The herald., 1894-04-08
TWO TRAMPS.

the railroad men of that section called
the Brighton cut was, fortunately for
two persons who suddenly found them
selves transported from the cold hospi-
tally of freight car to the colder en-
brsces of the wide, white world that
encompassed the track, very deep. Aft
or moment OF two of partial insensi-
bility, more the result of bewilderment
than of actual physical hurt, these two
lifted their heads up out of the white
counterpane that clung to them like
some active envelope and looked after
the train that was now merely mist
of smoke and an echo faint beyond the
curves Of the forest.
HIN" !" said the first one Of the two
derelicts to rise apd shake the snow off
his thin form, that was a fearful
breach of hospitality. We invest a com
mon carrier, SO termed in law, with tho
dignity of carrying such uncommon per-
s0nages as ourselves, and this-~fhis is
the treatment we received Billy, this is
heathon oountryl" He took off his
cap and passed eight long and bony
fingers through his snow invested hair.
I "D-n his eyes!" said Billy. He
was person OF few words and fewer
attractions. He was short, and his gen
eral effect was toward tho loutish. .asii<-
Yes the other replied, looking
about him, ''I have no doubt you are
right. Billy, your explanation is a most
agreeable one. 1t was ewing to some
curious defect in that brakeman's s eyes
doubtless that he failed to notice our
high estate. If any part of him ist0
suffer condemnation, it is his eyes. Billy,
] agree with you. Say it againip
I Billy for brief minute looked as If
he would Ike to include other and near
ier eyes i'll his anathema. He contented
himself, however, with a muttered
"Arghi" circular look at the prospect.
OF sloping meadow land and al"What
next, cully?"
| STRANDED as we are upon an appar-
emily shoTeless sea of snow" responded
the gentleman addressed as s'eully,"
'our next move should be toward shell
tes-s-.'- -rci f,uaagd KICK s,5szss n1Ioyv out
of boot that was, as to the toes, over
hospitable to the elements. "This is q
dismal spot"
To tell the truth, the Brighton cut
is one Of the blea!Ecst places .n the state.
Tho railway track comes winding down
a. steep grade until it reaches this cut.
Tho soil thereabouts is not tilldble, and
there are no fences for over half a mile,
A thin strip of forest shuts out the west
erniview. On gray afternoon in mid
winter it looks very lonely, and there
is something in the silence Of it after
the rattle Of freight train has echoed
away that strikes chill even when tho
sun is shining. 1t was no wonder, then,
that to these two, just stranded there
from the comparatively warm reeesses
of a lumber car. the place should seem
decidedly dismal. They were used to
dismal things, to be sure, hut that ever
present yearning for luxury and itsaat-
tendant inexertion-a yearning thathad
made them what they were-rebelled
at every repetition of the unwelcome
reality. It is not necessary to state
very particularly who these two were.
The one with the tall frame and the
taller language might have been a great
many things-some of them great The
fact that he was none of these is explana-
tion enough of his title as tramp. AS
for the other one, it is doubtful whether
he had ever had even possibilities. He
was by lapse of all other capabilities a
tramp for sure. Just as it is sufficient of
Q man to say that he is king, so is it
enough introduction to make certain
that he is a tramp. These two were in
dubitably tramps. 1t was evident in
the consummate grace with which they
wore their curiously allotted clothes.
It was patent in the air of nobility that
them as true lords of the air.
1t was on ti,efr breath.
II may say without exaggeration, p
continued the taller of the two, 'that
this is place unfit for such as we are
to rest in. Wherefore let us reconnoi-
ter
. As they passed up the slope toward
the north it began to snow steadily.
Over in the west the faint gray light of
day was dinming to the almost color
less shade of white upon white. 1t was
an arduous task, stamping through the
drifting snow. From time to time one
might have heard, had one been within
the voice of Billy cursing as he
walked.
= y
On what is known in that county as
the Brighton Mill road there is for the
most part sprinkling of as fine farms
as there are anywhere in the west. The
farinhouses are well painted, and the
barns are roomy and new enough TO bo
the envy OF many a man who has gone
Farther toward the plains and rented a
log cabin, For a distance of about q
mile east and west, however, this high
way passes through barren district
that is marked by nothing save tum-
bio down shanty, with a roof the bricks
Of which have fallen eastward. Thia
shanty stands at point where the high
way is nearest to that point on the rail-
way known as the Brighton cut on tho
summit Of tho arid slope lending down
10 tho rails. For good many years
this shanty had been. tho home, if one
may use the word SO lightly, of GER
tain Doc Middals, concerning whom but
little seemed to be known save that he
was 'baching it, Just what presump-
tion of ownership or interest in the