Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-03-02
The Tramp's Romance.

ual, Iounglng upon the bench, hack
ing away at the hard oak with his
heavy jacknife. Seated by him were
the G.. A. R. Man, the Tinsmith and
the Miller. The Pennsylvania
Dutchman leaned stupidity against
the doorpost, while the Tramp was
stretched easily along the floor. A
light summers shower had driven
the wanderer into the shelter of the
porch for few hours.
"Was you ever disappointed in
love 2" inquired the Chronic Loaf
err jocularly of the traveller, at which
sally the rest of the party laughed
heartily.
The Tramp brought the butt of
his heavy hickory stick down upon
the floor with such vigor as to raise
a small cloud of dust from the
cracks, and replied: aWull! Have
I? Jest say"
"Come tell US about it, ole fell
ler," cried the Tinsmith and the
Chronic Loafer.
Not muchy, wull l."
"We amt surprised at yer hav-
ing been disappointed" said the G..
A. r. Man. "But cts yer presump-
ton ketches me. What's her name 2"
81 called her Emily Kate" re.
piled the Tramp, wiping q soiled
tear from the corner of one of his
eyes with his finger, "She1l allus
be Emily Kate to me, though ter
other folks she amt nothin'."
Where does she live p" intcrro-
gated the Miller, skeptically.
EFF youse gentlemen keeps quiet
an don't asst so many questions
said the Tramp, "I'll tell yer all
bout et Yer see, ct come like this.
Bout three years ago was workin'
through this valley towards Snyder
county, an one fine day-et was
one o. them days when yer feels like
settin' down an jest doin' nothin'
Il come through this town an
went up the main road about two
mile tell | come ter the Red Hill. I
never knowed jest why I done ct
ct must abeen fate, but / switched of
onto the by road stead NV sticken'
ter the pike. l went bout mile
an didn't meet no one nor pass no
houses, tell at las / come ter farm
what has an orchard on the south
side of the barn.
They was nice grassy place on
the other side o. the road under an
apple tree, an ez ct was one of them
warm lazy summer days, made up
me min ter rest, an lay down in the
grass. Yer kin laugh ct folks who
allus talks weather, but / tell yer ct
does powerful sight with a man. /
know eff that he'd been rainy day
ia never he'd tibet fairy-core-ez the
French calls et-thet hit me then an
played the dickens with me for
tunes.
81 was layln' there watchln' the
clouds overhead an listenin' ter the
plover whistlin' out in the fell, an
ter the tree-frawg bellerin' up in the
locus, when all NV sudden / seen a
blue CLEAN in an apple tree in the
orchard 'crosst the way. / watched
ct, an pretty soon I made out tibet
Ell was a woman. She was settin'
there quiet an still, like she was
readin', an down below | seen the
top of choking coop, an hear the
ole hen cluckin'. I couldn't see
much fer the leaves, an didn't git
sight of her face, but / made out the
outlines in that blue caliker dress
an jest kinder drank 'em in.
Ell was the day done ct all. Fore
l knowed ct / begen ter imagine the
face tibet must hev fit tibet form. l
pictured her like the gals tibet rides
the mowin' machines in the agricul-
trial advertisement chromos-yeller
hair an all. / wanted ter try an
see her face, but I didn't dare TEL, for
she'd a-seen me an tibet 'ud spoil
ed my chance.
But / lay there jest dreamin'
like, an lore knowed ct I could
think Nv nothin' but tibet there girl
in the tree, who I figered must hev
been heap sight better lookin' than
a circus lady.
Et cum shutdown, an ez / he'd
ter hustle ter git supper / dragged
meself tergether an moved on. ]
went up the valley three days, an
got bout thirty miles toward Sny'
der county, but the whole time ]
was thinkin' bout nothin' but the
girl in the blue caliker dress. I new
er felt SO queer before, an didn'
know jest what ter do. Last / de
cided I'd hev ter go back an hev
another look at her, SO ! turned an
kivered me tracks.
I reached the orchard bout one
day later. in the afternoon an, hang