The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-18
MISS BETTY'S TRAMP.
BY l.. B. HoTELLING.

{Copyright, 1905, Daily Story Pub. Col
 Miss Betty sat on her little front porch just between daylight and dark. The frefiies flashed in and out among the tall hollyhocks and the mosquitoes sang lustily. Now and then. a village lad strolled by with his sweetheart on his arm. They recalled Miss Betty to the days when John and she strolled arm in arm, or spent the long, summer evening sitting on her mothers porch, planning for future. But the future faded away after John went to war. He must have been killed: for he had not returned.
 tall man was passing. Miss Betty thought he was admiring her holly hooks She bent forward to get a bet ter view of him in the gathering dusk. The man moved on and Miss Betty fell again to musing. Clouds were gather ing in the east. and a sharp flash of lightning reminded Miss Betty that she left the milk in the pantry window. She brushed the mosquitoes from the screen door and passed through her we'll kept sitting room to the little kitchen beyond
 Miss Betty pushed the pantry door open. And there. with his back to her. stood a man devouring one of her fresh apple pies. Mss Betty was not the kind to scream: she just stood still for a moment. then said:
 "weil?'
 The big fellow wheeled about His mouth was too full of pie to answer.
 Seems to me-" said Miss Betty, ''some people have lots of nerve,
 Guess they do. lam"
 Seems you have a lot"
 well, maanl If you was go alfred hungry, guess you would have nerve"
 ''Bless mel If I was man of your size I wouldn't talk of being hungry. Farmers are just begging for hands. You needn't tell mo you can't get work"
 "But lady"
 Don't But lady me. The world Is (. full of such critters as you. And they tall have the same story. I can not endure stealing. The good Lord never meant it to be, or he would have said as much in the Book"
 The tramp bit another mouthful from the pic. In the growing darkness Miss Betty watched his outline for a mo- ment.
 Land sakes! You suppose would go about stealing my living? Bother ing decent folks with your prowling, sneaking ways. I've notion to call the neighbors"
 The tramp lay the half-eaten pie on the shelf. Look here. lady" and there was a soft tone to his voice, "this is the first time I ever stole for a living. was powerful hungry. l saw you sitting on your front porch and decided to try your back door" a man? Every last one of your class will sneak in on a lone woman"
 "'Twas kind of sneaking, lady, I'll admit. But for two days I've been without food" There was tremble in the voice that touched Miss Betty's heart.
 If you had asked me would have given you something to eat"
 "You see, ma'am. I wasn't going to run risk of being refused And now, if youn stand by I'll leave as came"
 Miss Betty rattle the doorknob for a moment. "If was sure you was de- serving I would give you a meal. I'll do 1t, anyway. Just come out here in the kitchen and eat like man. But mind you, don't try to play any of your tramp tricks on mo-" and Miss Betty picked up the broom.
 Miss Betty lighted the lamp and turned to glance at her strange visitor As their eyes became accustomed to the light each stared at the other. Miss Betty drew near him. looking him square In the face. For moment neither moved Then the tramp cried
 Betty" and held out his hand.
 "Iohn Dais as I live!" Miss Betty grasped the Kitchen table for support "oh, John I thought you dead these eight years" Miss Betty passed her hand over her eyes. as though to brush away the darkness gathering about her.
 Betty. it's me. You needn't be afraid" said John, as he advanced to- ward her. Shake hands. Betty"
 Miss Betty backed away. Not now, John. You didn't do as you agreed.
 John let his hand fall by his side. 'Betty. it's not my fault. If you had waited for me"
 "Johh--i"
 ''wait. Betty. till have finished. then I'll go my way. As I was saying. if you had waited for me, l would have done as I agEeed. Maybe, 1t does look bad for me to be caught stealing from you, Betty But was powerful hungry" John let his head fall on his breast
 ''It's not so much the stealing. John, you could have let me know you still lived"
 q couldn't, Betty. was a prisoner. besides, what was the use? You have . good man." John looked about the neat kitchen. 'T know I've acted sneakin' but when a fellow Is hun gry--"
 "You needn't say another word about elngshungry, John. If you are hungry I'll get you something to eat, although you did play me a bad trick" For-ten minutes Miss Betty busied her self between the kitchen table and the pantry Once, in the pantry. she wiped the glad tears on her white apron. She lighted the well trimmed wick of the oil -