Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-07
IN SPITE OF HIMSELF.



"Mattiel Mattel did you take that
hucklcbcrry pic out of the ovcn2
"Ycs, Aunt Aun."
"And the cup custards-you didn't
forget the cup custardsS'
"They'rc all right, Aunt Ann"
"MattyI" in an accent one degree
shriller than usual.
"Yesl What is it?'
"There's tramp coming up the
back garden path. Send him about
his business"
"Yes, Aunt Ann."
Matty Vernon went valiantly TO the
back door. prepared to do battle,
glancing this way aud that as she did
so. to make sure that there was plenty
of boiling water on tho stove, and that
tho broom was handy, in case of
need.
"Well," said Maty TO herself, eve
ing the mass of rags on the doorstep,
t'you are tramp. Nobody could
possibly mistake yOu for anything
else. What do you want?' she added
aloud.
"Could you spare me an old shirt,
Young lady9 or a suit of clothes? Tm
in great need"
"Thats what yon all sayI" crisply
interrupted Matly "rm sure don't
know where you get all your rags
and tatters from. "Your'o just from
an hospital, suppose. That's the
next chapter"
But even as she spoke her woman-
ly heart melted within her at the sight
of the tired, pale face, the wrctched
garb.
"No," said he, with a sigh, "I'm
not from the hospital"
lie was turning away, when she
-s'I,.fi.d inD- --s--'----A--------g
"Wait minutc." said she. "Tn
go see what | can find"
Boiling the door unceremoniously
in his face. she went to storc-room
opening out of the unused best par
lor.
"I don't care!" said Matty, arguing
with herself with certain fierce i'm
patience. "Unclc Jobs things have
lain here, of no use TO anybody, since
he died. That poor fellow may as
we'll have them, suppose"
She came back presently with a
compact little bundle unlcr her arm.
"There," said she. flinging it out of
the window, "takc it and begone!
For" she added to herself, "if Aunt
Ann should find out I'd been giving
away any of Unclo jobs old traps
Why, goodness me! he's eaten up the
huckleberry pic aud the three cap Gus.
tards that left 10 cool on the buttery
window-lcdge! Hero, give me back
those clothes. You shan't have so
much as rag! You don't deserve
thcm!"
She had unbolied the door as she
spoke, and, with quick, light move
ment, caught up the bundle before the
stanger could possess himself of it.
"Tm very sorry" he said, pcni-
tcnily, "but was desperately hungry
and didn't stop TO consider"
"Didn't stop 10 considcr?' indig-
nantly repeated Matty. "No, /
should think not. You are thicfl
DO you hear that? Not only vaga-
bond, but thief! And should think
great able bodied scamp like you
would be ashamed TO go begging and
stealing around the country. ThereI"
Thus terminating her lecture with
very expressive outburst, Maity once
more shut the door in the poor, tired
face, and resumed her occupation of
ironing out Aunt AIMS Sunday lace
cap.
"Matty! Matty!" called ont the old
woman from above stairs, where she
was turning over the contents of biz
,edarwood chest.
"Yes, Aunt Aunt"
"Did you send the fellow pack
mg"
"Yes, l did,"
"Thats right - that's right"
chuckled Aunt Ann. "Thcse stroll
ng beggars are getting to be a perfect
nuisance hercabouis.
But as Matty futcd the borders of
lace with a quick, efficient hand.
linking the while what she should do
replace the missing pie in time for
Aunt AIMS dinner, a softer mood
came over her.
"Poor wretch" she murmured to
herself. "Perhaps he was HUNGRY.
lie certainly did look pale and tired,
and his rags were dreadful. wish
hadn't snatched those clothes back. |,
wasn't real nice and ladylike of me,
now | come TO think of it. | wish"
ALI of a sudden, Matty Vernon made
up her mind as she hung Aunt Anr's
ace cap on the nail by the window.
she set her rosy lips together; her