Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-11-29

iof return HomeWard. All the vows OF
carly youth bad been renewed. and the
climax had been reached quite speedily
/ ny and of the miniature which Julia had
drawn forth when they were in eager con-
versation, she asking him as she showed it.
if he thought she had taded any 2"
1t was amusing to see how. at the sight
OF tins miniature. Reuben struck his hand
upon his breast, as though doubtful wheth-
er the daily companion of years could pos
sibly be away from its nest But there it
was. aifd 1T made him tell the story of the
dreams of years-how he was frightened
from the hope of ever winning her be.
cause Of her social position and his pov
ertv and how his only star of promise.
urging him on in business life. was the
memory of boyhood affection. with The
hope that it might have something of joy
ful prophecy. The approaching sunset
was welcome to them. for they wished now
to choose their star of love and faithful
ness
When the path was taken that led d.
rect to the white cottage. Arthur permit
ted his friend to get somewhat in advance
OF him, and unnoticed By Reuben. he
took the avenue to his mothers mansion
When he approached the house, with
Ruth leaning on his arm, the last ravs of
the setting sun were shining into the spa
cious and elegant room where his widowed
mother was sitting. A turn in the aven-
ue leading to the mansion brought that
apartment full in view, as the sun stream
ed in and filed out the perspective most
grandly. Pausing a moment in ar arbor
where flower was blooming which was a
novelty to Ruth. she chanced to gaze up
the walk. and saw the gorgeous room
where Mrs. Hadley sat. when suddenly a
consciousness came over her of the broad
contrast between herself and that family
in social position. Thus far through the
day perfect unity of taste and feeling
had swept away all memory of artificial
distinctions but now, as she gazed into
the elegant apartment, and saw Mrs Had
ley there, her old impressions of the aris-
tocracy" of the family came over her with |
a siekening sensation. Her first thought |
was to dart away and rush to the cottage. |
but she was restrained from this by maid |
enly delcacy, and she stood distracted |
from everything around by the intensity !
of her emotions. till she so trembled as to |
=
Miss Arnold-Ruth, are YOU faint |
ing?n
No. no; hut why have you called me
Miss Arnold so many times to-day p
Have you ever known her before 2" asked |
Ruth
Called you Miss Arnold and is not
that your name, Ruth 2" cried Arthur.
amazed.
noid Is now big Deffotned, wnoms he has |
loved from early boyhood," she replied =
:: I fear have seemed different to You |
than Arthur's sister would have seemed" |
added Ruth. turning away her |
face. and laying finger on her lip as
though she feared to speak all she felt at
hat moment.
= Never fear that my mistake of name
is any mistake of the heart" answered
Arthur Il an delighted to fnd that
Arthur's sister is just the one | wished
she was. when | first met you"
But do excuse me from meeting your
mother to night" said Ruth, trembling
with the strange experience through which
she was passing.
Immediately Arthur took her hand, and |
drawing her arm within his, walked round |
to the little path by the woodland towards
the cottage which he entered when it was
reached By them Reuben and Julia had
not arrived and Arthur had a fine oppor-
tuuity of conversing with Widow Eiford.
and convincing Ruth that no ideas of So
cal position entered into any of the Gues-
tions of the heart with him. He was de
lighted to fud that his mother and the
Widow Elford had become acquainted,
though Ruth had always shrunk away
from meeting Mrs Hadley, in her great
fear of = the aristocracy."
Arthur passed out of the cottage with
a thousand thoughts of the sweet peace |
imaged there and when Ruth parted |
from him az the wicker gate leading to
the woodland path, the plain gold ring |
which she had worn was on the smallest |
finger of Arthur's left hand, and in its
place glttered radiant jewel never seen |
on Ruth's hand before.
The next day Reuben sped to town |
with Arthur. and they now felt themselves |
brothers indeed-exchangiD in the free
est manner their experience. their hopes |
and affections. Arthur nobly profered
Reuben any assistance in his power. and
pTtptfStu IL ti'hbS &c VI buoAotoo oo c"SA 60
it could be brUus sht about to the accept
ance of Reuben's present employers.
Reuben went to his labors in the count
ingroom with lighter heart than ever
before. so clear was now the prospect be
fore him of speedier accomplishment of
the end to which affection had ever been
directing his ambition.
TIE city lost more of its attractions
now to Arthur and diligently did be pur-
sue tie aims Of a true love, only baffled
in one thing. and that was. be could not
vet induce Ruth to visit his mother 1t
was a beautiful hour, when. By some re
mark which Ruth dropped. he discovered
she thought bis mother was absent. when
he knew she was at home; and conscious
of the warm welcome his mother would
give Ruth he took advantage Of this mis-.
take to draw her to the mansion. They
entered and with the plea that he wished
10 show her favorite picture. he opened
! a door where his mother sat fronting the
entrance and Ruth could not now be con