The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-13
Reformation of a Tramp.

1t is probable that 10 country on earth
within its confines has produced such va
ried and peculiar degrees Of romance as
America. 1t ranges from the historical
woo:ng of Miles Standish and Priscilla to
the happy love affairs Of Gold Dust Pete
and the first schoolma' am at Dead Mans
Guich in the heart of the Rockies.
The sentiment is the same. Conditions
may vary, but the god Of love is the abso-
Lutte monarch in all times, places and under
all circumstances alike. But there is an
intermediate ground-a territory lying be-
tween the east and the west-furn.shing
many incidents which have gone down into
history, where love has triumphed over the
sordid in human nature.
There is hardly community in the old
state across the Ohio that has not an inter-
estins tale of Queenly, womanly affection
and mans fidelity and honor to tell. TheJ
have furnished fruitful topics for maya
zines and newspaper writers. Thousands,
however, have never seen the light of the
types. So, when Colonel Sam Gaines starts
ed out to tell new and true story apropos
TO the subject, the glasses ceased to clink
on the table one night in Hopkinsville. and
there was almost reverent attention. Col
onel Gaines was editor Of the New Era, In
was a few years since, occupying an cleo
tive office at Frankfort. Briefly, the cir
cumstances which changed the life currents
OF man and q woman were as follows:
Sitting in an orchard in the rear Of an
old-style Kentucky mansion late one after
noon as the suns last rays came glinting
through the apple blossoms woman OF
about 25 years occupied chair beneath one
M he hca rhoJi in, y6a
Of book. The country road ran by about
by voice:
"'Shall I climb over the fence or go
around by the gate?
She looked up and was somewhat starti-
ed to see a typical tramp leaning, elbows
akimbo on the top rail. He was unshaven.
hair unkempt and altogether shabby.
do as you please the woman replied
and resumed reading.
''The man clambered over the worm rail-
ing and presently stood before her, all un-
abashed.
What are you reading?' he asked.
"'''The Quick and the Dead" You
seem to be one Of the latter
Perhaps. Occasionally when I have
time, 1 read a little said he, and from a
gaping pocket in his ragged coat he drew
forth copy of 'The HAD in the original
For an hour he lay on the grass and volub-
ly translated Homer for the young wo-
man under the apple tree.
Finally she asked:
How came you to be in this plight?'
"'Whisky'
why don't you stop drinking it?'
The fact is he answered. as he arose.
I have lost all moral courage. So long as
had money no one advised me to do so, and
now that I have none no one seems &c
care
1.-THE blades Of the bluegrass were waving
in the twilight when the strange visitor
leaped over into the white road and disap-
peared around bend.
ITO the day and the hour year later,
according to promise, the woman again was
sitting in the same spot under the apple
tree.
"'Shall I climb over the fence or 20
around by the gate?'
"She recognized the voice. She had been
waiting to hear 1t. Although no communica-
ton had pessed between them since last
she saw the tramp vault over the fence
there was a confidence that ne would keep
his word
Do as you please
THE tramp was metamorphosed. He was
dressed in the apparel of a prosperous bust
ness man. But there is no necessity in pro-
longing the narrative" concluded Colon(
Gaines. They were married. The girl had
an extensive ranch in Texas in her own
right and while on a bridal tour to visit 1t
they stopped off at prominent town II
Arkansas. They took the elevator to the
editorial rooms of a well-known daily news
paper in which the erstwhile tramp owned
an interest. He had kept his promise made
in the orchard, resumed his vocation o.
newspaper reporter and was made a part
ner in the concern.
''The whole affair."" added Colonel Gaines
possessed a peculiar interest to me be-
cause was paying court to the young wo
man prior to the appearance Of the tramp
upon the scene. Years afterward she told
me all about It."