The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-02
BY EDITH C. KENYON,


NO, no! YOU must never go near
tramps," his mother said.
whats tranps, mummy?" asked the
little boy.
''I,eggars, who walk about and don't
work." was the answer.
'Donnie'll be tramp when. he's
man." said the child.
Good graclous You won't be any
thing OF the sort"
II Will" the boy said. In whisper,
which his mother prudently ignored.
why do you want to be tramp"
she asked.
Cause like walking about, and
don't like working responded the
boy.
but to beg! It's so tdlsrcputablcp
she retorted.
well. mummy. I'm often begging OF
you, and you never said 1t was wrong"
You have right to beg of me, be-
cause I am your mummy; but 1t would
be very wrong to beg of other peo-
ple.'
Donnie was thoughtful 4 little while
Then he said: "1'll tell that tramp. II
he comes again, that he is not to beg
'cept OF YOU"
. Dorothy was not listening. She had
Nrisen and stepped to the window. in
order to see II the tramp was shutting
the garden gate after him.
He had not reached 1t. having turned
aside to LOOK at the pretty arbor. coy
cred with honeysucklcn.
For quite two minutes he stood look
ing at 1t. then he took hold OF loose
sprg OF the honeysuckle, which was
hanging down. and carefully put 1t
back into its right place. fastening It
by slipping the end under a stronger
bough.
STRANGE muttered the woman. who
watched him Why should he do
that? Cool" she added. as the tramp
broke off piece OF the honeysuckle
and carried It away with him.
He shut tho garden gate and dis
appeared.
oh MN" said Jane. coming in
presently for Donnie. as It was his
bedtime. that tramp did want leave
to sleep in an outhouse! He talked
rather queerly. saying wasn't this a
lonely place for women only, and that
he would be some protection IL he
were near. But he said the last words
very low down, as If he didn't mean
me to hear.
II hope you told him that We pos
sessed good dogs?"
yes. MN. 1 did
what did he say?"
"He laughed. and said something
about dogs being of no use. Shall l
take Master Donnie to bed. MIMI"
Yes Good might Donnie"
Goodnight mummy" The little
boy threw his arms around her neck.
.Mummy"-he pulled her head down to
whisper In her ear-"the poor tramp
may have my marble, he hasn't got
you, mummy"
What a funny thing to say." Doro-
thy thought. as the boy went away
obediently with Jane.
| Then she returned to the window,
looking rather wistfuliy at the honey
suckle arbor near the other
end of the garden.
After all, 1t was nice to have Jack
building 1T for me- she said to herself
He was very good and kind. I wish
had loved him. 1t wasn't his fault
that married him. 1t was mothers
doing. Jack thought l loved hirn-1'm
afraid he was told so; anyway. al
ways pretended to love him. He never
knew I didn't. that's one consolation
I kept up the deception until he dis
appeared. Why did he go away? He
must have gone Of his own accord. II
any one had murdered him his body
would have been found And he was
too big to be kidnapped. But why
should be have gone when he was SC
HAPPY with me? / remember when we
j were breakfasting that last morning
before he disappeared, he said:
There isn't happier man on Gods
earth. Dorrie, than I am! You make
me very happy, darling
And I felt so contemptuous. but did
| not let him know the state of my feel
Iings Thank goodness. I've nothing e
reproach myself with! I gave him The
full value OF what he gave me In
money and position. Yet wish
4 wish" She broke off, dashing away
the tears which had risen to her eyes
4 s Outside the sun sank in glorious gold
and crimson, and breeze arose. wait.
/ ing the scents OF many flowers intl
the pleasant room.
1T Is growing cold" Dorothy said
with little SILVER. az she shut the
window.
I III.
In the night Dorothy awoke With
the feeling that some one WAS In the
room beside herself and her little boy
who slept In cot near the fireplace.
She had been dreaming OF Jack. and
thought he stood by her bedside. look
ing down on her very tenderly. and
saying that She would be alone no
/ longer. for he had returned to lake
] care OF her and Donnie; and when
4 she awoke It was to see dlntv. in the
moonlight pervadins the room. the
black -bearded face of the tramp who
had visited the house that day.
For two seconds he stood LOOKING
| down upon her without speaking, while
she was quite too dazed to cry out or
move: then, silently and suddenly he
disappeared and she knew not whether
= "
j., hrs