Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-05-31
AN OBLIGIN,4 TRAMP.

was close by and this IN summer time was
much Travelled on by tramps and disTep-
utable persons. But, us q rule, we at Mas
sizes took little heed of tramps, and few OF
those who came to beg ever got served at
our door. II any did get served, they were
either the very needy or tho particularly
"chccky" Tho former were relieved out
of pity for their condition, tho latter to
get rid Of them.
But Mrs. Massic could deny oven q very
"chccky bcggar" If sho suspected him of
being an impost0r. No doubt she did it
with more timidity than temerity, but
then there was usually II big dog or big
farm 1ab0rcr within sound of her voice.
Therefore she did do IL occasionally. Only
that very forenoon she had refused to serve
n burly turnpike navy who begged hard
for piece of bread and drink of milk.
"You look strong and healthy. Why
don't you work." asked Mrs. Massic.
'IIow can folks work when there amt
any work for 'cm to doY" said he.
"Therc's plenty to do If you only look
for it in likely place." she replied
'lvc been looking for IL three months
and amt found 1t yet, j" said he
"Thcn look for 1t till you do find it, !"
said the missis and with that she banged
the door in his face and left him to go his
way.
l thought 1t was rather unfecling Of
Mrs. Massio to talk like that, but she had
been in q pct over something or other that
morning and was not quite herself.
Well, about an hour after that she came
to me In quite good humor and asked me
to go for walk and tako the baby, saying
4 Il l., IN, trof .nf n n
of course, got ready, and wo were soon
enjoying the fresh mir and the sunshine.
For some distance We walked on tho turn
pike but before long wo came to narrow
lano which led to our nearest neighbours,
whose farm was about mile away.
Tho lano, except for birds and insects,
was ns lonely II place rs any ono could
wish for. Therefore we were not IL little
startled when, on turning corner, we
camc upon u tramp---thc very NAVY whom
Mrs. Massie had so rudely dismissed that
morning
lie was lying in tho shade of II thick
hedge, and he looked up us We passed.
When saw him through tho kitchen win
dow that morning, / noticed that he did
not look very refined, neither in manners
nor In features, but now on passing close
to him In that narrow lane fancied ho
looked quite fcrocious Evidently he and
Mrs. Mnssic recognized each other, and 1t
was plain that this did not please her, for
sho turned away from him with II shuddor,
as though she had seen n serpent
The NAVY must have seen that we wero
afraid Of him, and no doubt this gave him
somo satisfaction, butwc walked on quick
ly and In silence, for neither of us dared
trust ourselves to speak. When we wcro
u little distance from him, however, Mrs.
Mussic whispered to me to look round and
see If no was still lying down. l turned
my head and saw that the tramp was on
his feet and following us, and then |
grnspcd my companions arm, and she
turned to look also.
just then the tramp stopped and picked
up something which looked like u thick
stick or II hedge stake, and with this in
his hand he came on ut Il quicker pace, as
though intending to overtnke us. At this
my mistress turned pale and trcmbled
with fear, cXclniming:
ooh, heaven, no means to murder us
both, and this innocent babe us well!
What shall we do, Jennie; what shall we
doP"
"Givo mo tho baby, and let us run for
our livcs!" l cried, feeling surp that tho
tramp really intended to do us harm.
But In her great fear Mrs. Massio could
not trust her baby out of hcr arms, and
instead of giving 1t to mo she pressed the
little thing all tho closer to her breast.
Thus We ran down tho luno Ms fast MS our
feet would tako us, not daring to look back
upon our pursucr. We knew the tramp
was following because we could hear him
shouting after us in loud and angry tones.
1t seemed that he was trying to frightcn
us, but wc ran ON and never paused II mo-
ment to hear what ho said.
Tho farmhouse toward which we We're
fastening was not yet In sight, but we fled
swiftly onward, hoping soon to find refuge
there and TO gain tho assistance of its in
mates. For awhile tho tramp ceased to
shout, SO glanced around to sect ho was
still pursuing us, whereupon he raised his
weapon, and tlourishing 1t above his head
shouted nil tho louder and moro nngrily
and made moro determined effort to
ovortake us.
Mrs. Massie was almost exhausted with
running, but still she refused to let mo
have tho baby, although was the younger
and stronger and better able to carry 1t. In
hcr terror She seemed to fancy the baby
was safer In her arms than 1t would bo IN
mine, though | felt suro 1t would have
greatly relieved her if she had allowed me
to taEu the infant from hcr. Almost
brcathlcss With tho warmth of the day and
tho eAertion Of her tlight, sho painted like
u fox that is pursued by the hounds, and
tho pcrspiratiuu tricklcd down her flushed
checks like rain ON window pane Yet
she did not mean TO give in, aud the pres
ont0 VI tho baby seemed to make her all
tho moro determined to escape the fate
which the tramp evidently intended for us.
was just beginning To give way to de
spuir whom | heard my mistress cNclaim,
"Thauk God, we are here ut last" And
on lookinE round SAW tho farmhouse u
few hundrd yards away, The farmers
daughter was standing IN tho doorway and
Appeared surprised NJ seeing us running,
50 We ceased 10 hurry and approached tho
huuS1U; walk, thinking the tramp would
give UP the chase when lie SAW us draw
near. Hut IN this ease we wore mistaken,
as We had been all tho while in his intcn
tions, for he came on without pausing and
followed us close up to the door,
Then we saw what II was he had in his
hand, for he held it out to Mrs. MasSic,
eXclaiminE.
NIJprn rnisSis Lprt's upr umbrella