Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-21

your aunt might be there, and perhapswe perhaps she
might not appreciate music"
She wouldn't" Shirley laughed, except Onward,
Christian Soldiers or Old Hundred"
(Which, unfortunately, not in my repertoire" he
laughed in return May walk by your side for few
steps?"
"Why not?" the girl answered
"There is no reason really" he said in return "The
road has no conventions"
We three" she said smiling, "you, your pal,
and myself You may walk with far the cross
roads; there by the big willow you shall play for
again, and then you go on your free way and
will go back to my conventions she ended, little
sadly
Shirley scanned his face in one swift glance. "You
look different-a great deal better" she said.
"I am no longer ILL., he told her; and then went on,
speaking rapidly 81 think l will tell you part of my
story at least" he said. d" 1t will take only few mo-
ments I should like to have left you that June day
with a better opinion of me, but it only
pertinent didn't think ought to. l not tramp-s
a real hobo' he told her, but very ordinary in
the disguise of one. l am Willard Baker, newspaper
man, at your service
"And am Shirley Baker, schoolmstress" she said
Eyes, know" he answered Il found out by few
discreet questions back there in the village to-day. did
not do it for curiosity but because wanted know the
treated me like an equal flannel shirt and knapsac1
make lots of difference don't they?" he said trife
bitterly.
"Its like this" he went on while on a story one
day in the New York slums contracted typhoid fever
I had it for months and when finally got my
feet again they about all had left The doctors
in the hospital said my heart and lungs shay and
that must take long voyage or summer in the
mountains and that must sleep out of doors if possible
Ae 7 ,ad iuet6 ftv fO mvu
kept the payroll as long they decenty could
the thing looked preposterous. But didn't intend to
let a little thing like the lack of money keep down
after fighting for myfe all those months So thought
the plan of coming up here in the Berkshires and
trampng it for a while. / studying music and
could play fairly well, and could draw in slap-dash
sort of way / thought the two combined might
me food enough, though l should have preferred the
more muscular sort OF work. I'd have sawed wood
that day. you know" he added quickly if he wanted
explain something particularly, if had been able"
"You see' he concluded "the experiment has been
success. I'm on my way back to the city again. The
paper will give job, it's shoulder and for
ward march until the onslaught of fate"
I'm so gladl" Shirley said, her eyes shining II
knew all the time someway that you weren't that
extraordinary tramp you told me to think you I used
to wonder how you getting and shudder nights
when there was a hard storm"
"You needn't have worried" he replied, smiling back
at her. az would lie in barn those nights and wonder
if you would give me strawberries and cream when
your way again."
Hardly" laughed Shirley, in September"
The old brown fiddle was brought into once again.
and this time its music was bridge between hearts
young with joy and rich with hope.
Promise me-" the player said when he had finished
that I may this way again and play for you. I'll
get acquainted with the village preacher, so get
him to introduce us-for Aunt Luelas sake" he smiled
Can you promse3"
al promise" said Shirley smiling, and good
night" She held her hand to him and he took it for
brief second, and held it in his Then she started
homeward in the dusk.
From far down the road strain of music waited
bac-a joyful, happy tune, to which the words of an
old nursery rhyme had been set
Bobby Shaftos gone to sea,
Silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry
Little Bobby Shafto"