The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-09-15
THE GOLDEN WEDDING


II say, Ruth p
"Well?"
The first tone was sharp, eager, significant,
and masculine. The response was mild, Ian
guild, Indifferent, and feminine.
'Whose wagon tracks are these :"
A farmer past middle age, sunbrowned and
muscular, pointed to fresh tracks that describ-
ed circle on the earth and stretched away
in long, parallel lines.
The feminine face, pretty and girish grew
crimson as the answer was hesitatingly given
"Mr. Olcott's carriage was here this after
noon"
"1ts only fair to suppose the carriage had a
horse before it, and driver in it, remarked
the farmer, dryly. "Who drove"
"Mr. OIcott," answered the girl, with
deepening bushes.
''What does the old covey want to come
here so often for 2" inquired the farmer, tes-
tly.
Jacob" called shrill female voice from
the window, "have 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,
rebuklngly 'And you'd better hurry up, or
Mr.. Jones will be gone from the mill before
you get the grist there"
Ruth" exclaimed the man, stepping to
the girls side, and speaking in low tone, eff
see Jerome Anderson coming here | shall
put him on another track He is too good a
fellow to be triAed WITH and OIcott isn't a
circumstance"
Jacob, are you ever going to get off with
that grist p was the shrill interruption to the
man remark.
eyes, 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, tits dreadful thing"
RUTH called the shrill-voiced woman,
''come in the house. You'll catch your DEATH
cold sitting out there in the dew; and last
night you were traipsing over the wet grass
as if you wasn't subject to the quinsy and
rheumatic in your shoulder. It must be a
thousand times nicer to ride in a handsome
carriage like Mr. Olcott's"
"Yes, ma'am."
Ruth said it humbly; but the affirmation
| WOulU nave pTOVOkcu u sCUIc VI QUCltCo hdN
she been testifying on the witness stand, for
there was that in it that suggested mental
reservation.
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, and you'd be standing
in your own light to give Jerome Anderson
any encouragement when man like Mr.. o.
colt worships the very ground you walk on
Ruth made no reply. The question was
debatable. Judging from the indecslon in her
| face. She sat down at the window, and look
ed out until her mother called her.
"Whatever on earth ails the child Why,
Ruth, your sitting in the draught, and thcre,ll
be sore throat or something worse to pay =,
Ruth arose with smothered sigh and
looked at the clock. "Half past eight" she
said to herself "Father has put Jerome
Anderson on another track. He won't come
tonight"
She took work basket from the closet,
and drew up to the table where her mother
sewcd by the light of tallow candle. Ruth
snuffed the candle, and took from her work
basket some muslin and bit Of lace,
Her mother watched her closely. rs that
all the lace you bought?' she asked, in tone
that was full of calculation.
eyes, ma am; it is real" explained Ruth.
eBut it didn't take all the money p asked
Mrs. Beebe, in the same calculating tone
.sYes. ma'am. It takes great deal of
money to buy very little real lace. Aunt
| Catherine used to say person was better
dressed with a very little real lace than a
great many yards Of imitation" answered
Ruth in justification Of her purchase.
.sHumph p calculated Mrs. Beebc, some
what disdainfully. "Your aunt Catharine
has some very high notions She amt bit
like vour father. She can afford to buy real
lace if she wants it, IF I'd been in your
Mace. I'd rather had more lace for the same
money You've got some very extravagant
notions for poor girl, Ruth Ann" When
Mrs. Beebe meant to be very impressive, she
addressed her daughter as Ruth Ann.
Ruth hlpshed guilty. She was conscious
other falling in that direction. She remem-
bered how that very morning she had stood
at the counter Of the little store, trying to re-
concile those very condemned nations with
her limited ability. 1t had not been an easy
task. The notions were so extravagant and
the ability so very small, Then the ability
was so uncomprom;slng. The shillings could
not by any possibility expand themselves to
meet her tastes, and there had been no alter
native but for the tastes to succumb entirely
to the shillings.
yery triaipg thing this balancing Of lace