The state herald., 1892-05-20
A TALE OF A TRAMP.

found lying sensoless upon his face in
tho dusty highway thnt sultry August
afternoon. The terrible heat OF q
burning sun had been too much for
his feeble strength. and he had sunk
to the earth ovorpowered by q sitting
atmosphere that seemed like u breath
from tho scorching interior OF some
fiery-hearted volcano.
Most people would have bundled the
old rugamufiin of to tho workhouse
Immediately. helpless and sun-smltten
us he was. but sho was made Of q dif-
sercnt stuff this tender. hearted little
Aunt Libbie OF ours. She hastily sum
moned tho 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
beggnr and put 1t tenderly to bed in
tho tiny spare room that she had re-
served when we came TO 1.-Two with her,
while Maggie went In haste for DR..
Palmer
There was mournful tragedy hid
den away in the buried past OF this
soit-voiced. tender-hearted little old
lady. though no one ever would have
suspected II from her sweet face and
calm and placid appearance. Long
years before when Aunt Libbio was
still n fresh and beautiful young girl,
her heart had been won by handsome.
dushing young stranger called Tom
Dacrc. As he seemed steady and ro-
liablc and the soul of honor they bo.
came engaged after short courtship,
even though she knew nothing what
ever OF her handsome lovers anto-
cedents. For while everything went
on happily and tho wedding day rap.
idly drew near then came n thunder
clap.
A neiChbor Deacon Burgess bought
large tract OF land known rs the
Edmonds estate md went to the city
one day TO draw funds from the bank
with which TO pay for it. As 1t was n
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 tho boy
came rushing back into the Burgess
homestead, with faco like ashes and
great Mortified eyes. and with all the
lncohercnce OF extreme terror he told
an awful story. lie said that he and
his inthcr had nearly reached home
ngain. when, as they wero going
through a dark AMI lonely strip OF
woodland. highwayman suddenly
sprang from the bushes by tho road
side and seized the horse by the bride.
Pointing pistol straight ut the dea-
cons breast he demanded his money.
The carriage lamps wcro burning
brightly. but tho mans faco was en-
vcloped to the eyes In n thick. dark
mul'er so he could not be identified
The deacon was bravo man though
somewhat along In years and he was
not one TO give up his hard-earned
savings without n struggle. Leaping
suddenly from tho carriage hc crap.
pied with tho robber at tho same
timc calling upon tho boy for assist
unce.
Tho onslaught was SO unexpected
that tho ruillan was taken entirely by
surprise. The cloth was torn from
his face In tho struggle. but before
tho frightened boy could render his
father the slightest assistance tho
robbcr pulled the trigger and Deacon
Burgess fell headlong TO the earth.
The boy lenpcd INTO tho bushes and
escaped In tho darkness; but as he
fled from tho fatal spot ho threw n
has,y glance behind him and saw tho
assassin leaning over tho PROSTATE
form OF his victim rs ho groped In
the breast for tho roll OF bills that
had been the occasion OF tho crime.
The boys story crcntcd tho utmost
CONSERVATION at tho Burgess homo.
stead, An armed party OF noighbors
was hastily summoned. and set out at
once for the sceno OF the encounter.
Tho terrible talo was but too truo.
They found tho unfortunate man pros
tta,e In the rond and wcl,cring In
blood. shot through tho breast whilo
the old horse stood hitchcd TO tree
close by. Tho money was gone
Deacon Burgess lived until tho fol-
lowing day and recovered his senses
perfectly toward tho last Both he
and tho boy Henry sworo most posi-.
lively that tho perpctraior OF tho
dastardiy deed was no other than Tom
Dncrc But no earthly power could
savo the wounded man. ms hc was
bleeding internally. and Mt o'clock
In tho afternoon no brcathcd his last
II was two days before Tom Dncrc
could DO found but at tho end OF that
timo no was arrested returning from n
nclghborlng town. Tho officers kept
tho infurlntod citizens from lynchlng
him only with tho greatest difficulty.
and that very evening thoy started for
tho city with thoir prisoner
Not LONG after they sot out Ms Aunt
l.lbblc sat with dry eyes and stony
henrt In tho littlo garden. we'll.
known voice called 10 her from tho
shrubbory; aud n momont later Tom
Dacrc was Mt hor sldo. lio had brokon
away from his captors aud succeeded
In cludlng thom In tho darkness; but
hc could not loayc tho place perhaps
forever without bidding his sweet
heart farewell. md mt tho risk OF his
lilo ho had sought hcr side for that
purpose.
Iic sworc that hc was innocent OF
tho crime OF which ho stood accused.
and begged for n single word OF love
mud consolation 10 choor him In tho
long. droary years Of his coming cxilc;
but all In vain. Tho proofs OF his
guilt wcro too strong. and Aunt Libbic
drove him from hor side with horror
and lonthing; even while her own
heart was breaking with tho pain OF
tho separation.
From that hour Tom Dncro was
novor socn again. Search rs they
would tho detectives could not find