Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1892-12-27
THE 1RANSITORY TRAMP.
Miss Ellza's Queer Visitor and His
Sudden Conversion.

cooled her check by a nervous jerk Of
her palnIleaf fan. TIE rockers of her
chair gave forth a dismal squeak, as
her small but weighty person swayed
forward and back. She was much dis
contcntcd, and very nervous--unstrung
abe would have ssid--and her flushed
face and aggrieved eye proved her no
liar.
O Miss Eliza's character included two
very opposite qualities, a quick, high
temper and great timidity. We see
this combination in men very often,
but in women IL is rare. Miss Eliza
had the arched nose and valiant color
ing OF England's virgin queen, con.
tradicted by mild eye, an insiguif
cant mouth and double chin. Her
height was not much to speak Of, and
her figure was of the down-cushiou
order, soft and PUFFY.
Her thoughts just now were trouble.
some. They hoyered persistently about
conversation she had listened to the
night before, while taking tea with II
nrighbos The subject of this eo1versa-
tiOu. instead Of remaining deccntiy
buried in Oblivion, haunted her. They
were rather CHASTITY lot, taking
them altogether The first was set
goiug by girl who said that there
had been more tramps hanging round
this summer than ever before AZ far's
She knew. Thea followed stories of
thr bad behavior of these horny-footed
and light-fngercd gentlemen, tales OF
the evil deeds Of gypsies, thieves and
murdercrs, till eveiyonc's flesh began
20 creep, and the younger girls giggled
Historically; till Miss Elizs's crimson
checks faded to faint heliotrope, and
Miss ELIAS niece, who was present,
trembled with delicious excitement
After II was over these two found their
way home through the gathering gloom,
the one with boldness OF speech and an
eye that stunned shadowy corners, the
other thrilling ut every rustling leaf
and inwardly thirsting for adventure
Now Miss Eliza was alone. ''rhe
girl" Miss ELIAS helpmeet, had gone
TO visit her mother and Pauline, Miss
ELIAS niece, was spending the after
noon with a friend, about half q mile
down the road. The house seemed very
empty and isolated, just the place in
which to enact a tragedy OF the deep
est dye. Miss Eliza reflected that in all
the tales told the night before the blood
lest .misfortunes ever befell the lone
woman who lived half-mile down the
road, and could there be fttor subjec.
for such horrors than herself? She
thought too, that Pauline was not like
ly TO rvturn before sunset, for she had
refused to let her take part in some
amateur theatricals. and there was 4
eoolness between them
Miss Eliza rocked upe essily, and
scanned timorously the dusty road
which rAa past the garden gate. After
half-hour Of this watching aud fear
ing, she calmed a little, and went into
the house for her sewing. What was
her dismay when she stepped forth
again upon the porch to see very
ragged tramp come toward her up the
gravel path and mount the steps. He
stopped when he reached the step be-
lew her and smiled.
He was a young man, not over TWEEN
ty.two or three, maybe younger, and
rather handsome, but his black orows
were very sharply marked. and there
were deep shadows under hts eyes,
which gave him deadly look, and the
smile that now lifted the corners Of his
mouth brought 10 Miss E.iza only n
more lively idea of how he would look
ss he gloated over her mangled re-
mains. He stood, silent aud smiling.
and Miss Eliza felt she must say some
thing. She gave furtive glance down
the road TO see II anyone were coming,
then she raised herself on tiptoe,
pointed fat foreapger to the gate.
and said:
''Ge awayw
She wished TO trumpet this command
in high. peremptory tones, but instead
IL came forth feebly aud with tremu-
lous, nasal twang. #A
The tramp shook little. as though
with suppressed laughter, then said, In
Q deep and hollow voice:
'l'd rather stay here, ma'an, Il it's
all the same TO you"
The voice suited his eadaverous eyes,
but theirs was something incongruous
and ghastly In ths silent laughter that
took hold OF him and shook him at In
tervals.
Miss Eliza took step backward.
"what do you want9" she demanded
"If yer don't mind sittin' down and
iistenin' TO mo for q few minutes, III
tell YER"
Miss Eliza, being scarcely able 70
stand, did as was suggested. The
tramp also took chair. He folded his
legs and clasped his hands about his
knee. His hands were small and we'll
shaped, but very dirty; his feet we're
exceedingly large. Somehow the look
Of those smooth, soft fingers gave Miss
Eliza creepy feeling round the throat
The tramp began 70 speak In a rather
affable manner, but with the same hol'
low voice.
eyer ask me, ma'am, what do want,
and p,n s-goin' 10 tell yer. First, !
want the silver spoons and eandlsstieks
aud the tesset what's la the dinin'-
room, then want the stuffed hummin'
birds In the front parlor aud the silver