Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-06-14
JOHN SMITH. TRAMP.

She had good cause 10 ren ember BIS
coming. fer i happened just nj th7 time
of her N 81 str ngent need of help and
a mans htlp at that.
H came at that pecuiar hour when
the stars were vet sparkling IN tae sky,
ike beiated fireflies. aud The moon, old
and decrcpn, was climingup The east
ern slope Win the crimson ayant conri
ers q the ia an close at her heels.
The wind came wishing 10 across the
level GROUND, with tbs sharp sting OF
chilly wat rs on its breath, where be
yon the comb % lh8 ail could be telt
rather thsu seen TIE gray blue fields
Of the sea.
I was the time ii tue ar wi en- i
passes from age 10 Ycu-b, puts CT lis
sober. ermlas trimmed garments, ard
dons its bright emerald rob-, bordercd
w.t. q md tulercnrs Tte ice
was IN melted n0m The caves, and the
t,mn for be re ura OF tie swallows was
nesr: saucg R0hin with his waisiccat
"a fuler crimson, was already on hand,
and from The dCye-cctes came The
sounds Of tender coo;ng notes; shout
Inc chimneys the teiltering of many
sparrows
She could not tell from whence came
the stranger, except il was from the
wind and night. and his journey must
have been painful and full Of misnaps.
His clothes were tattered and toru.
Only remnant of bat and coat re-
NAMED 10 suggest their former state.
HIS iee1 were almost on the ground,
and showed great red and white bis
ters as ne limped rather than walked;
MS face WIS whittier than his rag of a
shirt, and his gaunt eyes had hunted,
hungry, yet defiant look. pitiful To see.
Sticking in his ragged hair and besrd
were BITS Of straw. while across his
forehead was an ugly red welt.
"Where did you come from, and are
You brute or human?' asked this tai,
angular, sharp featured woman in
still sharper. more iuciSive voice, as
she opened the door Ia response TO his
timid knock
'From your barn just now, ma lam
and I am or was once, ct least human.
but for the love Of heayen give me
5 eat, or take gun and
blow my brains out quick, Tor | am
more dead than alive nov, as You ste y
Ihs woman looked at him suspicious
III, then across the room toward q bu
reau which stood in one corner. Fol
lowing the direction If her eyes, he
staggered across the threshold of the
door, tu' She turned on Ann savagely
1T is in the right-hand corner Of the
upper dcaaer. he said pointing 10
tho direction of The buietu as If to
hasten her purpose
Been peeking in ut the window.
have youP" she snapped back at him
Then, wslking over, she opened The
drawer he had iBdiceied aud took ont
az oglt king r8Yol er ot bulldog
pattern. and placed il within few feel
OF the mans head and ssid:
You may cuue IN and | vii give
y wH IL e.t aud ,os 80
eaus clothes; bar stir oba seep lee
close or take one liberty, and YOU are
8 dead mau.
She stood boiore lim with tie re-
voAl. il, .a;a. the bma glitter os sIga
III r eNt4. hel light hair. gllntad
with ree twisted about her head wi b
the srakY coils e Medusas locks;
her wae' appehrsues IS ccpella8g ana
formidable as oue eoul well conceive,
bat FOR one drauebt 81 the hol coffee
which w sending up its delicious frs
granae from The stove. almost madden.
ing 70 a starving man. h. could easi y
face this she dragon
Nv befe are ton from2' she asked
again. be sat eating the lir,t good
meal he bad las ed for DAYS.
From the past agd the doors are
closed aud seaed. ne answered
She drew down her br0ws int q
frowp, and the glitter crept into the
eyes again,
Are YOU willing 70 work."
"Yes "
WAL you stay here aud work for
your board and sleep in the havlofl?
II Is getting warmer now, and | will
see that you are comfortable. she
added
Yes" was the only reply he made
her
"What is your uamep'
John Smith,, he added after little
hesitation.
That's lie she snapped back at
him tiercely bat John Smith, tramp
or whoever you may be p" she coutnu-
tNs L nave ttilS iaiufs tHC spring IS mere, |
il is time for the blowing aud the plant |
ing ID begin. My husband lies wonder !
in the churchyard, She nodded her
head in the direction My children
are too small to help much lean 30
great deal myself, bat not all. Ii /
YOU viii stay ana work the place for /
me will give YOU food aud clothes, |
and ask no questions. But mind you /
stranger. you are fo know Your place
au3 keep d, tor | am afrsid 81 neither
ma0 uot aevi. aud would shoot you
ike dog it YOU ever forgot IT," AS
She hnjshed speakfug her voice tooA on
rs Sigh. sharp tones agsin-
Isn't bargajua' She asked rus
Queiv, n conclusion
Yes. John Smith frame, nr Who
ever ha was, answered pareeifing ht
hind Fife woma0'a rough ana Forbid
ding exterior. few tr ices Of human
kindness, and glad enough 70 avail
himself of Ter proposition. which
2 E.-