Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-04-15
A STRANGER.
rr F. II. SWEET.

a strong breeze, sharp with the cold
suggestion of coming winter, swept up
from the bay and tossed the crsaking
boughs OF the old buttonwoods that stood
along the roadside until they labored in
the wind like SHIPS at sea- The last of
the fog was just disappearing, and curled
fleecily up from the woods aud waters,
rolling away in great. sullen masses. In
the north, long line Of snow clouds
were sluggishly moving forward. There
was something peculiar-almost sinister
lin their slow, heavy formation. and
the weather-wiss fishermen OF shore
watched them uneasily. and began 10
draw in tackle and make preparations %
seek harbor
On the land ths farmers sbook th.ir
heads snd haslened to gst tha lasE q tisa
pumpkins and aprles umaef nee~f 90
their own Accord 80 oaIlls 80 = srsx.
ing snd sought ths hsruvaris Nas saf
then afrngg asa ffnm sumse fiiNhaaasl
lack of wtla weess aew famaas stana..ts
Ia anHtasra saer1s rf tsesf $3.50
Near gh. -ua af fss aas ss~~s - -
lgtle NshinW hamief mas m maaaaa
leafen. mual esesss assaaeatmat ~ aa
sfeff snd ltft sefFaaatos 50 fa
afaursi a a'f - fs.s haw e.H hH -
uma rna.mi sass@ah aam wa2e@ae sm8 aa
- EIaHS KFsmn 81 aata $50 Nm 49,
gslnse.l = hea. ths nsssftf sf saa aas.
sl le sHFfnsHftwrs wsH faFess@a - Han
tsann' 'atten of shs naef0aapm tasata
AZ leass ahas s~saa~d fa - go aa~
sifA fts Hftls et weaasa $50 kostial
rsinfalF ur ths pasa s ths hNf ag~a
Altsen 8aef NiaeF~ siaa samaH~a ifs~as.
iateiF hrt tss saFpfF srael af uoekinx
sas sIrssslihis and slas pf-ssei sl1slY
forusra inta ths l0w aeorwMy Ibs
lchen was fragrant with the odnrs a
tie Saturdays baking from the stove
ag the far end o. the long room came .
cheerful Kissing and sputtering, and over
it a woman bent in impatient suspense.
Her back was toward the door, and she
did not see the great. hungry eyes that
were fastened on the loaves Of bread and
the pine table. Such profusion made
the wistful eyes gleam, and the withered
form tremble with eagerness. But she
did not venture to cross the threshold.
On the floor two children were playing.
They had watched the woman's approach
with childish curiosity. The youngest
rose to his feet and toddlsd toward her.
After gazing at her few moments with
his big, wondering eyes, he held up a
cookie that he had been nibbling. She
hesitated, then took it and ate it greedily.
The boy laughed and went to get an
other. But at this moment Mrs. Barten
looked up Her face was flushed with
heat and vexation; she was about to
speak sharply to the children when she
caught sight Of the bent figure in tho
doorway, and her wrath was turned. OF
all things she hated beggars the mostI
During the summer months many Of
them drifted up from the neighboring
seaports, and proved constant source of
loss and vexation to the fishermen and
farmers. Mrs. Barten had suffered with
the rest, and as she turned from the stovo
her lips were drawn sharply over her
strong, white teeth. She did not see tho
wistful eyes and patient smile. What
she saw was a covering beggar, with
some outlandish kind of head-coyering,
and a ragged shawl closely drawn about
the slight form.
"Well?" she said in sharp, interrog-
ative tone.
The old woman shivered as though
something had struck her, but her face
remained perfectly blank.
"A furrinerl"
Mrs. Barten sprang forward and drew
the children from 30 dangerous presence.
To her foreigner seemed all that was
dangerous aud depraved. A sudden
sputter recalled her to the stove, and by
the time she was again at leisure a trace
Of her natural kindly disposition had
come to the surface. Taking q generous
handful OF cookies and one OF the loaves
OF bread, she returned to the door. But
the old woman had already passed the
rickety gate, and was hobbling slowly
down the street.
Mrs. Barten looked after her regrot-
fully.
Il wisht I'd a-given her suthin'. she
muttered, as she replaced the food on the
table; but land sake alive!r she con-
tinued briskly. after moments thought.
@why sh'd feel sorryi Like as not the
old tramp was jest spying round arteE
suthin' to steal. Most likely she'll have
a dozen snacks gin her before night.
Here you. Bob'n Liza. come back to the
house tlis minute. an don't you dare go
trapesin' out agin.H And with mind at
rest and conscience satisfied, Mrs. Barten
returned to her compounds Of fragrant
odors.
Slowly the afternoon wore away; tho
pies and cakes and cookies disappeared