BY VV
HALEY 81; CAUSER. 1
_ s
THE FIST 11400
*IP • -
BY JOBN• IT. YATES.
. ---..
b a y by
and the.
I Weekly. Betsey, ie i)
s Id like yOU
',•
And read the morning's Daily, \V it h its.pages
scarcely dry. ' • . 1
. ,
While you and I were sleepin' they were print ,
Joe then). today :: • : .; .; ". ::, , .
In the city by the ocean, several litindred Miles .
away.. . .1 . .
. ,
ilititv!d I get it y" Bless you, Betsey, you need
.. . not doubt and laugh,.. ~......
It didn't drop down froM the clbtrs nor co m e
by telegraphs; ... • '
..
..
I got it by the' lightnie - mail - we've:itid about
you know— - ... . 1 • .-.
.•- . .
The mail that Jonathan ,got,up.about a month
We farmers livin"rOinid the hill *erit to' he
.' . town to day,. . •. • .
~ . .
To see the fast mail, catch, the bags that'.hung
• beside,tbe way •.; ' :. , , -:' ,
Quick as a flash from thtindering clouds ; whose
tempest swept the sky, . , . ,
:The bags were caught — on board the train as it
went roaring by...... ,:... . --. s.. .
We are seein' many
_changes in our Est declin,
years ; • - .
„ . „,
Strange rumors now ere soundin' in our hard
• - ot hearin' earS,' . .
Ere the sleep that knows no, wakii. 3. comeslo
waft us o'er the Strewn, '• i ' • i . \
SoMe great power, inay..be
.takof tall the self :
• conceit from steam.' •
Well do yon retneniherßtitar' when theipocit:
• man earrte
'd
Ridin' horseback , through „the: forest, long the.
lonely ~ •
Indiantrani,•- •
How impatiently ,we,. Waited-we were eart est
, lovers wen—, • ,
For our letters comin'-- sloWly, many miles
'through wood' and glen.
,
Many times, you n know,We missed thein,ttor the
postman never, came t
Then, not . knowing what had happened,We did
, each other blame. - • 111,'
Long those lore tittaireas: . lasted,.,but. the God
- • , who Melts the proud-1 . ., •
Brought our .strayin'. hearts together, and let
sunshine through the cloud !
Then, at last, the tidings reached ' tts, that the
faithful postman fell ,
Before the forest savege, with his mit% terrific
yell •
And your letters lay 4 -and moulded, while the
• meet birds sang allove r ,
And I was sayitebitter thingiabotit a Woman's
Long and tedious were - ,the journeys, few and
far between the mails, - • .
In the days when we - :were cciurtin'—when we
. thrashed with wooden flails.!
Now the while-Vinged cars are flyin"lng , the
shores of, inland bees; .
And young loveri read their letters 'Mid luxu
ry and ease.
Vt. have witnessed many changes- in our three
score years and ten-}
We no longer Sit and wonder at tbe - discoyeries
01 men;
In the shadow's of evenin' we rejoice that
our bOys, •
Are not called to meet the hardship that embit-
Acied half our joys. •.
Like the old mail through the, forest , riatbtui
years go slowly by ;
Like the fast .mail of the present, manhood's
• years how quick they fly I
We are sitting in the shadows, soon shall break
life's hrittle cord- 7 1 ,
Boon shall come' the welcome summoni bytki
fast mail at the Lord;
TWICE MARRIED.
"TTOM.E in good season, mother;" and
II the load, clear voice goes ringing,Up
into the little chamber *here Ruth Mar
ton is stitching away on store work, Oat
ought to have beendone that, :forenoon.
But•the was tired' sitt4g: up last might
for James, he came in so late_ now,' and
she could not bear to let him find the
room, empty and 'the -fire out. It was
her way, she sari, to keep him from bad
company, and it seerned to, succeed very
well ; for, whether it was a gay, oyster
supper, or a game of cards with a friend,
James always remembered - she was -wait
ing for him, and had i ktolerably steady
hand to raise the latch, and an amusing
recital Of the evening's adventures for
the patient and cheerful listener, his.wid
owed mother. ;
Huth Norton
~:.made::her appearance
,
with the vest she las finishing off.hang--
ing over her arm, and. her speatacles
pushed back upon 'ber cap. B : he avas a
quick; active little \ body, iLot. over tidy in
her dress, perhaps; but then, ,'",811 never
had any time to attend to these - things."
