The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-03-07

that Mr.. wilkins had absolyed him
from my duty but such as he could
find on the place.
lie had been two months on the place
before lac spoke more than dozen
words to his employer lie had worked
wei, asked no favors. made ne mis-.
takes. Under hls assiduous efforts the
wilkins place had taken on new signs
of prosperity and beauty Then he
came TO wilkins one evening and snld
that he'd Ike to spend one day In
Chicago. He wanted 20 buy some
clothes, he said, and would like to have
his pay. There was $12 due him, and
/ Wilkins had only $50 bin.
"All right Green" said the big.
hearted suburbanlte, heres a twenty.
You can bring me back the change;
and, let's see, here's my Communication
ticket Itll save you paying railroad
fares"
Mrs wilkins overheard this talk,
and when Green was out Of hearing
proclaimed her husband a fool, waste
ful, gullible, stupid fool.
THAT man Green will never come
back" she snapped. "See himw point
ing across the lawn. Hes not even
going toward the depot. He's a tramp.
maybe a murderer, and he's gone off
with your money, and your ticket.
wilkins, you're a slmpleton."
Wilkins was a little doubtful when
he noticed the course taken by his
model hired man" TIE next evening
added to his misgiving, for at sundown
Green had not returned Mrs. Wilkins
began to gloat when the o'clock
train had passed, and there was no
sign Of the missing gardener. Then
the doorbell rang, and the girl an
nounced "a lady to see Mr.. Wilkins"
He found a youngish woman, with
much jewelry and very pink checks,
Sinking at him as he entered the par
lor.
"Mister wilkins, she began, "a lady
fren' o. mine what lives out here tells
me theys a man workin' for youse, an
If amt much mistaken he's my hus-
band. He's a tall, sandy Teller, don't
talk much, and-hes done time at
Joliet and"
Mrs. wilkins entered here.
"What do you want with him?'
asked the lady of the house.
The visitor was beginning to explain
when wilkins heard footsteps falling
family on the walk outside. He slipped
quietly out of the room and into the
yard. Green was coming up the back
steps into the kitchen, when Wilkins
stopped him with: 'Well, 1 see you're
back all right"
"Yes, sir" said the gardener, pulling
out the railway ticket and IS. There's
your change and the ticket"
Wilkins noticed that the latter wasn't
punched.
Il walked" explained the man. II
don't like trains"
wilkins led him across the lawn
and told him that there was a woman
in the parlor claiming to be his wife.
"a blonde, vulgar-Iooking woman%
said Green.
Eyes. She's in there now, talking to
my wife"
"Well. sir, if you'll just let on that
you didn't see me this evening, I'll
be grateful. I'm tired now, and
don't want to see that woman, at least
not tonight. Please say that I'm not
here, and won't be back until to-mor-
row."
So Green skunk off to bed, and the
blonde woman was sent away, prom
Using to call again. In the morning
Wilkins found Green's bed unrumpled,
On the coverlet was a new leather
whip, with a card inscribed For Tom
my. Goodbye" The Wilkinses never
saw or heard of him again, and Mrs.
Wilkins never knew that he had come
home that night with the change and
the ticket.
Il always knew he was a scamp" she
said, proudly. 81 knew he'd run away
and he did"
"Well / don't blame him." unused
Wilkins, lighting his pipe and smiling
at the memory of the blonde woman
with the brummagem jewelry. I'D run
away myself, under the same cireum.
stances. John H. Raftery, in the
Chicago Record Herald.
Ancient Saxon Monuments.
, In the churchyard at Bewcastle