The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-25
TRAMP TALKS.
The story That Was Told by the Pale
Moonlight.

Late one afternoon. when I was
making farewell tour of the state of
Ohio" began the Dilapidated Gentle
man, after a long inspection of the toe
peeping out Of a rent in his shoe, I
turned aside to ask for q bite to eat and
lodging at q comfortable farmhouse.
I found that the place was owned and
occupied by two old maid sisters and
run by a. hired man. Both females were
over 40 years old and typical spinsters.
To look at them you wouldn't think
they had any more romance in their
souls than a rail fence. I d0a't know
whether 1 was the first Dilapidated that
had come along for a month, or wheth-
er they thought I had seen better days.
At any rate, I was given a good hearty
could make myself comfortable on the
new-mown hay in the barn.
L helped the hired man to milk and
do, up the shores, and when I went to
roost did a bit of singing to myself
1t was one of the finest moonlight
nights you ever saw. with the nightin-
gales WhoOping it up for all they were
worth. and perhaps I became bit SEN
timental. I had sung Annie Laurie
and two, or three other old songs when
the hired man came out to the barn and
notified me that Title and Mary wanted
to see me on the veranda. These were
the names Of the two old maids When
I appeared before them, hat in hand,
Tillie. who was the eldest, said;
. We heard you singing. and didn [
know but what you would favor US
with something.
I replied that I was always happy
to oblige and piped up with Nellie
Gray and followed it with Old Black
joe When had finished my piping
Mary said:
" sister and I are agreed that you are
not what you seem. We believe you
have been a gentleman IN your time
Would you mind telling US how you
came to be IA wanderer?
" Tt is q painful subject, ladies. bu'
you have been so kind to me, and thu
evening is so full Of sentiment that
will relate my story. When ] was j
years old met the beautlful daughtsi
of the Countess D'Charny at Newport
I was there at my fathers villa, anC
the countess and her daughter were il
/ America on a visit
Title, didn't I say that he ha'
/ been in love some tin1e?' queried Mary
Yes, and I said 1 rather thought s.
4 myself Let him go on
% Marie was the name Of the count
ess' daughter, and I shall not attemp
! to describe her graees. We fell in low
! er and my father appeared to encour
age the idea She was but II, and >
course we did not think Of marriage q
that age. We could pledge each other
! however, ana We QlQ. Alter N"o IAlO441AA
she sailed for home. and carried m,
heart with her On the day she sale
4 I began sending loving messages b.
cable. and she must have found a
least IA of them when she landed
Had 1 ever been loved that way.
sighed Mary
:. There Is time for both Of US yet
replied Tillie.
{" For two years we corresponded b
every steamer. and kept the French ca
| BILE hot with messages. My father ha
| limited that I could marry when
reached the age of 20 and was count
4 ing the DAYS when he called me into tn
library one evening and announced tina
4 I alone could save him from felon'
cell. He had forged the name of a
iceman to check for $250.000. and los
/ the money in Wall street. It was bU
q trIfie to the iceman, but he had
daughter whom he wished to marry int