The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-01
A TRAMP'S ROMANCE.

tweed suit l 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 n goad by the utter
discomfort of the dirty inn had left
behind me in the morning, pressed
on in the rain-lashed cleaning towards
the old Roman watering place on the
southern side of the SteIvio 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 it has been my privilege to behold
the great Madatsch glacier aud the
cloud-veiled head of the Ortler Spitz,
as 1 stood ut the top of the pass and
looked over the glories of the Tyrolean
Alps.
But was very wet, very tired, very
hungry; and l longed for my Capua
down in the pleasant valley. My port
manteau had gone on by post-the
carry-all, omniscient post of foreign
parts. AT Bormio would rest me for
three whole days; good dinners would
eat and sparkling Asti would drink,
and l 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 a
foil to the comforts, of the present.
l hurriedly pulled myself up Mt this
stage of my reflections, for anticipa-
ton had made me forget for n brief
moment what was then my condition.
The relentless rain had worked it's way
to my skin; only my feet were dry,
thanks to the waterproof boots and
stout leggings / wore. was as yet
within some miles of my goal when 1
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 chung mis-
erably about their limbs. Both were
slender and young, and the heavy rain
beat mercilessly on their heads and
shoulders. Bedraggled though they
were, saw ut a glance they were la
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 a tramp we've
had, and how it can rain in this won
derful countryi"
1 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 1 saw what very pretty
girl she was, despite her somewhat
dishcvellcd state
On the impulse of the moment 7
raised my hat and muttered some sort
Of salutation.
"Oh, you'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 showed row of cleaning
little teeth, whose whiteness was ac-
centuatcd by the rich red of the lips
that Unframed them. The young lady's
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.
YES, am English" 1 said, in n
comfortable, elder-brotherly tone cal
culated to win the confidence of these
two independent damsels-errant; "and
am on my way to Bad Bormio"
so are we; and we are so horribly
wet, and the road seems as if it would
never end"
1T is 9. long tramp from Trafoi," 1
remarked.
''Oh, we only came from Frazenhohe
this morning; we had some lunch at
Santa Maria, and we hope to reach
Bormio by dinner time" said the other
girl, whose name 1 afterward knew to
be Kate 'for, to tell you the truth, we
are both awfully hungry"
What hotel are you bound for?" 1
inquired.
The Nuovi Bagni."
"Ah, l am going there, too Will
you allow me to walk with you and to
carry that bag?" added, pointing to
fair-sized rucltsacl1 strapped to the
supple back of Miss Betty
After n little demur the ruclssack
was unstrapped and attached to the
haversacl1 / carried. I saw, with salts
faction, that the slender figure, re-
lievcd of its burden, drew Itself more
erect, and moved forward with greater
ease.
The two girls. tramping Unprotected
along that lonely ronl which ,uind.