James,was making, goOd wages it was
true, but like all Other ke.ni,rous'rititrei,.
he was social' ana.ilked* merry fekws
about him.,
~, , Sovittrtliztook,..care of tie
house,
"and earned just a bit by ;tailor
ing". for. her 'own pocket money; <but
which oftener. went fOr family expeuses
than James *as'ai4Lie Of.
"0, is that my best vest, rnothef ?"'l-‘he
said, laying : 4o,w*. th4kinalingso al w;.1.593,
brought home from the storebeh
,behind the
Stove. "Ltorgot, to.„te4 you it wants,a
button ; and it'll hav to come in play
- to-tight, for there wiltbe the- gran4 frol
ic at TOill La:WS neddiDg2l 1
"SO it is to-night. Dear me, I'd quite
• forgotten it. was- nonie or 00 ,
Tom is a steady, young, man, and I hope
tie will!get a good wife. A good Wile is
'• the making of iiipst younC 'men; in mV
• opinion. Set on the teakettle, ~ I tm-gq
dear, and you shall sOon hivelostr sup
- per. I hope you'll be bringing home, a
daughter to .me oue these days."
"Not I, mother ; 'liberty If9r tin; •a 8
the play says. .1 haven't
o r
yet." •, • • ,
BY MILL/E.
- "The:luicker the better,"'was the ready
answer.of: -the mother,' "and she .hustred
about' to set i thelea. things on 'the fable ;
while James, at his toilet..overhead, sang
`intitehes - 61 , gay -songs; star he • added a
"good voice to . his other advantages. •
NO wonder - his' .mother was proud Fof
lm, - he can* w - An - the !float--pic
turesque of costumes; know - - as :•"shirt
- to - .claim. the renovated,.,veSt ;
and -closing' . it about -trim he tried `the
new baton.' drew himself •Ep to' hisftill
iti•heightlr, and
,shook back'Oe
cinittering, hair from his trownjace; gay
with] good - temper.. • . • -
“.INow. , don't - . 'be very •''late - to-night,
James'," said,., the ,Proud. tittle. women,
holding. the .light as high` she. - corild
reach
,iha ghe 'might . .see that .•all Was
right hut indulge the foiA7
ness•
: Of her, (motherly. eyes ;with' last.
glance of admiration. "I - shall want; to
know, all abOut it; holw .‘..,the bride looked
- and what she had
.en..,Be sure lo bring
a piece of the cake - •to dream on,;. and
- don't drink I to'. the bride's .health'. too
often." • :•
S
•--i.-
`,tlsiever 'fear, mother; and I'm bohnd
'6i : dance with . the
.. prettiest girl in the
.room, you may,: - be _sure. Don't. to'
.hard or - sit ,up for me .after One - o'cloC,k :
-for may be we. shall, be late," He parted
her on the shoulder as ..he. said thiS, a
caress bt which' lie was very' fond okiid
which conveyed more affection ;than One
would • suppose.: She .understood I it,
andstill - nrOud and
.happy *ant back 'to
,"clear up,"as she called. it. • - • •
But mother. Norton's tidying - would.
not have pleased the most,. fastidious, fot
her organ of :okder. had.'neier - beenide
veloped in - chiltlhood,.. and old • h - khits
still citing to
_6r.' Jameahad . a habit : of
order , .. that was rather Aroublea -bvi the
inn n merable. - catalogne.,Lof .sundries" that
littered the itables; :Maritletti and chairs;
'indeed:it 'was the only. point - On ,Which•he
ever ventured 'a remonstrance.
. She sat sticking quietly for. a long tune ;
and when the vest was_ finished she fold
ed-up,:her work and read a• - • while M her
NOT-.4e'licio4 . the Bible. - Gradually the.
ca ndle .grew'dimm r, and the ct eful' glow
.nf:Ahe .flre,'MOre book
dosed OYerAet_apectacles itithibh: she; had
she'fell into a
.bdmfortaNe reter*- -- '2'-As- usual, it
wkis'ulieat James; what : " great reason she
d.to°:be. proud of b 10 4 : . truthful
ait. holiest, - he:: had. always I'nel!
theii : last ,conversation`'-,was 'Yrainembere ,
and .she .thought
~hOw pleasaat it :Would
.be-to hive. a' good tidy little Cialighter
cbritielionie:,sbnie day,. who: Would make
James happy and • keep, the house
tul and lie - coMpany for. herself. She
could. but.' confess that • she wad a little
lonesome nowand• then -and she was not ,
So active and'. young as she - Once was.
