The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-11-26

rather CANDY calico bag. He spread this
out before him, then fell to shaking
again with his horrid, suppressed
laughter.
Miss Eliza was stupefed with terror.
As this young but awful man laid bare
his sinful plan. and enumerated her
| dearest household treasures, the blood
left her checks drop by drop, and her
round bite eyes opened too wide for
tears. When he finished. she could
only gasp feebly. Then she found voice
to murmurt
please won't You leave the cake
baskct?"
The tramp ceased to laugh and looked
solcmnly at her.
why, ma'am," he said, how can
you ask it?" His voice had a disagree
able way of running up into the fall
setto. mo, I will leave nothin'." lie
got up and pulled his hat further over
his eyes. my time is yours, ma'am,
SO come along. Sooner or later, it's all
the same"
Miss Eliza could not suInmon suf-
hcient strength to move but when the
tramp winlsed at her slo ~ly. then COW
cred his mouth with one of those dread.
full little hands of his, and INDUCED in
silent laughter, she jumped to her feet
with nervous haste and led the way
into the house with rapid though
trcmulous movements. They went from
dining-room to parlor. She shut her
eyes as the silver teaspoons, candle
sticks, teaset and cake basket were
placed in the recesses of the calico bag,
and it was scarcely cheering to be told
that the ''hummin' birds had best be
saved till later, and would do to orna-
ment the top" The paper cutter in the
parlor and the silver salt cellars were
also swallowed up. Then the two wend-
ed their way up the narrow stairs.
The tramp became every moment
more jubilant, and Miss Eliza more
wretched. Miss Eliza fully expected
to be deliberately murdered when they
reached the second floor. This tramp,
with his smiling mouth and hollow
eyes, with the smooth. small fingers,
the %convulsive laughter and the Cavern
ous voice, was surely the kind to torture
one to death. and hug himself ecstatic.
ally at the sight of ones dying ngonies.
Wherefore she went IN the stairs one
step at a time, till the tramp snapped
his fingers and begged her to step Il
little lively. Poor Miss Eliza. in all
her plump and peaceful life she had
never dreamed Of such hideous excite.
mcnt.
At the head of the stairs was the
door that opened into Pdnline's room,
and to this the tramp motioned her.
They ertered. 1t was a pretty place.
The sunlight filtered through the apple
trees and the rufiled curtains, and lay
cool and shining on neat mating and
the little white bed that stood in the
corner. Watercolor sketches were
stuck up in every direction, and on the
opposite wall hung a picture of Paul
inc, lone by herself. 1t was not very
good, and for a moment or two the
tramp paid no attention to It. Then it
caught his eye. He took n long stride
for ward, and stopped as though SPELL
bound with admiration. Then, clutch
ing at his breast convulsivcly, and with
eyes still rivetcd upon the picture, he
said in his hollow tones:
"Who may yon angel bc?'
Miss Eliza had n moments hope that
all this was but 4 dream, for the tramp's
every moment seemed to grow more
unreal and like n nightmare. Then
her fears redoublcd. and she weakly
whispered:
My niece. Pauline"
Pauline repeated the tramp in
ectasy, and again: Pauline" Then
lie let go the bag, fell on one knee,
clasped his hands, and raised them to-
ward the picture.
80. pure and lovely angel" he ex-
claimed. What goodness and what
beauty shine from thy heavenly face!
How sadly those holy eyes look into
my sinful SOUL
Miss Eliza's jaw dropped weakly.
Perhaps this rs the most astonishing |
of all the past half hours experiences.
To be sure, Pauline was a pretty girl, |
but there had never, as far as Miss
Eliza knew. been any marked holiness
in her expression or conduct.
The tramp now got upon his feet.
"Ma'am." he said, Il am converted, |
and It's all the work of tfat angelic |
creature. | am a-goin' to give up my
evil life, and you will be the first of the
many new leaves ! am about to turn
over. But remember. it is all her doin'!
Gou will have to thank her that the
cake basket remains in the family. and
fi1t sill a-v-aarin' that hair |
brooch. Only. there is one condition
that I make" his voice grew more hol-
low, and he laid his hand on his hidden
revolver. Swear that you will treat
her like an angel, and that you will
refuse notllin' she may ask of yer.
Swear! or.
Miss Eliza swore.
Farewell. Pauline" said the tramp,
with another long gaze at tie picture.
I'm agoin', but I'm carryin' yer image
with me in my heart"
lie left the room. and Miss Eliza
heard his footsteps down the stairs,
down the gravel walk and down the
road till they died away in silence.
Then she fell down upon her knees
and clasped her desecrated household
gods to her ample bosom. murmuring
broken thanks.
Half an hour later, and half a mile
down the road, two girls were together
in an upper room. One. who was small
aud fair. was sitting on the floor, both
feet curlcd under her. her chin between
her hands and her elbows On her knees
an attitude showing enthusiastic in
terest. The other, who was tall and
had fine eyes, stood before the glass.
Her hair was n good deal tumbled and
her hands were dirty; She was busy
rubbing burnt cork off her checks and
eyebrows.
do you really think. Polly, she will :
let YOU do it now" asked the little one.
Pauline turned about.
I'm sure of it," she said.
Then, as the last traces of burnt cork
disappeared, she leaned toward the
glass.
And it's all the doin' of this angelic
creature" she laughed. Harvard Adj