The Washington herald., 1907-05-20

| j w ilviieHt the GlIl paused rebel
liously, but habit was stronger than this
new mutinous feeling. and slowly she
went inside. Mrs. Condor picked up her
sewing again, but her hands lay idle in
her lap and tired eyes looked across the
fields. She had paid a bitter price for
those broad acres, and Hank GriswoId,
struggling with his tiny farm, should
never be their owner. She had been
forced into a loveless marriage by an
avaricious father, and her heart had
turned TO stone. She could not believe
in love. It must be the fields that Girls
void wanted. II might seem hard TO
Susie, but it was for the best.
Down the narrow strip OF road. run
ming like dusty river between the green
/ banks Of verdure shambled a bent figure
/ II turned in N the gate. unmindful of
! Mrs. Condons shrill warning that she did
not feed trdmps
! I'm work for il" ne said eagerly. I'm
willing to pay my way. but you people are
! so set against tramps that you won't
| even give me a chance to work for food "
] Il suppose yOull tell me next that
you're a mechanic on his way 70 a job
! that's been promised him." she said
scornfully
I'm a tramp, a hobo" he said de-
/ family. It's all I've been for ten years
and more. I only work now for the sake
| of some food"
Mrs. Condor smiled approvingly. She
/ liked truth even in a tramp.
| 7 guess there amt much 10 do" she
! said as she rose TO her feet THE wood s
all split and I've got two men for chores.
/ but I'll give you something"
The tramp sank down on the steps and
! The porch was a pleasant place I'm the
quiet of the summer afternoon Mrs
! Condor rocked slowly back and forth.
paUsing now and then in her sewing 20
/ look across the broad acres that marked
| the horizon. II was all hers. the richest
/ farm in Liscom County. and yet she
| sighed softly as she took up her work
again.
MAJ Mrs. Condor looked UP with q
start Her thoughts had been far back
in the past when she was young-and as
pretty-as the girilsh figure that stood
in tho doorway.
Henry Griswold is coming 10 see YOU
this afternoon went on the girl. "He
wants TO ask you-for me-"
With cheeks afame she leaned forward
ana hA4 it'A l+fi Ali- ffI4 lll- rENFf woman
shoulder. Mrs Condor pushed her gently
away and the gaunt, tired face grew
hard.
Does Hank Griswold want to marry
you or the farm2' she demanded bluntlv.
1T ain't going TO do him a mite Of good
TO ask"
He doesn't want the old farm"
stormed the girl We're going TO live on
his place
IF he gets you" amended Mrs. Con-
don. 1t won't do mite O good 10
argue, Sue There amt TO fortune
hunter going to marry YOU"
Hes not a fortune hunter" defended
the girl, IT'S cruel. wicked, hateful
thing TO say"
You 60 right straight into the house.
commanded Mrs. Condor, and don't
You come out here again until you can
be respectful 10 your mother
presently she reappeared with a bowl
containing the remnants of a stew and
part of loaf Of bread
She watched him as he w0lfed his food.
and when he set the bowl down on the
porch she nodded approvingly. L guess
YOU were hungry she conceded. I'VE
don't like tramps in through here"
You don't have % tell me" he de-
Clared with a grin. Il knew "A chap what
came from round here somewhere He
was my sole partner for a couple Of
years. They used TO call him Starry
sam because he had bracelets Of stars
,atooed on his wrists"
Il know the man you mean" she said
with an impassiye face. "But I didn't
snow he was a-tramp.'
There was a woman" explained the
tramp, seeing that she was interested and
sCenting a chance TO get food 10 carry
with him on his way.
He told me the story once. He was IN
love with a girl. but her old man made
her marry a fellow that had money. Sam
couldn't stand for seeing her another
mans wife. and he lii out
He wasn't a hit in the city. His dis
appointment sorter took the heart out of
him"
Il know" she said quietly. He was
killed the next year while saving a little
chiId''
KILLED nothin'." scoffed the tramp
THAT was a stall for the girl he was
stuck on. He was down so low he took
to the road. and he got the clerk If a
lodging house to pat UP that steer. Said
he'd rather have her think he was dead
than to guess he'd taken to the road
You know the girl?''
yes I know her
We'll. don't tell her. Sam was good
follow. il was only that he didn't have
anything TO live for. You can't blame
him. He's dead now. He got in with
some yeggs after he left me and the bulls !
got him in chi"
The bulls got him?" the womans voice |
qu8vered q little
That's slang explained the tramp. |
THE Chicago policemen started to arrest |
him and he tried to run. so they shot /
him. He was good man." he added |
softly. Say. lady. you couldn't let me /
have some more bread could you. to take |
with me?"
She rose without a word and entered /
the house. returning presently with a |
fresh loaf and some cold meat wrapped /
in a paper. With word OF thanks the /
tramp slouched off and the sumner still |
ness fell upon the piazza again.
But the woman heart throbbed with /
a duh ache.
"The bulls got him In Chi"
The sentence ran I'm her brain. So this
was the epitaph Of her boy lover. The
heroic rescue in which he gave Nd his /
life for another was but a 1gment of /
imagination. She shuddered as though /
she had come in physical contact with |
the thing that had been her idol and
who had become a loathsome ragged
tramp.
Then her thoughts softened. Her visitor
had been right. sam had been different
from tho nra actfoqf ttrgr,o ,,;.,.f.--