Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-25

ert
The tramp. with sigh. started wear
| lily on his way. 1T seems even grander
himself Wealth, comfort, happiness
everywhere. And it might all have
been nine Every stick and every
shrub left to the wife and me between
us 1t fell TO us by will the day be-
fore II died; the day before l was
burned TO ashes in the Chicago fire.
| Fancy the irony of that. The day be-
fore. Why didn't tht news reach me:
I'd fine fund of selfishness about me
! then.
And Louise was right after all. Ii
was her duty to urge me 10 business. L
was as lazy as the day was long then,
and she told me of it. and l hated her
for speaking. I've thought since over
that letter. and the pain it must have
| caused her 10 write.
"Eh, well, that's all past and done
with. l died. l was full of conceit in
myself. and thought an American for
tune was easily made, even if it was
, sometimes lost with suddenness. Pah.
Inever reached the first rung of the lad
der. | never rose above labOring with
my hands at unskilled trades. and it
was being constantly shown ne how
was an Indifferent labofcr III that.
NO. I've missed it badly. and all
through my own short-sighted fault
might have had wife. children and Il
stately home. What / do have is my
share of the queens wet highway and
weary aches TO lie down upon. OF my
self | shall never now be more than
what | ana broken waSter. But
there is one thing won't do. and that's
ask help from her. She'd give ii. if
| sought for il: she'd call me back as
her husband if she knew me to be alive;
she'd share with me Willingly what IS.
perhaps, after all. legally mine to share.
But no, I'm blamed if | do. Shes Il
good woman, and I'm what they call in
the States 4 mean man. Yes. mighty
mean and down at the heel. not at all
white; but I've made my bed, and
won't remake it even if | have the
chance. Things are uncomfortable
but | guess they won't drag out much
longer"
He sat heavily down On the wet way
side turf, his legs dangling over the
ditch. Ten years; ten terrorS for me.
Ten years Of her thinking herself q
widow She's had the chance to marry
again; l heard all about it. Leslie
asked her, the only man l was jealous
of before | won her for myself. She
likes him. know: she always did; and
for him she's the only woman in the
world. But she wouldn't marry him
for all that. though he could have
given her love, title, more wealth. yes,
every thing Il woman could want"
A crunching noise made the tramp
turn his glance. \ smart carriage with
pair of ponies was coming up round a
turn of the west road. \ woman was
driving; Il man in livery sat behind.
The tramp gaZed for minute with
starting eyes, then turned away and,
with bowed head faced the ditch. "Oh,
my God" he murmured. and clinched
his hands till the nails drew blood.
The noise Of the wheels ceased. and
there was the sound of ruStling skirts.
The tramp also noticed the faint smell
of sealskin, but he kept his back reso-
lutely immOyable.
George
The tramp did not stir. 4 trembling
hand was placed on his wet shoulder.
George, look up. | know it is you"
woman. go away. You are making
n mistake
Look me in the face and repeat that"
Ell will not. l can't"
She slipped down to seat beside him
on the soddcn turf. and the groom ut
the ponies heads felt his jaw drop
down through wonder.
ooh. Louise, why can't you pass mo
by? | only came for peep. | didn't
intend you to see me-God knows
didn't. It's all yours now. and I'll not
, take fraction away from You. l have
chosen my path like the scoundrel that
; l was, and | must keep along it. Ii
isn't fit that should turn back now"
Yet you must stay, now that l have
found you.
Il tell you | cannot. You would not
ask me if you knew what have been,
how Wiley | have sinned against you.
Z Don't shake your head; it is true. If
you won't credit that, listen"
She threw her arms around his shOul-
, ders. pressing him fiercely to her breast
Dear" she said, you have come
back to me- know that; ! do not want
to know any more"
| The tramp tried to pluck himself from
the embrace without avail Then he
lay against her furs and shuddered, bur
made no more resistance.
Louise Carr had taken back her hus
| band.-Black and White.
The Obstacle Overcome.
They are telling the story in London
that the impossible American in Paris