The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-05-10

could think NV nothin' but thet there
girl in tn tree, who I figured must
hev ben a heap sight better lookin'
than a circus lady.
"Et come shutdown, an ez I
had ter hustle ter git supper I
dragged meself together an moved
on. went up tn valley three
days an got bout thirty miles toward
Snyder county, but tn whole time I
was thinkin' bout tn gal in tn blue
caliker dress. never felt so queer
before, an didn't know jest what ter
do. Last I decided I'd hev ter go
back an hev another look ct her, so 1
turned round an kivered me tracks.
81 reached tn orchard bout one
day later. in tn afternoon, an hanged
Of she wasn't there, but settin' in a
tree closer ter tn road. I didn't dast
go near her, fer I knows how 'fraid
tn weemen is NV us men. But I slid
enter me ole place, an jest lay there
watchin' her blue dress wavin' in tn
breeze; an then when 1 seen as how
she'd changed trees, l begin ter
think may be she'd seen me an moved
up one tree nearer tn road, kinder so
as we'd be closer"
The tramp's voice broke. He
placed one hand upon his ragged
breast and gazed over the valley
through tear-filled eyes.
"Now quit your blubberin', trampy,"
cried the loafer "an' git ter the en-
Of this ere yarn"
The traveller wiped his eyes upon
his coat sleeve and continued:
"Wull, as lay there watchin' her
SO still and quiet l began to think.
wondered what her name must hev
ben an lowed ct orter ben pretty
one. Then 1 kinder thought bein' ez
/ didn't know her name l might give
her one-th' prettiest could git up.
raclSed me brain an finally sot on
Emily Kate-thet sounded high toned.
Then begin ter wonder who'd be so
fort'nit as ter git Emily, an cussed
meself fer bein' SIGH a bum. / kinder
thought 1 might reform, but final
flowed eff she'd take me without me
hevin ter reform, ct 'ud be sight
pleasanter all round. I see how
she'd moved up tree, an'kinder won
dered eff she'd seen me- TIL more 1
thought on ct, tn worse I got. be-
gin ter think mebbe eff cleaned up
wouldn't be so bad-in fact, a heap
better than lots of folks / knows BY
tn time ct come sunset I conceded
ter risk ct, an begin ter think Nv
crawlin' tn fence an interducin' me-
self; but then me heart failed me. l
put ct off tell tn next day, an slid
over tn fell ter barn an spent the
night
Il didn't eat no breakfas'.
couldn't. But when ct come sun-up
I went down ter tn spring an washed
up. Then cut fer tn orchard, tend
in ter wait tell she come. / Expected
she wouldn't be there so airly, sence
she'd likely do up tn breakfas' dishes.
ST Skinned tn fence inter tn road
an then what sight seen, 1 near
yelled. They was a big Teller he'd
his arm right around her wais'. She
was layin' all limp like, wit her head
pitched forward, so I couldn't see ct,
an her feet was dragging through
tn timothy, fer tn Teller was pullin'
her along down tn orchard. Eft first
I was fer running to her reslSy, but I
thought mebbe I'd better wait tell l
see what come NV et
eth big feller he pulled her, all
limp, down ter tn other side, an
then leaned her up agin tree an hit
her punch wit his fis'. I seen tn
blue calilxer suhbonnet droop. Then
he jumped tn fence, an started down
over tn meddy.
heart was a-thumpin' awful.
! wa d tell he was outer sight an
then umb tn fence an slipped down
through tn long grass ter where
Emily Kate lay, half dead, agin the
tree. seen chickin' coop there an
hear tn ole hen cluckin'; an stepped
up an raised tn girls droopin' head.
She he'd straw face, an was keepin
tn hawks off them chiclSings. My
Emily Kate was scare"
The tramp's voice grew husky, and
he faltered.