The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-12-23

/ AFRAID ne Is starving. lie has not
strength to speak. Let us help him
into the house.
Really, Miss H. l think you
might let me look after the man. l
will send for an ambulance, and
have him taken to the hospital. He
may harm others and you can do
him no good by taking him into
your house.
Perhaps you are right. Yes you
shall send him to the hospital. But
meanwhile let us take him in and
give him some food. Come, friend
come into the house; you are
as welcome as if it were your own
home.
The tramp sat motionless, as if
he had not heard her.
Perhaps he is too weak to stand.
Take hold of his arm, and let us lead
him.
Her friend complied, but as they
endeavored to raise him up, the
tramp made show of resistance, and
was released. Sinking back upon
the bench, to which he clung, sink.
ing his nails into the wood, he again
looked up strangely, and said:
I'm at the gate, the very gate,
and I'll run on on on-till | 60 in.
Her eyes see me-they are looking
into mine-and can reach out my
arm and touch her.
As he said this he slowly rose to
his feet, staring wildly into Miss
H--s face and stretching towards
her his bony right hand as if he
would clutch her. Her companion
quickly advancing step, laid hold
OF the mans arm and gently urged
him back to the bench, where the
poor fellow bowed his head upon
his knees, and so remained motion
less,
Miss H--wert hastily into
the house. Her companion hailed
policeman who was passing on
his beat, and asked him if he
knew anything about the stranger.
No said the policeman, l can't
say that | know much about him.
He amt been in these parts more
then few days, an l guess he's a
loon'o some sort ass come from
some other place. He's been
prowlin round this block, though
ever since | first noticed him, an
there amt no tellin what kind O.
game he may be after. Come,
rags, move on, get out O. this!
Had not Miss H appeared at
the moment, her friend would probably
have permitted the policeman to earn
a dollar by driving away the objection
able object. She again made known
her wishes, and the policeman went
away to send call for an ambulance.
The man was too feeble to make
much show of resistance when they
removed him, bat he hung back and
gritted his teeth in desperation, saying,
in a weak, husky voice, "Oh, don't
take me back don't take me back !"
Miss H told the ambulance
attendant that she would be respon-
sible for the patient, and would call
next day to see him. Meanwhile he
must be given every attention that
would be shown a private patient who
was expected 10 pay well, for he was
soldier, and for a soldier
who had come to his sad state in the
cause of his country, nothing could be
too good.
To please her, Mr.. p, her suitor,
went to the hospital that evening TO see
that her orders were carried out, and
she was NOR. cantented when he
brought back word that the ira Tl?aat had
taken little nourishment, and was
resting quietly.
They have made new man of him
in appearance already, SAID Mr.. P,
smiling. I'm afraid you will not recog
nlze your protege when you see him
tomorrow, and, indeed, l do not know
that any good purpose can be served
by your bothering yourself further about
him.
But Miss H had a way of both
ering about people whom others
deemed OF no consequence, and was at
the hospital next day as early as she
could be admitted to the wards. In
strict compliance with her directions,
the patient had been placed in a pri
vate ward, where he was quite alone.
The matron, who met Miss H
most graciously in the parlor, said the
doctors had been much interested in
the poor mans case, and after he was
cared for by the bath man and the bar
Der, had instituted an examination
which convinced them that he had
been a soldier, and probably lost his
reason through a wound on the head.
the ugly scar of which still remained.
Since early in the morning he had been
fast asleep, she SAID but his case was
hopeless, as, by long privation and ex.
posure, his system was completely
wrecked, and he could only survive, at
most, a few days.
A nurse presently notified them that
the patient was awake, and, accom-
panied by the house surgeon, to whom
Miss H was we'll known, they
repaired to the chamber.
As they entered, the mao looked at
them from the pallet where he lay,
peaceful smile on his careworn face,