Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-05-12
THE LITTLE DRRSS-MAKER.

la1 LII L u lbs Iii q h Lii,
''Do you really love me, Charley?''
DO | really live and breathe?' Now
Ruth, whats the use OF asking such an abb
surd question as that, when you know per-
fectiy well that | don't belong to myself at
all. I'm slave-a miserable, atject cap
tive in the chains of your sweet eyes and
gentle words-and, what's more, | haven t
the least desire for grain of my lost fee-
dom.
''Nonserse, Charley"
But Ruth Murray said Nonsense" in a
tone that clearly meant the very best of sense;
and Mr. Charles Trevor took advantage Of
the eoquettish sylIables accord ngly.
They were sitting in the library of the fine
Old country house. with a bright fire tlazing
on the hearth, and the bay window, curtained
with warm, crimson folds just revealed !.
glimpse Of clear orange twilight belted with
the silver crescent of the new moon. You
could not distinguish much from The flicker
Ing uncertain light; but the eye of ro-
maucist IS supposed to be preternatuially
gifted and the pen Of the r0mancist in no
way deyiateS from the truth in saying that
Charles TrevGr va, tall, aud dark, and hand
some, with wavy black hair. and frank lips,
and eyes where the brown shadows melted
almost imperceprih,y into velvet blackneSs
Aud Ruth Murray-what shall we say of
her, as she sits there on The sofa with the
caprciouS Gre gieap's 6prring in lines ofIigh;
Up and doAn tie bucle trimming of her pi-
1tantvelvet jacket.and occa -ionally pausing
TO mirror themselves rcAcrti-cly in the
fluid blue depths Of her lovely eyes? What
can We say? Onh tiat she was very small
and very plump, with long brown eyela>hcs.
and lips red end ripe Is strawberries, aud
halr like golden water stirred into fantastic
rnples by summer evening winds. Gnlr
That She was wonderfully pretty and coquet-
tsh withai, a. most pretty Gigls are apt to
be. Isn't that enough?
Charley, she said. t;,crehtfully play
mg with one OF the sparkling buttons of her
Iaeket-''l 10 believe that you love me
bqt | am afraid that your sentiments viii
Undergo an alteration when you know-that
that"
That wha;?'
i ought to have told you before, fal.er
e Ruth, coloring yiviily, and seeming to
shrink away from the ruddy shine of the
IRE only.
He'll ne what, darling ?"
That | am onl-- . droSs,,.I.or
You dressmake-I And visiting at
Earlley Place ~
ha'e Wariiey and I we're school com
f1a'ns, Charley. and she was very kind,
all ,.e promised to tell nobody, lest peo-
s"aa-i be eoiI to met"
Sop a minute, Ruth, " said Mr.. Trevor
aiiH ask the question because the f ct
Il's Que whit's difference ia our relations
toward one another, only l was taken lit
'e 'g trrri~e aS it were 4 dressmakcr.
DE E'12 Wen, Ruth, [ shouldn't care i'll
you were crossing sweeper. | love you.
1@I l'at gui;e enough for me. "
an' Charley, I an poor and obscure.
hat Of Jhat? I'm not rich by any
@ean', but | am fully capable of working
~ 0oih OF Us and as for being poor and /.
O'>si7e. Why, veil try and see if We cannot
'.l,- ourselves name in the world, Ruth. /
,r But you are not obscure, Charles. The /
IIs'oT+ s'anl high in the circles of fashion. /
lam. '''''1 -.'''' II ''''S ''''i' q 'no
What them"
y by. the world will say that you made
sH@esiir,cer r'
And what care I for the worlds verdict.
= = ionE a am happy in your love? Little /
I''',-' What sort Of mercenary do you take
r'-,. ~s I.r; l love you and I'm going to marry
mere vas glitter suspiciously Ike tears
r 'as long eye!ashes, as Ruth felt Charles
, .Ly'aT 5 loving glance resting on her face.
s~ ,D- ''a iii!e hand stole softly into his with
al lhe'n-cious confding movement
marley said Ruth, in soft, stiaed
I'VE l 1t try to be good wife to YOU"
ana then-oh, strange, inscrutaLle heart
y. "onan-Rurh Murray cried, just be-
--',se she was 50 very happy.
ana the next day the gay country house
.o.s''e broke up, all the guests going their
,Is,a ,I's'aI ways, and owning, one to another,
-' ,hey had delightful time and the
+; eLapter IN their book of fashionable
'pa'lon commenced, while Ruth Murray
-, .a' nome to house with shop, where
brs..-oGre be bore the words, Miss Mackensie,
:, ue bright January sunshine was turning
n: n. trusted snow to diamonds, and making
Mss haekensic shabby carpet look half a