South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-06-24

FRIDAY. JUNE "a, 1892.
THE TRAMP OPERATOR.

an unusual sight, even late at night,
but sad one, neverth eleas.
"Pm almost starved ;ghty
glad when strike the next station.
Hope the operator will give me a
warm welcome and part Of his
lunch, Hello there is signal
lamp now. Didn't think l Was SO
close to an Office as this"
On he plodded till he reached the
station. Looking in at the station
he saw young woman sitting at
the table reading.
"Heavens she'll be scared to
death at me-" he cried, with some
thing like despair in his voice.
"Must go on until / strike anoth-
er Office There may not be one
within fifteen miles"
At that moment the young girl
she was scarcely cighteen-raised
her eyes, and saw the haggard coun-
tenance at the window. The kind
expression of her face gave him the
courage to try the door.
LOCKED, of course" he mnttcr-
ed. "But here she comes. Now
L il catch 1.-THE poker, | mean"
Meanwhile the girl had opened
the door.
"Yes, you may come in and get
warm" she responded to his re-
quest. 'but then you must CO."
"Well, that's the first kind word
I've had spoken to me for months"
thought the cold, hungry man.
The girl Frightened the fire,
then went on reading. Her coffee
can was on the stove, and how
tempting TO him was the savory odor
which it emitted
lie eyed it for some time in ST..
lence, holding out his blue hands
to the grateful glow of the Ere.
Then sudden thought struck him.
IL wonder il she would see me il
took drink Of it? But no." he
added determincdly, II have some
manhood about me yet F.; | haven't
fallen quite so low as to steal a la
dy's lunci. Here miss, no said
aloud, your coffee is boiling over"
"Thank you. I'll take it of, or
would you like to drink it,
"No,thank you, I've had my sup
per-six months ago." to himself
"But you arc cold. | am not
feeling very veil tonight and can
not eat anything. Here is my lunch
basket you are perfectly welcome
to what there is i'll It,.
She extended it toward him with
a pathetic little smile that touched
his heart.
"You say you are sick ?" he ask
ed kindly.
eyes, I've been trying to get off
for the past week, but they are
short of men just now and unable
to secure any one to relieve me-"
The low weary voice sent thrill
of pain through him
cts too bad you can't go home
and rest awhile said he, eympa-
thetically.
al have no home"
She had closed the book now and
laid it on her desk. There was ST.
lence for few minutes while the
man ate the lunch and drank the
steaming coffee, all the while keep.
ing his eyes fixed upon her face.
The golden hair was like q halo
rOund it from out the violet eyes
told the truth, Tenderness and pu-
rity of a loving soul the mouth had
swest pathetic droop; the deli
cate, graceful curves OF the head
and neck, the slender figure, in
stinct with grace and refinement,
made picture that was seldom
equaled.
For the first time in many years
q terrible sense Of remorse for the
wasted years Of his life came over
him. He felt a. that moment as II
he coald have knolt at her feet and
kissed the hem OF hor gown she
seemed so fair and sweet and far
above him that he wished he had
been better man.
Presently she spoke.
"IIeve you = mother aud q faith
or ?"
Eyes, and good ones, too.
Ho seemed strangely agitated,
and she looked at him a little Curl
ously,
ooh, il ] only had either ! I
am all alone IN the world-all alone
in the world ! She repeated the
words like sad refrain "No one
knows what IL is to bo all alone un-
less they have experienced it. When
| fall ID, the hospitals or q gloomy
hotel 10 the only shelter l have"
lie thought there were tears ia
her eyes, but she turned her head
so quickly that he was not certain.
And this delicate girl was working
for her daily bread, and he, q strong
healthy man, with father, mother,
and q good home, ato her bread like
a dog The thought was madden
ing.
A lump rose in his throat, and a
strange mistIncss came before his (
eyes. Why, what was the matter |
with him. lie stood up and shook 4
himself.
"lt's toe last The FIRST man who {
offers me a drink I'll put q bullet |