She certainly had - to go to
sleep, - and let the burn dawn and
the fire g'o) . out before-James camehOtne ;
but :these three things happened.ao.she
woke' with a, sta4t and , a. chilled,. uncom
fortable sensation to 11
. ear, him . 'battling
the, 10ck.,... ' • "
'At firit . She - thought it' mud . be' her
'drowsiness that made his voice Sound :so .
strange and hoarse; 'hut when she had
lighted another candle, his lace ryas so
pale and' haggard, his whole , manner, so
excited 1 that she could . scarcely ask .the
reason. ',He 'did; • not keep . . her bing in
suscience. . fle.had been.: tO thitelitiecits
tomdd to find ready f sympatiliV in.he love
to conceal-the - cause of hissudden,Change.
He threw hi self down 'wearily' On - the
floor at her feet, and said a
. 1:One of
Utter .dispondency •
"I've ruined usoall, .mother I". .
‘.`.31.Y. son ! JaMes! What db .yotr
mean ?" •• .• , • •
. . .
"Just what'( say. • I didn't mind - you,
and I:.drank too much, and, got..e:tcitel;
theh..they dared 'me to do .•
- 7'What,.. Jimmy, dear ?" I .She. Scarcely
-dared. to, fill the spyhe. Made -,,' Sudden
thOughts•of robbery and even.o order
darted .through her mind •
Married, - befOre them - 0.1 1 , to..a
girlhave never seen befOre to-night ;,
for Toni Lane's uncle-*Crs an alds;rman.
1 iibughiAley w e re' joking - alrthe °while,
-13.tit t he says i Vs, real. and her hiother-says
so, and swears I tnatit'talce,heritonie and
'take tire of her, for she's . more than' he
eau manage; acid ; ,of.-voursOkoione .can
marry .her now. . Mother I)siOther
• whit shall:: do•:?"•42; •
- ,-TOT'e,wasi..a‘weie,ht: lifted ..at first 'from
the - heart Of, poor Ruth:; but last
words; had ~bropilit th -- ereality - of; the mis
fortune before, her..
"Are these things
_against her,. Jim
my?"
4 .Nobodylvotild'tell me anything:about
her, exc , ;pt that th-y laughed And .joked ;
and I heard Nat Jones say, 'whaka.take
in I' and - I - struck him in the , iace. -::We
were aWstanding iu the hall with her
brother, for he was the foremost :one to
put'me to it
.; and I 'was almost crazy
with the,thought of what I had done.—
Somebody parted us and -Isaict it was too
bad And she came flying out- 7 they were
all dancing yet—and I heard her call out
'Where's ,my. husband ? to go Off and
leavehis - bride 1' I' don't believe: she
knowi yet ; but It sounded so light and
forsi,rd, and I dashed away from them ;
11 , f6i . TROSL
.
and 1've ... . - beens ,Street
_ever.
since, feeling . as I shkluld go craiy."r
He wiped his forehead, still heated
frorri the e,kcitenent of - feeling and!W
quick hurried. Walk. His mother did not
know s what .counsel. to offer, and only
held iris hand - ind 'looked ddwn into!his
face as if,-libe did not yet comprehend is
".I'notided , her- • when • tir . .it wen t ntO
the ronin,'",latneS:Said again, as if it waa
-a relief toAalk..! "She was cone of Lthe
dressed elegantly,' an.
danced better . than •aitybolly In. the room.
And 'Tom Lane and I must' da W
nce W 1
.
