The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-31
POLLY'S "TRAMP. -


for she lived upon a small income which
barely kept them from becoming shabby
Miss Polly, Cinderella like. STAYED at
home during the others outing and looked
after the house. garden and Mollie. the
cook. With the months excitement
since the "discovery" any number of
tramps had come through Boison. snnd
Mollie declared that every Twin one of
them had stopped and begged cold
snack" She came in from the garden on
this sunny July morning with Il basket of
new potatoes and her apron full of snap
beans. Putting the basket down, not mt
all lightly. she took down bright tin
pan, and seating herself ON Il bench with
her back towards the road she said to
Miss Polly, who sat inside the dining
room darning some napkins:
II am wore out with being asked for
something TO eat by the pesl<y tramps.and
| won't spread another slice of bread or
give another cup of coffee to one, not so
long rs my name is Mollic. so there
u Well that bad for me, said voice
at her elbow, which caused her to jump.
letting the snaps fly in all directions. as
she faced about.
well. what do you want. I'd like to
know; | suppose you're a tramp. too. "
she said, looking at his nit of overalls.
and turning up her rather tip-tilted nose
Il DlJ n!HnCr.
Firstly, I'd like a piece of bread sec
ondly IA cup OF coffee very much and
lastly I'm not a tramp" he said, laugh
ing
you've lots of cheek. anyway and l
never seed a tramp yet rs would own to
it. just said. and Ill stick to lit. |
Won spread another Slice ..of bread or
give another cup of coffee. so you can lust
get out of this yard
you should not be so hard on poor
fellow he began, when Miss Polly came
to the door.
Molly, You return to your snaps and
| will see what is wanted He repeated
his request with the most courteous bow
as he lifted his hat. a gray derby. entirely
out of keeping with his suit of blue over
alls. Miss Polly soon hal an appetizing
lunch spread on the kitchen table, and
the man ate with evident signs of hunger.
while Miss Polly attended his wants with
as much politenesS as She would have the
President As he arose from the table he
thanked her in the incest manneran said:
May / be hardened for wishing to
know the name of the lady who has
treated me we'll: This is the first time
that ] was ever forced TO ask for anything
in my life"
"Marie.Bliss," she answered. Polly.
lpi SHDll. anu llt once lllOIt lifted MS
hat. A he went out the gate he said 10
Molie, sooner or later we will meet
again"
Il hope never 10 see YOU. she said
spiteiully, for She was aggravated at Miss
Polly whom she mentally termed soft
headed
Two weeks passed and one morning
Miss Polly received the following note:
Miss Polite Bliss-My son has lust
gotten home. He had been sick for some
time previous TO the morning YOU so
kindly gave him his breakfast Please
accept the thanks Of an old man.
Henry st. George
We'll. | never. said Mollie rs Miss
Polite read the above to her Who ever
heard Of tramps' fathers writing letters.
1t beats me.
Presently there was a knock at the door
and Mollie answered it, 1t is two gen
tlemen from the hotel as wants board.
The big fat man : name is Jocc and the
little skinny one i named Miller" she
announced TO Miss Polly.
Polly entered the parlor and II a few
moments terms We're agreed upon The
big man said My son was through here
some time ago and he i interested in this
mica mine He will be here in sc,eral
weeks and wish to know if You could
accommodate him. too, so | speak ! ow g"
with pleasure. Mr.. Joicc. She re-
piled. He looked little surprised. but
merely said thank you"
When he AID Mr.. Miller were in thcir
neat bed room he asked: Did YOU notice
the young lady called me Mr. Joice? She
evidently did not understand my name
correctly. But that doesn't matter VIII
You let the mistake stand: | ask it as a
favor and it will do no harm, and we will
have some fun when George comes"
just as YOU say, II. George-Joice I
mean, ! guess l had better commence
now. Just then the dinner bell rang
and they went down stairs
The following Monday boy from the
telegraph Office knocked at the cottage
door and handed Miss Polly telegram
addressed, Henry ST. George. There
is no such person here" she said handing
it back
Yes, but there is. he replied Il see
him come here often
You are mistaken: take it back to the
Office. - in: She closed the door.
"Whew.' he eiaculated ''aint she in
a bad humor to-day. ! dida't know she
had such temper, and he returned to
the office.
In few minutes Mr.. .1oice' and Mr..
Miller came in and She mentioned the fact
of the telegram Mr. Ioice laughed. "A
mistake, most certainly" and he winked
at Miller, who looked mystiiied Putting
on his hat Mr.. Joice" hurried to the
Office and asked for the telegram she
y t.tf ttff g.. 81.