Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-09-17
CHASED BY A TRAMP.

Bits Massie lived In the country, and
there was not another house within a milo
OF the one occupied by her family Tho
nighroad, or turnpike, as we called 1t, was
close by, and this In summer time was
much travelled on by tramps and disrepu-
table persons. But, a. rule, W ct Mas
sizes took little heed OF trnmps, and few OF
those who came to beg ever got served at
our door. II any did get served, they
Were either the very needy or the particu-
larry cheeky" The former were relieved
out OF pity for their condition, the latter to
get rid OF them
But Mrs. Massc could deny even u very
cheeky beggar" II she suspected him of
being an impostor. No doubt she did it
with more timidity than temerity, but
then there WAS usually q big dog or big
farm laborer within sound Of her voice.
Therefore she did do it occasionally. Only
that very forenoon she had refused th servo
a burly turnpike navy who begged hard
for a piece of bread and Il drink Of milk.
You look strong and healthy Why
don't you work. asked Mrs Mgssie
How can folks work when tiseSe ain't
any work for en- to do2' said he.
There's plenty to do, II you only look
for it in a likely place. she replied
eve been looking for it three months
and amt found 1t yet, " said he
Then look for it till you do find it, "
said the missis, and with tina. she hanged
the door in his face and left him to go his
way
l Thought it was rather unfecling Of Mrs
MusSic to talk like that, but she had been
In u pet over something other thskt morn
Ing and was not quite herself
We'll ahout an hour after that she came
to me In quite good humor and asked mo
to "a for u walk and take the LADY, saying
1t would do HIS good to get out bit. So,
OF course, | yot ready, and we We're soon
enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine
| For some distance we walked on the turn
pike, bat before long came to "a narrow
lane which led to our nearest paghbor's,
/ whose farm WAS about mile away.
The lane, except for birds and insects,
/ WAS as lonely place IA any ore could wish
! for Therefore we wcr,' not little star
! tied when, on turning - corner We came
upon tramp-the very navy whom Mrs.
+ Ma,sic had 50 rudelv dismissed that morn
( Ing.
/ He was living in the shade of thick
/ hedge and he locked up rs we passed
I When I saw him through the Kitchen win
( dow that morning. | noticed that he did
/ not look very refined, neither In yanners
nor in features, but now on passing close
t. him In that narrow lime, | fancied he
/ looked quite ferocious Evidently he and
Mr.. Massie recognized each other, and it
WAS plain that this did no. pla.As ber, for
she turned away from him with shudder,
as though she had .ou a serpent.
The NAVY must have -<-,n that we were
! afraid af him. and no doubt this gave him
some satisfaction. but we walked ca quick
! " and in silence, for neither Of us dared
! tru4f ourselves to speak When we We're
"A LITTLE distance from him. howeves, Mrs
! Nas-ic whispcret, TO me TO look round and
s... II he was still lytnx down l turned
my head and sa.w that tho tramp was on
! his feet and following us, and then
grasred my companions arm, and she
| turned to look also
Just then the tramp stoopad and picked
up something which looked like "a thick
stick or IL h.-lg e sta ke, and, with this In his
hand. he came on at a quicker pace as
though intending to overtake us At this
| my III istresS turned pale and trernbled with
/ fear, enchanting:
ooh, heaven. he means to murder US
both. and this innocent babe AS we'll.
! What shall we do, Jennie; WHAT snail we
doy"
GIVE me the baby, and let us run for
our lives" I cried, feeling surs that the
tramp really intended to do rs horn.
But In her great fear, Mrs Maasis could
no, trust her baby out OF her arms and
instead OF giving 1t to me she pressed tho
ut,le thing all the closer n her hre,st
Thus we rnn down the lane as fast as our
f..,, noulh take us. not daring to look back
upon our pur.uey. We knew tho tramp
was following, because we could AAar him
shouting after US In loud and angry tones
1t seemed mat he WAS trying to frighten
us. but we ran on and never paused a mo-
msnt 10 hear what he said.
The farmhouse toward which we were
Fastening WAS no, vet in sight, hat We fled
swiftly onward, hoping soon to and refuge
,hsra AND IN gain the assistanee on tts IN