New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19

the time he was speaking MS eyes Were """-
dering over the house
He had been eager in his walk but now ne
slackened his pace as If he dreaded something'
He turned weakly and appealingly 10 me
From the time he had begun TO talk had ior-
gotten all thought of fear.
mo" with puerile repetition. Il didn't dare
to risk that"
fence The Icy wind now brought a few flakes
Of snow that swired and swirled about without
seeming to fall anywhere. Two snowDras
came down into the yard and pecked at the
ground.
I'VE cannot stay here" said: and as spoke
I resolved TO ask I'm into the house. was
hoping that Mrs. Il lge would see u.s. recognize
him. and come to the door She did see u.s. ana
the door opened. She had broom In her hand'
and her manner was as II this article were
weapon of defence.
Miss Armstrong" she called out. come right
In this minute. You needn't stay out In this
cold talking to tramps.
| took a step forward. 49,
What" | exclaimed. don't You know MN
know him? No. guess I don't You'll
ruin your voice II you keep standing there.
/ took another step.
I'm going to ask him in" l announced
Mrs Ridge raised her broom little.
"Is he a friend of yours?" she inquired
mo: but I'm going to ask him in." l re-
said this so resoutey that Mrs: Ridge
lowered her weapon. But she remarked:
II spoee he's a burglar. You've got to be
responsible ,
While this conversation was gong on .
noticed that the stranger paid little heed to IT;
his eyes still darling from WINDOW 10 VIII
dow. fearfully and hopefully.
| now informed the man That ne must CONF
into the house. He bent his head and humDiy
followed me up the path. When we were INSIDE
the door he whispered quickly:
do give me n morsel to eat before see
her, and cup of collector Gods sake. a cup
of Coffee 49, IL, r
=. -. loth a r"ao not
and I was trying to think what we two women
must do. | was annoyed that Mrs Ridge nau
made me responsible. What If he were purs-
lar come to spy out the land? But II was a
moor place for thieves If they expected much
booty
moved a chair to the kitchen table and he
sat down in It, Mrs. Ridge resumed her seat
By the window and pretended to go on WIN
the pairing of some apples. | brought OUT cq,u
meat and bread and put them before him. lie
began TO eat hurriedy. ravenously; but at the
same time 1t was evident that he was trying
in some measure to control the savage mani
festation OF the beast of hunger within MN.
I sure that he wanted to claw and 'e ar,
and devcdr His face flushed as he made the
attempt to eat like gentleman brewer
some coffee as quickly as possible kreM
more and more sorry for him AS passeu
near Mrs Ridge she caught hold OF my skirt
For mercy's sake" she whispered: wnere
does he come from that he's starved Ike TINS
shook my head. In a few moments ! SET
the coffee also on the table. lie dasheu t"e
cream into 1t. and then drank feverishly.
Now as his hunger was somewhat appeased,
he glanced u, me and said deprecatingly:,
"it's so hard not 10 be just an animal
Then his eyes turned to the door. He made
n movement as II TO rise. while MS Hus"cu
face paled. 10 .o,d
II thought I heard some one he saih;
"So :" responded | could not explain to
mvsclf why | should feel somehow drawn u
this poor wretch who showed SO PLAINLY INA u.
he was once gentleman. ana sun "ls"ei -
he one And why should he expect 10 see sonic
one here? ,o. from,
The next moment the stranger had risen from
the table. ,. ,.o,," ,o said
and he bowed to both Of us. infusing INTO the
salutation lovely Difference. mt, =,
II beg you will let me walt here ltte' ne
continued looking at me. ,, .,,
You'd better have him INTO 'he s'''''e ''
''I' noticed that Mrs Ridge spoke in milder
tone That bow had had lis eu,c' ul"r h, ~
as well as upon me "You can stay win h''"'
she added. -, ubich
So I took the stranger into The room; wn, a,
was Uttered with sheets Of music anu i'u''
books. piano was IN on" ''In,'' rhcr. ", re-
on n chair. guitar on the iahie. lhcr" VII
various old-fashioneG pictures on me "els'
"Washington Crossing the Delaware NJ ~"
render of CORVALLIS" and the Ike or th'm' ~
me end Of the room was very striking por-
trait in oil OF Miss Runclman rms CAM AZ
had been sent here because. az me lhuN hnp ~
planned. she had just now no better pace i", =,
II represented her as standing. hean upHll'u'
tho nosa full of regal life he eyes dpmlnh'lns
Won the moment YOU met them. Ana ". ~,
face had the winning sofiness OF 'u''s''s
smile upon IT, II was Miss Runclmah az n''
best. and her best was something qufe IN
describable.
The strange man advanced slowly Into me
room AS / looked OF him wondered as"'n
His face now that the hcrceness Of hunger was was
gone from IT, was gentle ana rein"d' Az III
some way appealing. But there was soih,rh ,,
Of shame and deprecatlon In MS bearing WI.
I accounted FOR by MS I"'ei'S an" ''''
obliged 10 beg. ,, =, o,o,ror
In the room. ..oo,
We turned TO me and asked quickly: DO you
sing?'
II am learning" answered.
God forbid he cried, then instantly hnn
humbIy. II leg your pardon; beautiful voice
Is gift from heaven
With every moment ] was p"cohi"b HUN
and more intere sted and curious ,
He walked further INTO the big room. tina,
looked quaint by reason Of It's low ceiling and
large beam running along 1t. Vow riRh, pc
stantlv and markedly. was watching him.
saw his hands close tightly. the nails growing
white His profile was toward me; MS features
stinened then seemed TO relax and melt ,hcn
glow had never In my life seen that glow,
as OF some inemable emotion. upon any human
countenance. The sight Of II sent thrill
through me. had feeling that ] ought to
leave the room. Then recalled common-sens'
and prudence. and they told me that did not
| know what this man might be. ana | must stay
and watch him. and at last turn MN out ih.o
| the storm II was storming now-l saw the
snow drifting past the windows. saw 1t even
while was watching my companion.
| lie walked quickly nearer the portrait and
| stood before It, I could not see his face now;
saw only the tall emaciatcd form with It's bent
shoulders / heard him murmur:
ooh my God, My Cod" ! sat down quickly
| hv the table and shaded my eyes with my hand
| was ashamed for myself that ! had watched
him so closely. What did ! know about MISS
Runciman's life? Absolutely nothing. but
| aid know a little of her charm and power. and
| / thought ! could guess at the hardness In her
| But perhaps she not hard; perhaps she was
| only strong. ind II difficult to place my I'm
| they belong and not confuse them with be
| iiefs and impressions formed later.
| do not know how long the man STOOD ther'
| gazing at the portrait which gaZed back a
him with what merely by contrast, seemed .; az