The Princeton union., 1892-05-12
A TALE OF A TRAMP.

He was Enthusiastically tramp, the
ragged old man that Aunt Libbie
found lying senseless upon his face il
the dusty highway that sultry August
afternoon. The terrible heat of 6
burning sun had been too much for
his feeble strength. and he had sunk
to the earth overpowered by sitting
atmosphere that seemed like q breath
from the scorching interior OF some
fiery volcano.
Most people would have bundled the
old ragamuftin off to the workhouse
Immediately helpless and sun-smitten
rs he was but she was made of a diff
serent stuff. this tender hearted little
Aunt Libbie of ours. She hastily sum
moned the whole household out into
the heat and dust of the highway, and
made the hired man and myself raise
the almost lifeless form of the old
beggar and put il tenderly to bed in
the tiny spare room that she had re-
served when we came to live with her
while Maggie went in haste for Dr.
Palmer.
There was a mournful tragedy hid
den away in the buried past of this
soft-voiced. tender r-hearted little old
lady. though no one ever would have
suspected it from her sweet face and
calm and placid appearance. Long
years before when Aunt Libbie was
still fresh and beautiful young girl.
her heart had been won by handsome,
dashing young stranger called Tom
Dacre AS he seemed steady and re-
liable and the soul Of honor. they be-
came engaged after a short courtship,
even though she knew nothing what
ever of her handsome lovers ante
cedents. For while everything went
on happily and the wedding day rap
idly drew near, then came a thunder
clap.
A neighbor. Deacon Burgess, bought
large tract Of land known as the
Edmonds estate. and Went to the CITY
Que day to draw funds from the bank
with which to pay for it. AS it was a
long drive and he did not expect to
get back until late, he took his son,
Henry, an Intelligent lad of fifteen,
with him for company.
About ten o'clock that night the boy
came rushing back into the Burgess
homestead, with face like ashes and
great horrified eyes, and with all the
lncoherence Of extreme terror he told
an awful story. He said that he and
his father had nearly reached home
again. when, as they were going
through a dark and lonely strip of
woodland, highwayman suddenly
sprang from the bushes by the road
side and seized the horse by the bride.
Pointing pistol straight at the dea-
cons breast he demanded his money.
The carriage lamps were burning
brightly, but the mans face was en-
veloped to the eyes in thick dark
muFer. so he could not be identified.
The deacon was brave man though
somewhat along in years. and he was
not one to give up his hard earned
savings without a struggle Leapine
suddenly from the carriage he crap,
pied with the robber at the same
time calling upon the boy for assist.
ance.
The onslaught was so unexpected
that the ruffian was taken entirely by
surprise. The cloth was torn from
his face in the struggle but before
the frightened boy could render his
father the slightest assistance the
roober pulled the trigger and Deacon
Burgess fell headlong to the earth.
The boy leaped into the bushes ani
escaped in the darkness; but as ht
fled from the fatal spot he threw ;
hasty glance behind him and saw the
assassin leaning over the prostrstt
form of his victim as he CROPPED il
the breast for the roll of bills tha
had been the occasion of the crime.
The boy story created the utmos
CONSERVATION at the Burgess home
stead. An armed party of neghbor
was hastily summoned, and set out a.
once for the scene Of the encounter
The terrible tale was but too true
They found the unfortunate man pros
trate in the road and weltering il
blood, shot through the breast whil
the old horse stood hitched to a tre
close by. The money was gone.
Deacon Burgess lived until the fol
lowing day and recovered his sense
perfectly toward the last. Both h
and the boy Henry swore most posi-
lively that the perpetrator of tn
dastardly deed was no other than Ton
Dacre But no earthly power coul,
save the wounded man. as he wa
bleeding internally. and at 3 o'cloc1
in the afternoon he breathed his last
1t was two days before Tom Dacr
could be found. but at the end of th q
time he was arrested returning from
neighboring town. The officers ken
the infuriated citizens from lynchin
him only with the greatest difficulty
and that very evening they started TO
the city with their prisoner.
Not long after they set out as Aun
Libbie sat with dry eyes and ston
heart in the little garden, a well
known voice called to her from th
shruobery; and a moment later Tor
Dacre was at her side. He had broke
away from his captors and succeede
in eluding them i'll the darkness; bu
he could not leave the place, perhar
forever without bidding his swee
heart farewell. and at the risk of hi
life he had sought her side for thu
purpose.
r . 6 r & . f ID