. her. And it - seems She intdl.made a bet
to flirt with: me ; and then tlie r jOked
at supper. acid wasn't going to be ant- ,
done:skid ealled'h.T nty:swee.theart, and
said fiftyilly things.; and they . said two
weddings Were "better than one, and dared
us to be niarriedon the spot. Sine laugh 'd
and said 'es and' I.- thought at Was, good
fun and i 0 I W . as married ; and Ow it
eitiCt- be helped, they all : '•Iia1, •It initis
me-ahnOst nate her everyAnneFthinic of
it, if she'knewito marry . 4 man she kliiews
nothing tib(in t . ,1 a lid had never seen inl . her
:life.before. • And I . .was so light hearted
- when I wen t : Off, and now if :feel twenty
•years . shall I !do, mothefr ?
Tell iue." , . • I
; .• •
"Go to bed now, jitnuiy - deaf:,and we
will talk it overin the "Morning. lI 7 Yr- .
haps it Will turn Out attickj afterall . ;nr
maybe she's. heard-. 7 abont. von and lo . i . es
'you'—tlie fond, Mother' 'could have Un
derstood that and' forgiven.. and
she'll:my 'wake-you a good Wife, after alt.;
Who knoWs? But go to bed • nO4, for
you're out; ankyon'll be isiek—
Gerrie, 40' 60* Jimmy.l
'He went , up to the little room by the
side of ber own to, please her ; but she'
heard hiin walking up and' down 'until
she fell into an uneasy siuMber.
It was, as James 'said, a reality she
camelioine to them after ;the end of a
week;'-apparently thinking they shonld be
Compensated for all by the' honor of li`er
presence, and seeming , nei.her to' knowior
care how Much trouble she gave, di how
unwelcoine she was. ;
Ruth had done 11(4 best to make the
b• bright d - cheerful, but the
house lookan
pluiti ; old-fashioned furniture seemed to
Nora a p or exchange- for the " sribwy
veneering of her brother's'lparlor. She
missed the excitement nidinces . and balls
to which she had ilsays been accustom-
Jatnes had eo - heart io . :go;
and, in
deed,'shrank.,from, appealiing anywhere
with her. Her chief amusement and
employ `tent seemed to be a review of her
stock of ,finery, visiting .her old friend§
or ;sitting at the front. window ; watching
the
.few passers-by, ,
It was a dreary change lin that; once
contented• little, household. Ruth, did
her best. 'She bore the imnertinen.ce and
' carelessness of her daughter-in-law with
out complaint.; she tried in her: quiet'
way, to, make her as - comfortable
ortable I
could, sharing even her cicithes Ivith her;
fot; with all her fineryi-she had,notopm-
for,table garments for' the Inclement sea=
son, .that hid now set, in. James seemed
utterly.broken in spirit. He.never sang
'or:whisled as hac: been his wont. Then
;
Meals were eaten , in silence *lien Nora
.was, there, nr with desponding complaints
when she was .abs-nt. He avoided : her 1
tit every way. t Slinetmes he seemed like
himself, when he found a cheerful fire
and his mother waiting for him.; but of
t-ener he come home with
,a clouded brain ,
and disturbed temper, too plain tokens
that his troubles were driving him into,
bad coinpaay.
All this was hardest on poor Ruth
that is,, the every day" recnring perplex
ities mere more wearying.l perhaps .than
the unwelcome bonds whit)) the ;young
people.had as yet only chaf'-d at 4 Nora
would have gone back to her brother'shome, but that was closed;to her, he only
saying it was her own - fault and not his
if she (lid not get = along . well with' her
husband.. 'So 'she: would come back; her
eyelfswolen with crying, More sullen;and
disagreeable than ever ; and •the mOther
was obliged to put up with it, while her
son g s alte,red habits were almost breaking
herheart, se nd hiii;wife grew daily More
hateful' to her - ; as !the cause of- it. Her
faith'Was - sadly put to test' in these dark'
slays; liit- She' •read the ; Bible . atid the
Pilgries Progress more and . More,lnow
beginning comprehend! the 'liarsh-im
prisbninent of her favorite - hdici in the
dungebn - of !Doubting Oastle.
