The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-09-15
STAUNTON VIRGINIA, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15 1870

IS at home; and If l was a bird I'd rather
have the poorest, homeliest nest an honest
bird could build me, than Olcott's cage with
its golden bars. That's my opinionp'
ooh, Jacob, you are so set in your no
tion!'' exclaimed Mrs. Beebe. "And here
is Ruth signing and longing for things every
day that you cant afford to buy her. Just
look, Jacob, at that little piece of lace !"
Ruth would buy the real stuff She don't APP
prove ofimitations. There's a pretty girl for
poor mans wife, tell you, Jacob, men
don't understand these thin s."
Jacob Beebe sighed ''Lace is not the
worst want in the world" he said, in an un-
1ertone. "And hope Ruth will remember
that the love OF married woman ought to be
the real stuff and no imitation. Wives can
get along better without lace than love. Are
you going to your cousins wedding?" he
asked, turning to Ruth.
eyes, sir" answered Ruth "Mothcr
thinks [ had better, aud am trimming my
DRESS"
And you want more lace?" asked the far
mer gravely, as the colored servant called
Mrs. Becbe into the kitchen.
''Its little scaut, but I don't mind much :"
answered Ruth, looking up with feeble
smile.
Il wish could afford" began the far
mer
Ruth stopped him. Il don't mind Bit
she said and her smile was brave now as she
put her arms around her fathers neck
Don't think of it again. [ don't care"
Farmer Beebe smoothed his child's hair
tenderly. You're good girl, Ruth, he said,
with trembling voice. Don't let them
spoil you"
| Mrs. Beebe came in, and Ruth took her
candle and went up stairs.
jacob" said Mrs Beebe, sharply, when
they were alone, you're enough to try the
patience of saint as I've told you before
Here [ am trying to do all can for Ruth
Ann, and you just upset all do by your un-
reasonable talk against Mr. Olcott. 1t isn't
doing justice by you child nor me. IF Ruth
Ann ever makes any body she won't have her
father to thank"
Jacob snufed the candle and picked up
the Bible. The act was strangely like his
daughters an hour before. Experience had
taught them both to avoid unequal warfare
with this woman.
VITe J1C6kC> II WCuC luto tAiC httCH-
en- to look after affairs for the night She
knew better than to hope to draw him out Of
the silence wherein he had iptrcnched him
self
And Jacob read his Bible, his eyes fixed
on one verse on the open page When his
wife was gone he read aloud: "Visiting the
iniquities of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation-''
He stopped there with groan. YES" he
commented 81 suffer for my fathers wrong
and my child suffers for niue God help US !"
Ruth Becbe stood in crowded city parlo,s
watching the throng around her There was
much to please Ruths fancy The simmer
of the silks, the glitter of the jewels, the fra
GRANGE of the flowers, the music. the brilliant
lights were very beautiful in her estimate
There was stir at the door, aud the ushers
cleared the way for the bridal party For
moment Ruth saw nothing but the trailing
satin and flowing lace, the orange blossoms
and the pearls Then her eyes sought the
bridegroom, little, hard faced, and wrinkled
man. She started visibly, aud glanced to the
corner where stood young man with a look
of intense scorn on his handsome features
Ruth remembered her cousin Nelle's words
in confidential mood: II shall never love
man as love Walter Dwight" The young
scornful face in the corner was Walter
and obedience to this dark faced and wrinkled
man. Ruth shuddered as her fathers words
came to mind 'The love of married wo-
man ought to be real stuff and no imitation"
She looked around and listened Cougratu
lations had commenced In the centre of the
room and rippled into gossipy waves in the
corners Ruth gathered that the groom was
as rich as Jew; that the BRIDES silks would
stand alone; that her laces were fine as cob
webs and rare as guinea gold; that the
yrooms past life would not bear close scrui-
nv; that the brid was listless and Indifferent
that m t-.eif.A
She heard no more watching her cousins
white face as Walter Dwight approached
81 How could she do y Was her involuntary
thought-and then she checked herself in
self condemnation. Suppose she married
Hmm phrey Olcott- what better was she?
Ruth never lost sight of the white face in
the supper and dancing and merriment tina:
followed Even when the bride and guests
and caterers and musicians were gone and all
the house was still, as she sat upon the floor
with her chestnut hair falling in unbound
beauty, and the simple white dress laid off,
the brides pale face haunted her still She
closed her eyes to shut out the sight, and stop
ped her ears to drown the words of the ser
vice: @ Until death do us part" A lifetime.
She hardly thought SO far A girls thoughts
go so little beyond the wedding day, the bri-
dal trousseau, the gifts, the first establishment
as mistress of home. She ignores so total
ly the plain common days that follow-days
like those in past, full of vexations and trials
days when the sun is hidden and the winds
blow from the east, when the nerves are all
unstrung and tribes become tests of temper,
when men and women lay off their social ar
NOR, and stand revealed to each other with
| all their weakness and ittlcness and blemi.hes
uncovered Ruths thoughts grew personal
Humphrey Olcott and a life time! \ ears OF
fading and growing old Years of pain and
grief, perhaps She began to have faith in
her fathers words: Wives can get along
better without lace than love- She almost
resolved to make sure of the love it she miss
en- the lace and, gir-like, fell asleep before
the question was quite settled.
There was golden wedding in the neigh
borhood of Farmer Beebe's. 1t was not much
of an affair." the couple were too simple and