Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-03-02

ed eft she wasn't there, but settln
in tree close ter the road. | did
MT dast go near her, fer / knows
how feared the weemen is nv us
men. But I slid inter me ole place,
an jest lay there watchin' her blue
dress wavin' in the breeze; and then
when seen as how she'd changed
trees, I begin ter think maybe she'd
seen me an moved up one tree near
er the 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-flled eyes.
!" Now quit yer blubberin', Tram
py," cried the Loafer, SAN git ter
the en- nv this ere yarn"
The traveller wiped his eyes upon
his coat sleeve and continued /:
"Wull, as l lay there watchin' her
so still an quiet, / begin ter think.
I wondered what her name must hey
been an lowed ct OTTER been a pref
ty one. Then ! kinder thought bein'
ez / didn't know her name might
give her one-the prettiest I could
git up. I racked me brain an final'
sot on Emily Kate-thet sounded
heightened. Then I begin ter Won
der who'd be so for'nit as ter git
Emily, an cussed meself fer bein'
such a bum. 1 kinder thought I
might reform, but finap lowed eff
she'd take me without havin' ter re-
form, ct 'ud be sight pleasanter all
round. / see how she'd moved upa
tree an kinder wondered eff she'd
seen me. The moro I thought on it
the worse / got. l begin ter think
mebbe eff cleaned up / wouldn't be
so bad--in fact, a heap better than
lots NV folks I knows. By the time
ct come sunset l conceded ter resk
ct, an begin ter think NV crawlin'
the fence and interducin' meself j;
but then me heart failed me. / put
ct off tell the nex' day, an slid over
the fell ter barn an spent the
| night.
81 didn't eat no breakfas'. ]
couldn't. But when ct come sun up
/ went down ter the spring an wash
ed up. Then / cut fer the orchard
'tendin ter wait tell she come.
Expected she wouldn't be there 30
airly, sence she likely do up the
breakfas' dishes.
ST Skinned the fence inter the
road, an then what sight l seen. !
near yelled. They was great big
TELLER had his arm right round her
wais'. She was a-layin' all limp-lika
wit her head pitched forward SO !
couldn't see it; an her feet was
draggin' thro' the timothy, fer the
| Teller was pullin' her along down the
orchard. Et first l was fer runnin
| to her resky, but I thought mebbe
I'd better wait tell / see what come
Nv ct.
| The big Teller, be pulled her, all
limp, down ter the other side, an
then leaned her up ag'in a tree an
hit her a punch wit his fist. / seen
the blue caliker sunbonnet droop
Then he jumped the fence, an start
ed down over the meddy.
"Me heart was thumpin' awful.
| waited tell he was outer sight, an
| then clumb the fence an slipped
down thro' the long grass ter where
Emily Kate lay, half dead, ag'in the
tree. | seen choking coop there
an hear the ole hen cluckin' an ]
stepped up and raised the girls
droopin' head. She he'd straw
face, an was keepin' the hawks of
them chickings My Emily Kate
was SCARE
The Tramp's voice grew husky,
an he faltered.
See here you ole fool" cried the
Chronic Loafer, otis quit raining
this ten minutes, an you've kept me
from splittin ter morrer's wood wit
yer bloomin' lies.'
The Tramp cleared his throat, and
gathering up his bandana and stick
replied
Youse gentlemen Sisted must
tell yer bout it. I tole yer-but ]
must be moyin'"
And a moment later he disappear
ed around the bend in the road just
below the mill.-N. Y. Sun.