Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-17
AFTER
TWENTY
YEARS.
By MILDRED G. Snow.


The road lay hot and dusty under
the noon sun and walking was far
from pleasant Certainly this was
the thought in the mind Of the man
who had just reached the brow of
the hill.
The traveller seemed to be a man
of 40 or As, and was dressed in
soiled and ragged garments. He
might have been handsome in his
youth, but marks of dissipation, even
crime, were on his face, and he was
rather dangerous looking tramp.
Twenty years." he soliloquized.
as he seated himself on a huge boul-
der by the roadside, and the old
place Is as slow as ever. The old man
will welcome me with open arms,
kill the 'fatted calf maybe. I've got
to have some money, anyway, or
there'll be trouble" and an ugly
look came into his eyes.
And Ruth--how glad she'll be to
see her old lover again. Down at
the station they told me she was still
Ruth Bancroft, and that old Joe left
her a mint of money. I'll come in
for some Of that, too, or my names
not Nick Melvin"
He broke off suddenly, for a wom-
an was coming towards him along
the dusty road. She was no longer
young but her face was still fair and
sweet and as the tramp looked at
her the 20 years seemed to roll back,
and almost at once he knew her.
Ruth" he muttered to himself,
and then his impulse TO make himself
known was conquered by the knowl-
edge that she could not recognize
him.
Her eyes were fixed upon the
ground, and she did not see the
tramp at an until she came opposite
him Then she started as she saw
the rough looking man by the side
OF the road An Overwhelming de-
sire seized him to learn from her
own lips something Of the last 20
years. so he accosted her
Please, ma ann, do YOU know
whore ! could get some water and
bite 10 eat?"
Ruth hesitated. but only for a mo-
ment. The man was rough and
coarse looking, but she had never
refused such a request. so she said
II live only little way up the road
and IL You will come with ME ! can
give you something to eat"
Thank you, ma am" replied the
FRO
been on the road since early this
morning"
Have You come from a long dis
tance?" asked Ruth, her repugnance
giving way to pity. They had
reached the house now, and she led
the way to the kitchen
1--WE been in California" replied
the tramp
Ruth turned pale an California;"
she cried. The man was to marry
went there long aso His father
drove him from home and he went
/ there to make a name and fortune
for himself | would have waited for
| him years. but he die D." and with
tears In her eyes she termed away
Perhaps twas better so" ven
tuted the man, after a pause. The
life out there was hard years ago,
and he might have gone to ruin:
who knows?"
"How dare you?" .'e cried turn
ing on him with flashing eyes. He
was true and honest, and he would
! have died first P"
The tramp sat there for a moment
In silence, while great wave OF
shame and regret swept over him.
What was it Ruth had said? "He was
true and honest, and he would have
died first" In a second more his re-
solve was made and he started to-
wards the door.
"Oh. forgive me-" said Ruth, re-
| penting her hasty words. II forgot
that yoa have had nothing to eat"
Just a glass of water, II YOU
| please, ma am, said the tramp. and
| when she brought II TO him he
| thanked her so earnestly that she
looked at him In astonishment.
Out on the sandy road. a few min
utes later, the tramp lifted his hat
and looked back at the house he had
Just left.
She's an angel, and Pm miser-
able wretch" he cried. "bnt I'll be a
man for her sake, bless her"
l., l. l..