The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15

STOPPING figure in it's dull dress, and her
odd, old.fashioned little ways of greeting
John. Perhaps he thought her handsome.
Why shouldn't hep She was all his own,
you know, and loved him.
II like it," he said, touching with his
finger the flower in her hair. 81 want
you to wear some bit of color oftener; it
makes you so pretty, Ruth"
Her face for a moment, as she turned it
up to him, was really girlish. The tired
heart was bewildered with the rest of this
new love. She listened to him dreamily,
and fancied she had slipped back through
the years-the wretched, toiling years
and was playing among the butter-cups
and daisies at her mothers door. All hap
piness, real or imaginary, took, to her,
this far off likeness. Is there not with all
of us some such simple thing which weaves
itself into our ideal joys? The CLEAN of
sunset-the lull of drowsy wind-the
chime of a distant bella something that
we catch and lose again, but without
which our vision was imperfect?
81 brought you ribbon" John said ;
"it's just this same color. / wanted to
make my little woman look as well as any
of them"
He unfolded paper and held up rose
colorel neck-tie. With the quick eye of
dry-goods clerk he had chosen the latest
style and rich silk. Ruth looked at it a
moment without saying word: then,
ooh, John! I'm too homely for SO
beautiful a thing"
81 guess l know best about that" he
said, with smile, and laid it upon her
lap. Her look was thanks.
ooh dear!" she said, in little restful
tone, " l thought every one would always
think was old and homely; and thought
the room would always be lonely and dark,
and I'd never have any one to love me-"
He held out his hand to her; she took
it, and crept up to him timidly. The room
seemed all in glow of heat and dancing
lights; the broken chairs, and patched
curtains, and faded chintz were bright as
the tapestry of palace She hid her face
and felt his hand stroking her hair.
"Oh, John! john"
She knew she was never to be tired
again; she knew she was never more to
be alone.
In truthful story of such life as hers
|
of scene. l can give you no whispering
winds and deep skies, no wild flowers or
clinging moses about this quiet figure. l
must show her to you in the little room
where such as she-God help them -
must always live, and love, and suffer.
The happy months flew by quickly.
Ruth wondered, as she waited one even
ing for John, and thought over the sum-
mer, to find that July was drawing to its
golden close. She wondered also if all of
life would be as bright-looking forward,
it dazzled her.
The soft summer twilight had not yet
erept into the room when John came.
Ruth was sitting by the window. She
wore dress of purple muslin, printed
with delicate spray of white-an extra
vagance she had INDUCED in to please
John. The pink ribbon, too, was tied at
her throat. The sunlight, by some strange
mistake, had happened to slip into the
dark street on its way to the west, and
fell through the window on the little seam
stresses brown hair, and made her eyes
very happy as she turned them toward
the opening door, John stopped an in
slant with a choking in his throat when
| he saw her.
"You are early" she said, coming up
to him. 81 am afraid l shall have to
send you back" Her smile faded, how
ever, when she saw his face distinctly; it
looked pale and sad.
"Whatis it, John?"
He answered her inquiry by holding her
tightly in his arms moment, and kissing
her forehead. Then he said, "Nothing :"
and sat down by her. Ruth began to talk
in her quiet way, and he listened.
1T is so strange" she said at length,
"to know l have you always to come to-
Life is so happy now"
To her surprise he did not answer for a
moment, then covered his face with his
hands She thought she had troubled him
in some way, and looked grieved.
"Ruth, !" he said, suddenly, "could you
get along without me for while!"
" Without yOu!
81 meant mean, if I went into the
army"
Into the army, john"
GIVE been thinking great deal lately"
he said, in firm but tender voice,
"of our brave soldiers, and I do
not think it is altogether right to stay at
home.I don't think it's right. Our coun-
try needs me-ours, yours and mine, Ruth
and so I've come to you to know if you
can let me co.
She shivered, and dropped her hands in
his with bitter cry. For some moments
neither spoke. Then he said, in reverent
tone:
81 want to please God in this thing. l
think He wishes it,
81 can't, cannot give you up, John 3"
"Not for the country, RUTH"
emo one needs you as much as I; how
could be alone again."
He took her gently to him as if she had
been a child, and they talked long time
in the twilight. I cannot tell you all John
said, but his words at last aroused her. It
acas a brave heart, though it was a wo-
mans. Her face grew calm, and she lifted
it to his with smile.
You may 60"
UGOd bless Won for this nv darling 7 -