Middletown transcript., 1869-09-25


what her lips refused to utter, and Ernest
Stirling knows that he is unspeakably
happy.
A week after this occurrence Ruth had
her pretty eyes all swollen and red with
weeping. My darling, 1 shall only be
away month or two, and you know [ am
going that l may be able to have you for
my own wife Ruth, " he had said, and
this comforted her, and she now had all
his letters to look forward to- They came
regularly every three days and Ruth was
very happy reading those dear letters and
answering them. Ruth's grandmother
was one of those old people who, though
their health may fail and eyes grow dim,
still retain their hearts, fresh and as joy
GUS as in their youthful days. l believe
she enjoyed seeing Ruth's happiness, as
she had her own, and the long talks which
they had together, were equally pleasant
to both. Ruth's only friend near was
young girl of about her own age, and they
were tenderly attached. Annie Hall, how
ever, was in every way contrast to her
friend. Her coquettish blue eyes light
frizzed hair and her tout ensemble showed
her character. She was little butterfly
and firt, aud had graduated in ataireS du
coeur, while Ruth, she said, was sweet
simplicity itself"
One sunny morning in September these
two girls were seated in the garden of An
nies home.
Ruth, have I told you that my broth
er George is to be here tomorrow? Oh
1 want you to see him, he is so splen-
did though he is my brother. am 60
ing to bring him over tomorrow evening
to your house, so be sure you look your
best-wear your-let me sce-oh yes !!
wear your white grenadine, and scarlet
velvet in your hair, will you? Do you
know that I've pet project in my Gran
ium concerning you my dear-I want very
much 10 make a match between you and
George--wouldn it be jolly for us to be
sisters p
YES but Annie" said Ruth laughing,
''what would Ernest have to say to your
plan 7"
"Oh, pshaw. whom first we love, you
know, we seldom wed, and | don't believe
you'll ever marry that fellow. Why,
child, you should. not accept your very
first offer Mercy! would certuinly have
two at leastn' replied Annie, as if she had
had dozen at her feet.
"Do you think so? You are entirely
too firtatious, to use your own word, an
it, Now | am so sentimental and devo-
ted to MY mean Ernest that | dom t
care for anything else as long as L have
his love-"
Dear, dear, l can't understand that
Ruthie-[ should get sick and tired of
him in less than month"
So saying, Miss Annie whisked her lit
tie head round so rapidly that she entan-
gled her hair fast in the grapevine over
hanging the path. Ruth pulled and jerkcd
&c. to no purpose-and Ruth was laugh
ing and calling Annie Absoton,a, when a
very handsome young man stepped up and
exclaimed, " Well really, Miss Nancy, is
this a new way of yours to obtain grapes ?"
"Oh George, you dear fellow when
did YOU come? just rescue me and will
reward you with thousand kisses.'
George Immediately devoted himself to
the task. But discntangling was pro-
nounccd impossible, so he cut the Gordian
knot, and leaving half of the fair curl in
the vine "for the birds to make nests of, !"
as she said regardless of the display of her
ignorance of natural history, Annie rush
cd into her brothers arms. tOh, excuse
me, my duckie," said she at last, g Ruth, J.,
this is my brother, George" Ruth, re-
mcmbering Annie's plan for George and
herself, blushed as she gave him her hand
and then rccollecting her dinner must be
ready-and grandma all alone, she return
ed home.
Next morning at breakfast, Annie came
flying in just for moment, to tell Ruthie
she must wear blue ribbons, and pink rose
buds in her hair, as she had heard George
say casually last evening that he did not
like scarlet and white together!
Ruth laughed and gave the promise
and certainly she looked very sweet as she
stood before her toilet-table, arranging the
deep blush roses in her brown hair.
Ruth's beauty lay moro in the expression
than in regularity of feature. Her mouth
was perfect, and her eyes had that deep,
tender expression that We see in pictures
of the Madonna. She "wished Ernest
were here" and sighed as she remembered
how he had smoothed and praised her hair
and put the same lovely buds in it on one
ever-to-bc-remembered afternoon. Then
she thought of George. " How handsome
he is! What noble face-like and so
, unlike Annie's-the eyes, hair, and COM
plexion the same, but the expression total
ly different"
These were some Of her thoughts, but
she quickly banished them, as being in
consistent to Ernest. Moro than once
that evening these thoughts returned to
her. George devoted himself exclusively
to her, while Annie leaving them togeth-
err, like little matchmaker, as she was,
talked and laughed with "grapdma" and
| :. Uncle David"-Ruth's old bachelor up
: Gle. At eleven they took their leave, ex-
claiming at the way time flew. When
| Ruth had laid her head on her nilllnw that