Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-01-12

down fcrcely on the little flowers that ven
tured to peep up at him. The long, white
road stretched as far as one could see-one
unbroken line, so long, so monotonous it
wearied the eye.
Down that hot, dusty road now came tired
hungry man. He had walked so far, and yet
seemed no nearer his destination. Presently
his eye caughta gleam of white, and there, on
the roadside l.adlng to pretty cottage just di :
cernible through the grove in front, wa. a
neatly painted white gate. The man was
tired-weary in body and spirit, or would he
have thrown himself on the grass beside the
gate and wept? Yes, wept great, bitter tears
such as only stern strong men can weep. He
cried aloud
80 SO like, SO like, and may never see
that little gate again! ~
Weary and faint, he slowly rose. As he
looked down the lane he said, bitterly
But very likely the people who live here
are like others to whom am ''only a tramp"
"a miserable, despised vagabond"
Walking slowly until he came to the tiny
white yardgate he leaned upon 1t, and,
standing there ii few moments, his artistic eye
took in the perfect surroundings everything
on a minute scale, yet eXquisitely neat
perhaps women live here?" he thought
hopefully 'tllcy are sad to be most con-
siderate and kind, but, alas, my bitter ex-
perience has taught me that women as well
as men can be cruel and he sighed.
Just then there came out on the low porch
a girl in white, and standing there against
the background of white and green with her
pure, noble face turned toward a passing
cloud, she looked the embodiment of In
nocence, and the man at the gate, forgetting
all else, worshipped her beauty until, turning,
she saw him. Then flood rushed over his
heart and he remembered whom he was.
Pulling off his broad hat, he bowed low be-
fore her as she slightly inclined her head.
Good afternoon" he stammered; n
that is, ma'am-I have walked long way,
and | am very tired and warm slowly, as
if by effort
Poor man." she said in a sweet, low
voice; "come in and you shall have dinner"
Then she looked at him keenly with her
lovesome dark eyes, and added
Papa will come in moment"
Tired, hungry, but still gentleman, he
responded:
II will stay out here until your father
comes, if you wish"
80, no, come in
She placed dinner on little table and
retiring into the yard to look for her papa,
she fell a-dreaming. There her father found
her
What she told him | do not know, but GER
tain it is that he was very kind to the man,
offering him work, which he most gladly
accepted.
Day by day as Miss B. became better
acquainted with "l.eila's tramp" as Mr.
B called him, she was more convinced
that he was no common 'tramp."
And he-O, with him twas the old story
he loved her with his whole soul, far as
she was above him, and at night, out under
the great, star rdecked heaven, he would lie
and think of her and compare her to a star,
so beautiful, so pure and so far beyond his
reach.
And so IA year passed.
He never told any of his history save his
name, Basil Lidau. But he had served Mr..
B well and he had saved some money
so he told the kindly farmer one day that he
must go, and though expressing many regrets
Mr.. B. did not seek to detan him.
One evening just before he left when Mr..
B. was away from home, he called Leila
out to the porch and said
"Miss Leila, | am gong to tell you some
thng-my life story; it is due you, and | can
trust YOU
And he did. He told her of his bonny
home down in the sunny South, where he
and his parents had lived so long and SO
happily. Just then he stopped and said in a
hushed Voice
"And that day when came here so long
ago, when saw that little white gate Just
lay down and wept for very joy at seeing
something like home"
1t was sad story he told, yet no rare one,
The Lidaus were wealthy people, but Mr.
Lidau lost al his money in spe ;ulation, and
Basil was forced to try to support. them.
Very poor success he had at first, but at last
he secured Il splendid situation.
Then came the evil hour. Satan, a wolfin
sleeps clothing, tempted, and-he fell
All, well might those dark eyes grow moist
with pity as the young man described with
Southern eloquence all he had suffered
81 determined to pay it all back" he con-
cluded, and got employment in hotel.
There | fell i'll and came here to get health
and money, and now ! have got both. And
| would go back happy only-O, Leila Leila,