Western Kansas world., 1893-01-14
THE TRANSITORY TRAMP

sat on her front porch, and now and
again cooled her cheek by a nervous
jerk of her palm-Ieaf fan. The rock
ers Of her chair gave forth dismal
squeak, as her small but weighty per.
son swayed forward and back. She
was much discontented, and very
nervous-unstrung, she would have
said, and her flushed face and ag-
grleved eye proved her no liar.
Miss Eliza's character included two
very opposite qualities. a quick, high
temper and great timidity. We see
this combination in men very often,
but In women it is rare. Miss Eliza
had the arched nose and valiant col
oring of England's Virgin Queen:
contradicted by mild eye, an insfg-
nificant mouth and double chin.
Her height was not much to speak of,
and her figure was Of the down-cush-
ion order, soft and puffy.
Her thoughts just now were trou-
blesom. They hoVered persistently
about a conversation she had listened
to the night before, while taking tea
with a neighbor. The subject Of this
conversation, instead of remaining
decently buried in oblivion, haunted
her. They were rather ghastly lot,
taking them altogether. The first
was set going by girl who said that
there had been more tramps hanging
around this summer than ever before
as far's she knew. Then followed
stories of bad behavior Of these horny
footed and light-flngered gentlemen,
tales OF evil deeds Of gypsies, thieves
and murderers, Of the villany Of
Italians and the willy ways Of the ped
ding Jew-man. till every ones flesh
began to creep, and the Younger girls
glggled Historically; till Miss Eliza's
crimson cheek faded to a faint hello
trope, and Miss Eliza's niece, who
was present, trembled with delicious
excitement. After it was over these
two found their way home through
the gathering gloom, the one with
boldness of speech and an eye that
Stunned shadowy corners, the other
thrilling at every rustling leaf and
lnwardly thirstiug FOR adventure.
Now Miss Eliza was alone. 'The
GIRL" Miss EliZa'S helpmeet, had
gone to visit her mother, and Pauline,
Miss EliZa's niece, was spending the
afternoon with friend, about half
mile down the road. The house
seemed very empty and isolated, just
the place in which to enact tragedy
Of the deepest dye. Miss Eliza re-
flected that in all tales told the night
before the bloodiest miSfortunes ever
befel the lone woman who lived
half-mile down the road, and could
there be a filter subject for such hor
rors than herself? She thought, too,
that Pauline was not likely to return
before sunset, for she had refused to
let her take part in some amateur
theatricals, and there was GOODNESS
between them.
Miss Eliza rocked uneasily, and
scanned timorously the dusty road
which ran past the garden gate.
After a half-hour of this watching
and fearing, she calmed little, and
went into the house for her sewing.
What was her diSmay when she
stepped forth again upon the porch
to see a very ragged tramp come to-
ward her up the gravel path and
mount the steps He stopped when
he reached the step below her and
smiled.
He was young man, not over %
or %, maybe younger, and rather
handsome, but his black brows were
very sharply marked, and there were
deep shadows under his eyes, which
gave him q deadly look, and the s2ile
that now lifted the corners of his
mouth brought to Miss Eliza only a
more lively idea Of how he would look
as he gloated over her mangled re-
mains. He stood, silent and smiling,
and Miss Eliza felt she must say
something She gave furtive glance
down the road to see If any one were
coming, then she raised herself on
tiptoe, pointed fat foref1nger to the
gate, and said:
I4GO awayr'
She wished to trumpet this COM
mand in high, peremptory tones, but
instead it came forth feebly and with
q tremul0uS, nasal twanG.
The tramp shook little, as though |
with suppressed laughter, then said
in a deep and hollow voice:
I'D rather stay here, ma'an, If it's
all the same to you"
The voice suited his cadaverous |
eyes, but there was something incon- |
gruous and Rkastly in 1t the silent |
laughter that took hold OF him and |
shook him at intervals
Miss Eliza took a step backyard. |
sfWhat do you want?" she demanded. !
s'If yer don't mind sittin' down and ,
listenin' to me for a few minutes, I'll |
tell yer"
Miss Eliza, being scarcely able to
stand, did as was suggested. The
tramp also took a chair. He folded (;
his legs and clasped his hands about |
his knee. His hands hands were |
small and well shaped. but very dirty; !
his feet were exceedingly large. |
the look of those smooth,
soft fingers gave Miss Eliza a creepy
feeling round the throat. The tramp |
began TO speak in a rather affable |
manner, but with the same hollow |
w0fca