The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-11-26
THE TRANSITORY TRAMP.
Hiss EliEa's Queer Visitor and His
Sudden Conversion.

on her front porch. and now and again
cooled her check by a nervous jerk of
her palmleaf fan. Il e rockers of her
chair gave forth n dismal squeak, as
her small but weighty person swayed
contented. and very nervous--unstrung,
she would have said-and her flushed
face and aggrieved eye proved her no
liar.
ONiss Eliza's character included two
very opposite qualities, a quick, high
temper and great timidity. We see
this combination in men very often,
hut in women it is rare. Miss Eliza
had the archcd lose and valiant color
ing of England's virgin queen, con-
tradictcd by Il mild eve. an insigniti-
cant mouth and a double chin. Her
height was not much to speak of. and
her figure was of the down-cushion
order. soft and puffy.
Her thoughts just now were trouble
some. They lowered persistently about
n conversation she had listened to the
night before, while taking tea with a
neighbor. The subject of this CONVERSE
ton, instead of remaining decently
buried in oblivion, haunted her. They
were rather a CHASTITY lot, taking
them altogether. The first was set
going by a girl who said that there
had been more tramps hanging round
this summer than ever before as fairs
She knew. Then followed stories of
the bad behavior of these horny-footed
and lig~ht-tingered gentlemen. tales of
the evil deeds of gypsies, thieves and
murderers. till e%veryope's flesh began
to creep, and the Younger girls giggled
historically; till Miss Eliza's crimson
checks faded to a faint hcliotrope. and
Miss ELIAS niece, who was present,
trcmblcd with delicious excitement.
After it was over these two found their
way home through the gathering gloom,
The one with boldncss of speech and an
eye that Stunned siradowy corners the
other thrilling at every rustiing leaf
and inwardly thirsting for adventure.
Now Miss Eliza was alone. 1.-The
girl" Miss Eliza's helpmeet, had gone
to visit her mother, and Pauline. Miss
Elias niece, was spending the after
noon with 4 friend, about half a mile
Gown the road. The house seemed very
empty and isolated, just the place in
which to enac Il tragedy of the deep
est dye. Miss Eliza reflected that in all
the tales told the night before the blood
lest misfortures ever bcfell the lone
oma who lived IA half-mile down the
road, and could there he a filter subject
for such horrors than herself? She
Thought, too, that Pauline was not like
" to return before sunset, for she had
refused t. let her take part in some
amateur thcatricals, and there was a
coolncss between them.
Miss Eliza rocked uncasily, and
scanned timorousiy tine dusty road
which ran past the garden gate. After
Il half-hour of this watching and fear
ing, she Gained n little. and went into
the house for her sewing. What was
her dismay when she stepped forth
again upon the porch to see ii very
ragged tramp come toward her up the
gravel path and mount the steps. He
stopped when he reached the step be-
low her and smiled.
lie was 4 young man. not owe TWEEN
ty-two or three, maybe younger, and
rather handsome, but his black Drows
were very sharply marked. and there
were deep shadows under his eyes,
which gave him a deadly look. and the
smile that now lifted the corners of his
mouth brought TO Miss Eliza only n
r2ore lively idea Of how he would look
DC ba rlnafoA QUAR- hnr nnnnlal -
mains. He stood, silent and smiling.
and Miss Eliza felt she must say some
thing. She gave a furtivc glance down
the road to see if anyone were coming.
then she raised herself on tiptoe,
pointed a fat forefinger to the gate,
and said:
&c away"
She wished to trumpet this command
in high, peremptory tones. but instead
it came forth feebly and with a tremu-
Ions. nasal twang.
The tramp shook n little, as though |
with suppressed laughter, then said, in
q deep and hollow voice:
"l'd rather stay here, ma'am, if its
all the same to YOU"
The voice suited his c~adaverous eyes, |
but there was something homogeneous
and CHASTITY in the silent laughter that |
took hold of him and shook him at in
Miss Eliza took a step backward.
"NYhat do You want?" she demanded.
IF yer don't mind sittin' down and
listenin' to me for a few minutes, I'll
tell yer"
Miss Eliza. being scarcely able to
did as was suggested. The
tramp also took a chair. lie folded his
legs and clasped his hands about his
knee. His hands were small and we'll
but very dirty; his feet were
exceedingly large. Somehow the look
of those smooth, soft fingers gave Miss
Eliza 4 creepy feeling round the throat.
The tramp began to speak in a rather
affablc manner, but with the same hol-
voice:
Yer ask me, ma'am, what do / want,
and I'm a-goin' to tell yer. First, l
the silver spoons and candlesticks
and the teaset what's in the dinin'-
then | want the stuffed hunmin'
birds in the front parlor and the silver
cake basket what stands on the corner
After that l want yer gold
and chain and that hair brooch
yer a-wearin' and all the other trinkets,
prnamints and jewels what yer keep in
the under drawer of yer wasllstand;'
and, last but not least. l want all the
pie and cake yer was maxim this morn
in and all the gooseberry jam on the
top shelf of yer storeroom. And if yer
care to give it to me, the tramp
slowly and made a motion as
to draw 4 revolver from his
breast. then repented and went on:
"Yer see l have pervided myself with
! place to stow EN- in" end he brought
'orth from uader his coat q large and
r-~- go t-s- =