Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-22
THE TRAMP'S KISS.

lIlE lhAMI y AlDD.
A wet, bOisterous night in November.
Along a rain soddened country road Il
man, with his hat brim pulled forward
over his eyes, slowly plodded his way. Hs
had left the city more than two hours be-
fore, and IS 1ights had disappeared with
the oncoming of the storm.
Hark! what was that? Something was
approaching from behind.
All! that something was Il oyclist. He
could see the small, trembling light OF the
lamp, and could hear the sucking sound of
the tires on the wet road. The starving
wretch stepped back beneath the shadow
of a tree, and as the solitary cyclist drew
near he placed himself directly in his path
"Great Scott, my man! where the dick
ems have you sprung from?" calculated
the rider, a young fellow, as he dropped
lightly from his machine. cts a good
job / was going easy; if I hadn't either
you or me, or both of us, would have been
fitting subjects for surgical research by
this!'' and the speaker gave his broad
shoulders a shake to dislodge the rain
from his storm cape.
IT wanted you to STOP" said the other,
his words coming through his set teeth.
s'Indeed, and for what r~eason?" inter
rogated the cyclist, trying to see the fea-
lures of the last speaker.
CIV a help, +" and the knobby stick
was lifted, undiscerned by the cyclist, a
few inches from the ground.
"Help, did you say? Then you're ION
the road, eh?"
"Call it that if you like, but-I'm starry
ing!'
'Good heavens! Yes, now I see your
face I don't doubt it! Here, old chap, for
goodness sake go and get something to
eat, I" and the young fellow plunged his
hand in his pocket. Suddenly a thought
seemed to strike him.
"But money would be no use to you,'
he said; ''you want food, and you can't
buy that any nearer than the town. Stay,
I know. / am on my way to a house half
a mile farther up the road-the house Is
called THE Hollies'-you can mistake it;
there are two turrets; besides, any n will
tell you which is Mr.. Templeton's house.
I will ride on-ah! / see you know Mr..
Templeton; hut you have no occasion to
be afraid Of him. He's a Justice of the
peace, I know, but he's got a soft heart
and II he hadn't, his daughter has. Well,
I'll just spin along and see there's some-
thing ready for you to eat when you ar
rive"
The young fellow had placed his foot
on the step Of his bicycle to mount, when
he felt the tramp's touch on his shoulder.
"Wellp You understood me, didn't'-
UYas. r understood YOU, butt
"But WHAT"
"Who is this Mr.. Templeton whom you
lust spoke about-is 1t Robert Templeton,
the celebrated architect"
Eyes"
"And is he related to your"
A shade of annoyance crossed the young
fellow g face, but only for an instant.
"No, not exactly-as yet he replied,
with a laugh. "But I may be related to
him before long-at least, I hope so--as
SON law, you know"
"Ah! I had forgotten; he has a daugh~
ter"
The knobby stick lay on the ground
now, and it's owner was trembling like Il
leaf. With an agile spring the cyclist seat
ed himself in his saddle and AS his fest
found the pedals he looked oundo over ms
shoulder. -.
"Don't forget" said he; the house with
the turrets. I will vouch there is a good,
square meal awaiting you" and WIZ
that he rode away through the drenchlnS
rain.
Robert Templeton, the world famed
architect, sat in his studydeep in Thought.
From some distant portion OF the large
house the sound of a girls fresh young
voice singing Gloves Old Sweet song, =
reached his ears. Suddenly the song ceased
and Robert Templeton knew the dreaded
moment had arriyed-knew that Harold
Franklin had called for his (Templeton's)
answer.
\ He had promised to give 1t that very
night-that very hour-and Franklin,
anxious lover that he was, had braved the
inolemency Of that November night to
hear that which meant either lifelong hap
|. piness for him or a dreary drag of "stale,
fat and unprofltable'' existence. Temple
ton rose from his chair and paced slowly
about the room. The story he had to tell
Harold Franklin was inevitable. How
would he receive that story? Would he, IN
his great love for Clarice, laugh the decep'
ton to soorn or would he heap contumely
upon the narrator's head and leave the
girl who loved him forever? No, Danish
the latter thought Harold Franklin wal
q true English gentleman-not one of the
soulless creatures who sometimes pose Of
suoh-creatures Of veneer and vapidity-
but q man with q heart as sound as q Of
the oaks Of his native land-a man who
valued his fellow creatures for their true
mind worth and not solely on account o.
their wealth Of the worlds goods.
Half an hour passed, and Templeton
was still pacing about his study when 9
firm step approached and q knock sounded
upon the door. Templeton went across
and threw 1t wide. His visitor wal Harold
Franklin.
Aud so you have como for my answer
Haroldp'' said the architect, after theil
formal greeting.
Eyes, sir" replied the young fellow
with a quick look in the Others face.
Templeton placed . chair for his visitor
and sat down facing him.
"But where is Claricef II II necessary
she, too, should hear what + have TO say
he said.
sClarice 10 acting the good Samaritan
to- il poor fellow / met on the road, " said
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