Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-11-17
The Golden Wedding.
II say, Ruth !"
"Well ?"

significant, and masculine.
The response was mild, languid, in
different, and feminine.
"Whose wagon tracks are these p
A farmer past middle age, sun
Drowned and muscular, pointed to
fresh tracks that described circle
on the moist earth and stretched
away in long, parallel lines.
The feminine face, pretty and girl
ish, grew crimson as the answer was
hesitatingly given:
"Mr. Olcott's carriage was here
this afternoon"
"lts only tair to suppose the car
riage had a horse before it, and a
driver in it," remarked the farmer,
dryIy. "Who drove 2"
"Nhr. Olcott," answered the young
girl, with deepening bushes.
"What does the old covey want to
come here so often for ?" inquired
the old farmer testify.
Jacob" called a shrill female
voice from the window, shave you
taken the wheat to the mill ?"
"No: but Ruth is taking her eggs
to a very poor market" answered
the farmer shortly.
"Don't tease the child" said the
woman, rebukingly. "And you had
better hurry up, or Mr.. Jones will oe
gone from the mill before you get the
grist there"
Ruth" exclaimed the man, step
ping to the girls side and speaking
IN a low tone, "if | see Jerome An.
derson coming here [ shall put hin
on another track. He is too good a
fellow to be triaed with, and OlcOtt
isn't a circumstance"
Jacob, are you ever going to get
off with that grist ?" was the shrilI
interruption to the mans remark.
ayes, I'm going in two jerks was
the prompt reply. His voice sunk to
a whisper: Ruth, don't make work
for repentance" he said, impressively
dts dreadful thing"
Ruth" called the shrill-voiced wo.
man, "come in the house. You'll
catch your death-cold sittiug out
there in the dew; and last night you
was traipsing over the wet grass as if
you wasn't subject to the quinsy and
rheumatic in your shoulder. 1t must
be thousand times nicer to ride in a
handsome carriage like Mr.. Olcott's. j
"Yes, ma am"
Ruth said it humbly, but the affirm.
alton would have provoked q score
c, ,ve.-:e~ IL - L~~-- +~-.:r,.;~e. ON
the witness-stand, for there was that
in it that suggested mental reserva
ton.
Mrs. Beebe, the practical, sharp
sighted clear-headed woman, as she
was called, noted the manner with
displeasure. "Of course" she said
sit stands to reason that it's better
to ride than to walk, and it's better
to wear silk gowns than calico, anG
you'd be standing in your own light tC
give Jerome Anderson any encourage
ment when a man like Mr.. Olcott wor
ships the very ground you walk on"
Ruth made no reply. The ques
tion was debatable, Judging from the
indecision in her face.
She sat down at the window anC
looked out until her mother calico
her.
whatever upon earth ails thf
child! ! Why, Ruth, you're sitting il
the draught, and there'll be sore
throat or something worse to pay"
Ruth arose with a smothered sigf
and looked at the clock. "Half pas
eight = she said 10 herself. "Fatbel
has put Jerome Anderson on another
track. He won't come tonight"
She took a work basket from the
closet and drew up to the table where
her mother sewed by the light of ;
tallow-candle. Ruth snuffed the can
die, and took from her work. baske
some muslin and bit of lace.
Her mother watched her closely
ais that all the lace you bought ?
she asked, in tone that was full OF
calculation.
ayes, ma am; it is real" explaine'
Ruth.
"But it didn't take all the money :?
asked Mrs. Beebe, in the same calcU
lating tone.
eyes, ma'am. 1t takes a grea
deal of money to buy a very littl
real lace. Aunt Catharine used t
say person was better dressed wit
very little real lace than a grca
many yards of imitation" answere,
Ruth, in justification OF her purchase
"Humphr' calculated Mrs. Beebt
somewhat disdainfully. "Your aun
Catharine has some very high notions
: She amt bit like your father. Sh
; can afford to buy real lace, if sh
wants it. If I had been in you
place, I'd rather had more lace fo
the money. You've got some yer
extravagant notions for a poor cir
Ruth Ann"
, When Mrs. Beebe meant to be yer
impressive, she addressed her daugI
ter as Ruth Ann.
Ruth blushed guiltily. She wa
conscious of her failing in that dire
ton. She remembered how that ver
7 morning she had stood at the countt
: Of the little village store, trying
reconcile those very condemned n
= tions with her limited ability. 1t ha
not been an easy task. The noliol
. were so extravagant, and the abilil
| II