ne took 1t with
a srnl4c, thanked me profuseIy, and the
next thing knew he was going down the
Isne. toward the main road A sudden
tkoa -at occurred to ne,
Come baSk for Z Moment I cried. he
turzed round and hastily approached the
piazza.
-Aze you gninS 10 the 2ePot2'' Inquired
Il am. " be answered
AWeIl- yoar shortest way IS round the
house. Follow the path through the or
cbard. past the barn and down the pas
ture. twill bring you 10 the back road,
sud save yeg1 half a. hours walk IN the
sun. Turn to the left at the pasture gate
and keep righB on
He thanked me, smiled again and was
gone
Now thought, hes sure TO meet
none Of tie folks coming home" Then
drew a breath Of relief. and after tidylng
myself dragged the rocking chElT on 10 the
yerAnda and tired 70 feel as UnconceTned as
possible as I waited Tor father and the rest
To return.
Mother came home first, full Of the symp-
toms and suffe-i1Zs Of Martha Phillips
baby; then Floss and Peggy drove up IN
the buggy. eager To show Us their pur-
cbsses Father ana the boys arrived IN
time for supper.
That evening the mortgage was discussed
arain. The subject Of the mortgage that
Law on the farm was periodically discussed
Those VINO own mortgage farms and
know their o~aers VIII understand what
r,esr bvsaving that the mention Of mort