The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-09
TWO TRAA[Ps.

A young fellow was swinging along
up the dusty road whistling in way
that made the robins cock their heads
to listen. He was good looking young
fellow, with dark curly hair and fine
bronzed complexion. His clothes were
coarse and stout, he wore SLOUGH hat
turned down all around, and from hat
to shoes he was gray with dust. He
bore stout stick in his hand and walk.
ed with light, springy step, whistling
gayly as he advanced.
He had just reached the brow of the
hill when peculiar sight drew his at
tentlon. To the right at some distance
stood pretty white cottage with bud
ding naples all about it. TWAS SO neat
and cozy that the young man would
have paused to look at it if there had
been no other attraction. Something
else did attract him. however, some
thing which quickened his pace to
run.
Standing on the steps of the porch
was gray haired lady, and facing her
from the walk below stood q defiant
specimen of the genus tramp. Behind
the old lady i'll tho doorway was a
young woman with u fire shovel in her
hand. AS the young man opened the
gate he heard volley of oaths from the
tramp, coupled with an emphatic de-
mnnd for food. From this the gray
haired lady shrank back, and the ruff
fan sprang up the steps, and, pushing
her aside, attempted to enter the door.
Hold on thoroIb or;oI A.,
man from the graveled pathway. The
tramp turned and saw him coming.
"Wot's that?" he snarled.
With one more bound the young man
was on the porch, painting slightly, but
ready for action.
Has he annoyed You, ma'am?'' he
cried, and his hat came off as he spoke.
Eyes" said tho gray haired lady in
n trembling voice. HE said we must
get him some breakfast and give him
some money"
The tramp stood in defiant attitude,
his sullen eyes regarding tho young man
with an ugly stare. AS the youth turned
from the lady, the ruffian glared at him
from head to toe
"Say," he growled, "you amt
a-worlsin this side o. the street, too. be
you?"
Come, now." said the young man
quietly, "you climb off the porch and
chase yourself down the road. Vamoosel
Gitr'
He made sudden move toward tho
fellow, who backed quickly down the
steps. There he paused and delivered
another volley of profanity.
Come down here" he shouted, can
We'll fight to see who runs this ranch. +"
"I'm coming" said tho youth, and
he flung his hat on the porch and fol-
lowed it with his coat. Then he turned
to the women and said, Ladies', have
the kindness to retire within the house
until this job is over"
Then he leaped from the porch and
the battle royal began. 1t was not
fight for poets to sing. 1t was strug-
gle between blind force OH one side and
skilled agility on the other. 1t didn't
last long, but the young man was dimly
conscious that one time i'll the fight,
when the big fellow was crowding him
pretty hard, the young girl stood close
at hand with the fire shovel poised in IL
decidedly threatening way Finally az
adroit blow sent the ruffian to grass,
and when he got up he limpcd down
the pathway and through the gate, es-
cortod by the young man, and SO disap-
peared.
When the delivcrer came back for his
hat and coat, the old lady met him
with profuse thanks, and the young la
dy smiled at him in most charming
way. Was there anything he wanted
breakfast, glass of milk? He said he
would like glass of water, and the
young lady swiftly brought it. AS the
young man took it from her hands ne
permitted himself to be instantly con
WINGED that she was decidedly pretty-a
slender young woman in IL cheap dress
of dark material, with big blue apron
over it, and n white cap concealing her
dark hair. But her face was bright and
rosy, and when she said, "Will you
have another?' the youth was quite
sure Inc had never heard moro music
al voice. AS he picked up his hat tho
gray haired lady said
Would you like to earn little
money, my good young MANI"
"Why, yes. 1 would" tho young
man admitted.
Then" said the older lady, 'per-
haps you could beat few rugs and
small carpet for us?''
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