Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-02-19

all those chirps and chirrups and
ratings which fill the darkness in
country places. How glad / was to
hear the wagon drive up, and to
hear father say:
Il stopped at the depot for your
mother, and we came along togeth
err
Even to see the new member of
the kitchen cabinet descend 10 ter
ra firma with an expression of coun-
tenapce which would have been de-
spondent in one who, ordered to in
slant execution, had just arrived at
the foot of the gallows.
had prepared comfortable high
tea ard set the table nicely, but we
had scarcely gathered about it when
my mother exclaimed:
"Why, Kittie, how pale you are
and how serious you look. What is
The matter?"
"Well, nothing so very dread full"
said /. "Let me tell it after tea
"As if could eat until l know
said my mother.
"Well," said I, burglars or high.
! waymen or house. breakers or tramps
have been here, and teen through
the house. ] suppose they've taken
everything. I haven't dared to
look"
Then ! narrated my story.
1t created a great sensation, and
we all rushed upstairs together to
estimate our losses.
The mystery deepened when we
discovered that the jewelry, tue
money 10 the tin box, and even the
spare spoons were all safe.
81 don't think he has taken any
thing" said mother.
"Yes, he has," replied father. "He
has taken pair of shoes, my linen
ulster, and those gray trousers
yes, and straw hat. He must have
come to get summer outfit. Well,
he is welcome to it since be did not
hurt my little girl
Then the talk fell on the evils I
had escaped, and we decided that,
on the whole, for a thief, he had
been generous. However, we had
not done with the story Jet.
The next day about noon the ex-
pressman brought to tie house
parcel neatly done up in brown pa
per. Within it my father found the
articles OF clothing be had missed
and beautifully illustrated volume
OF Longfellow's poems, bearing on
the fiy.leaf my name, with this in
scription:
GFrom a remorscful and repent
ant tramp"
What could it mean As time
passed on I began to believe / should
never know.
1t was rot long after this that a
man-yes, actually a young man
was often to be seen fishing Cd the
shore near our home. He was stop
ping at Mr.. Fish's hotel, and scrap.
ed acquaintance with my father very
shortly, ard began to be a frequent
visitor.
1t was long since anything in the
shape of beau had been in the viii
lage, that when he escorted me to
church one evening there was great
sensation.
When, shortly afterward, our en-
gagement was announced, the excite
ment deepened and when there
really was a wedding in the church
the whole country turned out.
For my part, ! was very happy. |
was as much in love IS possible
| Charlie was devoted. Ny parents
approved, and he was quite willing
to make our little home close to
theirs.
1t was great fun to superintend
the building of our house, its fur
nishings and general arrangements.
and / was almost sorry when it was
quite completed.
However, at last there was moth
ing left to do but to place my books
in the oaken case withits dark green
plush curtain and the books were
all on the carpet, and we were Sc
Letting those of size for the upper
shelf; when my volume of Longfel-
low, the tramp's gift, fell into Char
lies hands.
At sight OF the inscription be
burst out laughing.
"That is curious, is it not, Char.
lie ?" said I-'sand thereby hangs a
tale"
To my establishment, my husband
began to tell me the whole story,
adding an incident that / had for
| gotten.
"How did you hear all that, Char
lie p said /.
my dear Kitty" be answered.
"that tramp was no other than my
self. / had been cut en- the water,
and had rowed out 10 the rock in
order to take bath. My clothes
were in the boat, with the sole excep-
tion OF bathing garment, which
would hardly satisfy the require
ments OF society on land, and by
some accident that boat go. loose
and went away to sea. Of course |
could swim to land, bnt / could not
walk to the hotel thus attifed. and