Sheiwas sitting in a 'silent, 'diftwndast
aft when a !Hit
PA., APRIL 5, 1876.
moiid,'one 4tterhoon when a Hz.. rap at
the door, was'followed by the Sunimilne of
a 'faCe ~that tilainly told ofl"rieace
Five years ago Rath had lost a daughter,
a bright cheerful girl .of lifteen,ijust be
ginning to be all the 'world to, her. -She
died after &lingering illness, and to the
last her bedside - ,was': cheered ,nd the
lotiellhnother comforted 1 by the ;visits of
Martha's Sunday-School teacher,' 'who
had first 'led her to think of 'another
hOme; wivre there-would be neither pain_
or wesrineis. Sincethen the teacher hild
never forgdtten her, , old pupil, Who had
leained inCre <of the; life to: cothei than
ever before at her' 'daughter's bedside ;
and this was the unexpected hilt most
*Moine
T isitor. •
PO; it is you, Milt Lelia ? Ws a long
, I ie
• ' '4
time since-you have. tiOn-tn Sep Me. I
Boas almost afraid you'would- never[cOme
agaiii,"Ruth said eagerly, duSting a chair
with her apron.. - .; • 1
"You could not have thoughtl Shopld
forget you; Ruth ?" Miss Lewis said, in
a pleasant, friendly voice: "But haie• you
been sick : this .winter ?, :Why did pu*
not let ine•know...it ? ..Youl loos thin
and downcag. ! I hope there's nOtbing
the. Matter with Jarnes." 1 I
It needed but little sympathy tO•draw
forththe troubfes •of poor Ruth, and she
.
hs.d most interested and liatientlisten7,
er. • -• • I
.
"But are .Vou sure - -sheT doesnrt love
..James?" she said. - "Love workS won
ders saiiptimis, you know; and sli e may
be a comforter to you yer."l. -
"God. forgive me, if Pin wrong in say
ing -it, Miss Lewis,: but I idon't believe
she'll be anything- but a torment to us=
and James is breakiilg his! heart Trani
• • •
,• morninz till night. • tried to be. good
to her, and wou•liim,be -a . ,• inother to her
;'but 81161171.11 in, my boy, my only comfort.
nice poor \Martha died:" !i - :!..
"Brit, - you ,knOw, 'good. Came even out
of that great. sorrow., Mrs. Norton 4s.yoir
.often
.told one. .• He !who sends us,
trials cari.make them end in blessings ;
the premise.-don't' of promise.thin!t! 'forget that ;
and besides. I'm 'a great believer.id the
law.Of kindness. • 'Unless i she! is utterly
unWorthy,James.innit in time Win 'her."
afraid .Fin not al\v*s • kind,' pOor
Ruth.said,self-reproachfully ; ”soMetiineS
it's eo hard •to put up. with, and .71 fret: a
bit,' and 'then. she's ' quick-tempered; and
.so it goes. :she'ta ',there now, I dare
say, b:-aiding her hair.iirp*.ingsomd fine
ry;; all:'she• does .frotri, morning till
night." •• _ • , •
• . 1 1int'do you evil her to:help yon ?
I should think there was it; great deal she
might do, and James .likeS..to see things
tidy." • • •••• ; • •
"lirde enough, he. does," and-. here a
sigh followed' the glance around the dis
orderly.room. But I can Hardly get time
to have hil'ineals:.ready n0w.....1f it . was
*real God.ent•trouble, 'Shouldn't mind
it so mach": •
"But it. Certainly seenisltole, so," hiss
- Lewis answered: trOubles are given .
us to•try our strength.:- ..-Take , this ,a 4: a
trial of, your patience, Riiih,:as:Martha'a
- death..proved your faith., never:do
• for James to see vou.give ,:up. .
MASS did not as she re
turned to. , her. pleasant::hoine, - the
good teed that had beeidsowit with' her
words of. cheer..• : A8 ; it *as, 'Ruth. w.eut
more cheerfully about th,enext . days.task,
'taking "patietiCe"aaheri•talisman and
.When she : remembered - that .'Miis;.Leivis.
•
.had asked: her,- ishe -forckli•
:some, notiCeof :the poor:gtrl, whoefrom
her heart she pitied. .
.1 . • ,•
9youzhave . never otld me anything
about - your mother,' igor:a,": she said, al
in-her usual idle way,' the, girl - Was Sitting
with .fuld6d. handiby !the .
