Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-06-19
Gitrrarp 5rItftions.
RUTH.
A STORY OF THE HEART.
BY LEWIS MYRTLE.


sight Of the old beech tree beneath which
William Britton had promised for the
last time to meet her.
She approached it with a sorrowfui
heart. Tears were swimming in her
blue eyes, and when through their mist
.5o dimly saw the well known tree,
around which were gathered such and so
many memories, they broke from her
IDS and dropped on the ground at her
feet -.
He was not yet there, and she had half
smind to go back again; she was so IN
s.,i5sd. and her heart was so full of
,rsIHng grief. Hardly knowing why.
however, she pushed out to the foot Of
tbs tree. aud seated herself upon one of
=. vDaIsd and twisted roots.
Hs- bonnet was In her hand; and the
rs,+b Of her auburn hair showered IN
o,gs1 curls over her neck and shoul-
Szs while the rays of the setting sun
braided up her unbound locks in bands OF
na.chless beauty. A strange glory
seemed 10 have at that moment settled
uDon her head; while her large and lus-
tous eyes beamed with light that could
not have been altogether earthly.
She strained her gaze, now up and
now down the road, but as yet deserted
no one approaching. 1: was a lovely
spot. and intruder's feet rarely crushed
the grass-blades there. AT this sunset
hour, too, the influences about it were all
sombre and sad. And they stole into the
heart of the gentle Ruth like long shad-
ows, not altogether dark, yet but trifiingg-
" illumined by any brightness from her
own thoughts. They drew her dream
ing eyes Theoretically to the earth,-and
she began to run over in her mind the
olden days, the golden clusters of hopes,
the generous promises, and the boundless
future. All were full of happiness, and
love, and truth
A rustGng in the thicket aroused heI
from her reverie. She looked up, and
saw her lover standing beside her.
At frs. she could scarcely speak, fol
her deep emotion. She was looking IL
the face of him who was to her dearel
than all others, for the last time in man!
years. There would be no one to whom
she might carry all her secret thoughts
when he was gone. All sympathie
would become stone, when his warn
sympathies were Withdrawn from her,
Poor Ruth Little the wonder that he
feelings well nigh overwhelmed her.
William Britton was only poor boy
the son Of hard and unfeeling fathel
Farm work he thought he had had quit
enough of. On the airy wings of h
dreams he was borne upward to highe
points, until he almost touched the glide
pinnacles his ambition had erected. q
was thoroughly tired of what he thougl
life of drudgery. His father took T
pains to interest him in his labors, an
never dreamed of the necessity or polio
Of holding out promises. He said tn
the Ea1 allowed him his sons labor uni
he should have got beyond his minority
and then he was obliged to have no mo
to do with him. And this is the reaso
ing,-cold and heartless as it is,-of mai
and many father the world over.
The youth stood beneath the twist
old beech tree, a rlnaaa0ayf His sm
bundle of clothes was slung upon sti
across his shoulder, and he had fu-
equipped himself for his journey.
wore a pair of stout boots upon his fe
that looked as if they must outlast ev
the sterner stuff Of which his heart,
that moment, seemed made. Yet tbs
vas q hesitation in his manner, an'
want Of decisiyeness in his words, t
betrayed at once, when he attempted
speak, the trouble that was gather
thickly about his heart. He wan
t'apPear only manly; and it was beyc
the strength Of his resolution to act
the deceit. His eyes fell to the groul
nIi lips quivered; he sat down bes
hlih, and took her hand In his own.
twas several moments before cit
q them could speak. Choking ser
uons obstructed their utrerance. I
when at length words came, they "
spoken in low and melancholy toI
HeepIns a strange and musical harm
Il with the luIl Of the evening air, yet {
o'ns in the heart chambers Of eacl
l'1aly as if spoken by thousand tong
Ruth" said the young boy, still b
ing her hand between his own, 5
some back again"