The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-06-09
TWO TRAMPS.

A young fellow was swinging along
up tho dusty road whistling in way
that made tho robins cock their heads
to listen. He was good looking young
fellow, with dark curly hair and IA fine
bronzed complexion. His clothes were
coarse and stout, he wore n SLOUGH hat
turned down all around, and from hat
to shoes he was gray with dust. He
bore stout stick i'll his hand and walk
ed with n light, springy step, whistling
gayly rs no advanced.
He had just reached the brow of the
hill when peculiar sight drow his at
tention. To the right at some distance
stood u pretty white cottage with bud
ding naples all about it, TWAS SO neat
and coy that tho young man would
have paused to look at it il there Ind
been no other attraction. Something
else did attract him, however, some
thing which quicltened his pace 20
run.
Standing on tho steps of the porch
was gray haired lady, and facing her
from the walk below stood II defiant
specimen Of the genus tramp. Behind
tho old lady i'll tho doorway was u
young woman with fire shovel IN her
hand. As tho young man opened tho
gate he heard volley of oaths from the
tramp, coupled with an emphatic do
mand for food. From this the gray
haired lady shrank back, and tho ruff
fan sprang up tho steps, and. pushing
her aside, attempted to enter tho door.
Hold on, thorep' cried the young
man from tho gravelod pathway. TIL,
tramp turned and saw him coming,
"Wot's that" he snarled.
With hound tho yon,,t, $3.50.
was on tho porch. painting slightly, bu
ready for action.
Has he annoyed you, ma amp" he
cried, and his hat came off as no spoke.
YES" said tho gray haired lady in
u trembling voice. He said we must
got him some breakfast and give him
some money.
Tho tramp stood in n defiant attitude,
his sullen eyes regarding tho young man
with IN ugly stare. As the youth turned
from tho lady the ruilian glared at him
from hcnd to toe.
Say" no growlod, you amt
a-wolkln this side o tho street, too, be
youF'
Come, now" said tho young man
chase yourself down the road. Vamoosel
Gitr'
He made sudden move toward the
fellow, who backed quickly down tho
steps There no paused and delivered
another volley of profanity.
Come down here lac shouted, an
we'll fight to see who runs this rnnch. "
"I'm coming" snid the youth, and
he flung his hat on the porch and fol-
lowed it with his cont. Then he turned
to tho women and said, Ladies', have
tho kindness TO retro within the house
until this job Is over. y
Then no leaped from tho porch and
tho battle royal began. 1t was not II
fight for poets to sing IL was strug-
Clio between blind forco on one side and
skilled agility on tho other 1t didn't
last long, but the young man was dimly
conscious that ono time III the fight,
when tho big fellow was crowding him
pretty hard. the young girl stood close
at hand with the fire shovel poised i'll a
decidedly threatening way. Finally an
adroit blow sent tho ruffian to grass.
and when ho got up he limped down
the pathway and through tho gate, cs-
corted by the young man, aud 30 disap'
peared.
When the deliyerer camo back for his
hat and coat, tho old lady met him
with profuso thanks, and the young Ia
| dy smiled at him i'll most charming
way. Was there anything he wanted
breakfast, glass of milkf lie said he
would like glass Of water, and thu
young lady swiftly brought it. AS th'
young man took it from her hands III
permitted himself to be instantly con
WINGED that she was decidedly pretty
slender young woman III "a cheap drcs
Of dark material, with n big blue apron
over it, and white cap concealing he
dark hair. But her face was bright ant
rosy, and when she said, viii yor
have another" the youth was quit
sure he had never heard a more music
al voice. As he picked up his hat th'
gray haired lady said
"Would you like to earn u little
money, my good young mani
why, yes | would, " the youn;
man admitted,
"Then,' said the older lady, per
haps you could beat few rugs and
small carpet for u.s.
The young man looked at the pretty
girl and said he thought he could.
Its just this way. said the Older
lady: "Our hired girl has been called
homo by sick mother, and our hired
man sprained his wrist SO badly in try
ing to stop runaway horse that he's
gone into town to have it doctored, and
so Stella and l are left alone TO finish
up tho housekeeping. But If you'll
clean the rugs it will BIO a great help to
us. Stella will show you where every
thing is. y
And so under Stella's guidance tht
clothesline was put up, and Che rug
were brought out, and pretty soon thu
sound Of stout stick we'll applied wa
heard Every time the young MAJ
paused he looked toward the yount
| oirl who with her skirts tucked up