The Van Buren press., 1895-05-04
A TRAMP'S ROMANCE.

which had penetrated even the thick
tweed suit ! wore. It had rained
steadily for twenty-four hours, and,
Judging from the thick, colorless sky
and the white cloud wreaths that hung
about the lower slopes of the noun.
tains, there seemed every probability
that spell OF bad weather had set in.
Driven as with goad by the utter
discomfort Of the dirty inn had left
behind me in the morning, l pressed
on in the rain-lashed cleaning towards
the old Roman watering place on the
southern side Of the Stelvio pass, Bad
Bormio; there, knew, the joys OF good
food, clean linen and luxurious bath
waited for me. OF course, ought not to
have cast one thought on these com.
forts Of civilization, for the Stelvio
pass Is one of the grandest In Europe,
and 1t has been my privilege to behold
the great Madatsch glacier and the
cloud-veiled head Of tho Ortler 6pits,
as stood at the top OF tho pass and
looked over the glories Of tho Tyrolean
Alps.
But / was very wet, very tired, very
hungry; and l longed for my Capua
down in the pleasant valley. Ny port
manteau had gone on by post-the
carry-all, omniscient post Of foreign
partA At Bormio I would rest me for
three whole days; good dinners would
/ eat and sparkling Asti would drink,
and would make merry with any
pleasant folk chance might throw In
my way. And so the pains and penal
ties OF the poor pedestrian would be
forgotten, or remembered only as
foil to the comforts Of the present.
hurriedly pulled myself up at this
stage Of my reflections, for anticipa-
tion had made me forget for a brief
moment what was then my condition.
The relentless rain had worked its way
to my skin; only my feet were dry,
thanks to the waterproof boots and
stout leggings l wore. was as yet
within some miles Of my goal when
overlook two pedestrians whose case
was much worse than my own, for
these two belated wanderers were
women, and the poor creatures' skirts
were wet and draggled and clung mis-
erably about their limbs. Both were
slender and young, and the heavy rain
beat mercilessly on their heads ana
shoulders. Bedraggled though they
were, saw at glance they were Ia
dies, and few words uttered by one
told me that they were countrywomen
Of my own. My interest and sympathy
were at once enlisted.
Another hour, Betty, at most, and
we can knock off. What tramp we've
had, and how it can rain In this won
dsrtul es,antry"
4 glanced quickly at..the girl ad-
dressed as Betty. She was wet, but
even prettier than her companion. The
steady tramp Of my steps probably
caused Betty some alarm, for she
looked nervously over her shoulder. 1t
was then that l saw what a very pretty
girl she was, despite her somewhat
disheyelled state.
On the impulse of the moment
raised my hat and muttered some sort
OF salutation.
"Oh, yon're English!" #
The accent Of pleasure was unmis-
taxable and gratifying.
The exclamation came from betty,
whose dark eyes were turned full on
me. Evidently the result of the in
spection was favorable, for Betty
smiled. and allowed row Of cleaning
little teeth, whose whiteness was ac-
centuated by the rich red of the lips
that enframed them. The young LADY, IS
complexion was slightly Drowned by
exposure to the sun; but the flashing
Of the rain had brought flush of pink
to the smooth cheek, whose perfect
contour WAS apparent as she turned
toward me. M - h N
Yes, am English" I said, in q
comfortable, lder-brotherly tone cal
culated TO win the confidence of these
two Independent damsels-errant; sand
! am on my way to Bad Bormio. e7e
80 are we; and we are so horribly
wet, and the road seems as If it would
never end"
1T is a long tramp from Trafoi,"
remarked.
''Oh, we only came from F'razenhohc
this morning; we had some lunch at
Santa Maria, and we hope to reach
Bormio by dinner time" said the other
girl, whose name afterward knew TO
he Kate; for, to tell you the truth, we
are both awfully hungry
What hotel are you bound forT'
inquired @~.-
''The Nuovi Bagni'
"Ah, | am going there, too viii
you allow me to walk with You and to