:It .was .a. chalk:6\onel'; • but it • proved
the right one. y . It did. noti - r. se s i,m _So at first
however for theonly ansterwai a sullen
Stare, astonished at hear i nig
nntarilv -addressed: But Riith .did not
seem to 'notice • this, . and .Etnally. was teL
warded., by .seeing a more pleasant ex•L
piessiou in "her face ; and • afterwards,
: when she laid aside her *irk 'and rose to
?et the. dinner.-:table 'Nora- for, the first,
- time offered to. help her,: This:was done .
'a little awkWardly, and .not sotheerfnlly.
Ids Ruth could have • wished; .who, when!
•
78he 'commended' her for: her assistance,
was a . little surprised, to hear . her say.
"`Don't= tell ' him, though,', as Sullenly
as before.-.---i, ,
This.,waS the : beginning _of pleasante.r •
4imes for Ruth. When :James was away:,
=Nora was suoiable.:an.d.,.wllling to. do any
thing she could for his Mother, only•she
repeated the. injunCtion 'not to tell him.
• She -left
. off most ofi here rings and
hroaches, and:dressed ••thote•:plainly, and.
one afternoon - as she. sate : stitching away
as fait as she oould-Hfor she had 'taken .a ;
fartey'tO‘ Ruth'e trade—Ruth found 'her
self telling libotit Martha's death, 'and
how ,hard it ;bad. been to.. part with her,'
and how Jaines• niisse4 her. • That after -.1
noon • when. she :came :home •Irom her.'
brother's she.had 'a little reselind one, of
the zhildren, bad . ;given 'her; • Irtilai ho
deed "it' When. She passed 'throngh the
*m' , When Utiles came down::to tea
he had, it in his;: band;`thanked hie:
.Bother ifor putting, the...littie vase
on. hiS L :biirean. ,Rtith : WOW hays ' Obi-,
claimed;, but she 'eatight3 a....quiek 'warning
and the blush tin her
-faceasishe'placed.,it in his button bole.-
Re sat in the kitchen:- a. little.'•W•hjle;after
tea, and .eyen 'noticed.. the: improVements_
and eotitPlimented 'mother :.O.fi theta.
Ruth 'longed to tell ;hilt. it wua allrNora'S
WO and meattiesk .bilt! the theaningl'of
that look restrained her :
That.night,,Ruth.fonnd -ITOra .sobhing .
is-bed : and_asked:if
,she .titts 111,...aad-43he
said, "No. not ill,
,only•;ti little
,rierYione.:
Ruth did not otieetion . her,. but-
.stooped.
.
down • and . kissed: her for, the first
• • 'After this Ruth knew: there ., were
brighter days , before :them;;' that is, if
japes would return.. the 'lo. e. :that, she
knew WApt,springing,:uti., in . .NOra's heart.
Tor hini this She bylorig
-VOL. 33-N0.,,,14
Nora
tales- of his.childhOod, to which- Nora lie-
tened eagerly,, and which brought, .the
slime tender, -loving light - to her eyes as
she .bent_ over - , her :needle: She; would
.have iriA, to . w)n • her Ison- : by the earns
simple means.; but the. , 'boatt-: of. Istora'i .
tidiness and, industry'was*al way,s,eheeked
by . the feeling that the time had ' not yet
bome.."Jeineeeobld'iiiitliut - haire. notic
ed the improvement . in -. her .appearance,
but he never spoke of,it.' She earned for .•
herself ebtne neaCChinti dresses, for she
invariable refnsed :the money, he put in -,
his mother's hande, at first froni' obstina
cy; and lately from womanly pride.' The
broad . cotton-lace • collars - were ~ . replaced
by narrow cambric ruffles, and „with her
hairparted smoothly over. her forehead,
and a Lmile of good . !nature lighting up
her lace,-Ruth with' 'never weaiied' of ail- .
1 miring her, Love . had, indeed, , 4orked -..
wonders. Whether, she ' went singihg
with her,. iiveet voiceabout the household .
:tasks, or sewed :diligently by Ruth's Fide;
[lt :Was all the - same.-;• but the instant
lit
was h e ard c!.oming .tiie ' Ong was
. huSh‘-d, the smile.:wee - clotided,i,and , ..slie
either . went-to liar own . roOm ' , .or .sat': in
B:knee. . ' •
The whole house betokened a change.
The books . and owmpapers of which
James wazi fond were neatly piled upon
the bureau, or in the window-'seat ; the
brushes and towels, had their appointed
places; "chips . of Cloth" no longer litter
ed-the.floor. - Though James enjoyed the
change, and- ,even brought home anew
table-cover add a box of mignonette for
the now „open _
m N ora
he , never seem
ed -to con nect : Nora with the improve
ent,. Something of
,hts 'old ohterful
ness came Welt 'in the . spring_ 'sunshine,
but it , was fitful and easily driven away.'
He
lie came home: one eveniog., earlier
than usual, 'and after tea„ as -if he had.
something Important to discloie drew
his chair up, in The - old biniilir way. to,,
his mother: ' . '- - , . ' ' ..
Ruth's 'heartbeat a little quicker. She
was sure it was . something about Nora,
for he had seemed to watch her lately.
She bad noticed it :several times. But ,
. she was not prepared for-the proposal be
mVle, whibli Was that they
. should find a'
.bonie for hcr 'amoung her, friends.,
She's not happy here, mother, and no „
I . wonder ; and I think perhaps ',ought to
do something for her. The poor girl was .
no more to blame. than I was -,` and since
it-is as it. is. I ought to..make her as Com
fortable as Ican. I 010 she seems dif
ferent lately ; and;,at any. rate„she'hain't
gone gadding - off with others, disgracing . i
me, as Many . 'wofild • have ' done. Thett
'you; wouldn't have 'so :mulch to do; and -
oti the ,whole r siticet, we!,etin't --love leach •
other, , perhaps )1?8,1:Tat: ; wo,. should ,sepa- ,
rate." ' , .. , . ~. „
• "Bat why can't'on ,. love' each' other'
Jimmy?" • ' ' '' . ' •
He looked - upfstartled 14 the , anxiout •
tone of t his .mother's voice., , "If I love
her.evo somell, she hates me.-- ; She nor-,
er would love die:''
."Did you ever aaklier if she'did ?" ,
"Oh; mother ran& we worse 'than 'strati-
ger& I Could rove a life dearly that yen'
know. Any-one who- mould', have cared
for me, and tried to help you, and make
yow happy, I could love any:, one' that
would do that." • ~
Nora's secret could not . , keep longer
and Ruth set forth her improiements ' in
the most glowing light ; bow i she had
taken care o' the roonnkbecause he liked
them tidy. . ; how she had earned: two dol-,
lariit we--k rather tll an be dependent on
him ; and the story of the rose-bud came
out now. -, '
- "Oh, James, go tt
Ruth,. "and tell her
her at any rate."
He saw all that 12
be true, And blame
covering it sooner.
"Go'and tell, her
,
•
"Yei; tu-night, for wilt be tfieluird-,
er t6-morrow; I kiwi, and I'm sure- she 4
roves you:"
She had not . Yet retired, and Inas leap,
ing her bead •On „ler arm,,' and did not,'
look` qp • When he' entered the`room but
said, tit.a voice that ihoyied rshe had bees
weeping "lames canie .fiome earlt e , r . ,
are
dit' b m
e,' other ?.t. Lhave
laying hcre,listquin co f„ tp.„ hie,voice l
,Ton
have been iftlkio;l o U. -
!!ye A . Nord, of you, mfr poor 'girl;".
kid . ;Tames, .*ith - voice of emotion;
he stooped-`down and . raised hefia
his wins. , not try, to go sway from
A - 6), , nPt ..be Mier!) , pan
will i not send me :sways?"' find he drew
her head down ariOn Shoulder - as tbq
stentthere. "I . Was 'coining to tell yon
that you might 'leave us . ; but now I ask
you to stay, ;if- you can.love me and, be
my wife." • - - -
'‘Oh; James; I have loved: you so hail"
she' tatd, sobbing;;"and I was contentiot
tried to be, to live just seeing you every
day and working - for pm—l - know I was
Wild, and vain, and soltleh ; but, I, was
not„wicked ;,,and cverybody, loyed .;ypo,
and bow could I help ?".
"Do not "try heir ' it, ,It to
whd ,hinite bee n !tong; ' but 1 . .trY
''',;#'Canairs444 war 461.,..u.
the poor'girl,",said
you, will try to lQve
smother said mutt
himself for not dui-
o;" his mother urged
Er _ _ r
T -~, t" ti;` ;,fir,,,