Middletown transcript., 1873-09-27


and more ignorant brethren. David
Saunders represented this class in Thorn
dale, aud before the little phac,on was
fairly out Of the yard. he had informed
dozen people that ''that was the chsp who
had come on after the old deacon and Miss
Ruth, aud all hands we're going to loavc
Thorndals that very week. lie believed
he lived somewhere in the South, end be
guessed he was rich-shouldn't wonder at
all il hs was going to marry little Ruth 4"
The minister heard every word Of tho
foregoing sentence as he came down the
church steps. Ordinarily he gave little
heed to anything Saunders reported, ex-
cept to feel amused at the fellows mania
for ncws-telling. but now every word fell
on his heart with oh. such cold lcaden
weight Ruth going away from Thorn.
dale. The sweet face to vanish forever
from the humble wing pew-thc face
which had, more than he himself knew
been his inspiration to al! earnest work
to all lofty thought.
And then, against his own good sense.
against bis faith in Ruth, he fell to specu-
lating on tue probable truth Of Saunders
prophecy that she would marry this man.
tor whom just ut this nomcu, he did not
entertain u feeling exactly becoming a
minister oi the gospel Of good will to men.
| he short winter twilight was fast fad
ing out in the west, and long dusky
columns wheeled down the bare deSolato
valleys, anu g,rt the hills aud woods with
\ trcmulOus shadows, when Francis Brad.
ford crossed with long, nervous s,rides the
meadow, beyond which stood tho old
I Stone homestead. There was simmer
! lng glow OF yellow light against the high
narrow windows, und coming nearer, his
\ eyes rcstlag on a charming picture. a
broad open fireplace, with brlgut wood
lire ieaplng and curling up us great
throat. aud rejecting Itself over on the
/ polished surface ut the grea, brass
andlfous; and before il, rocking drcamliy
to aud iro, her sweet face lathcd with its
tosy glow, sat Kuth-nis E4lh. For il
that moment all the pent-up love he had
been trying these last few months to tram.
pie out, sprang up within him, very
giant that wouii not be stayed.
Another moment aud Ruth Clifton :
startled and blushng face was held against
his breast, his arms folding her ia pas.
/ sloua,e embrace.
Ruth, | g'R not give you up--if you
leave Ihorndale | will not stay h.re
twenty tour hours - he cried brealh,essly
coming eagerly into the room. - Ruth.
! tr YOU will hot leave mc-you will hot
confirm this cruel report that you are to
go away with hin-this stranger saw
you with, Sunday? r his heat growing
heavy at the quick blush that dyed the
fair face, aud the family -exutant look
tha, he had noticed before IN the church
III you mean Mr.. Gfantly, am proud
aud happy too, to say that both grand
father and myself have promised to SO to
/ his pleasant Southern hume with him Il,
soon as few necessary arrangements can
be made, . sue responded quietly, yet with
n littls cxulant thrill in the steady voice
"Thorudale society will not be likely 10
miss me greatly, | fancy. But had it
been otherwise than it has, the fact that
il will make dear grandiather's declining
daya easy aud pleasant, is enough to make
me glad, aud willing to 20 "
Francis Bradford was standing apart
now, his arms folded his face white aud
grave.
Ruth he said, after momcnt oI
sonber silence, Il will not ccnsurc you
bn, God grant sou may never know III,
pain you are giving me. hope he may
make you as happy as | had hoped to d
i cannot say more
His strong voice filtered. and be had
turned half away, when Ruth ,prang to
hi, side. her eyes shining, her face
radiant
80 Francis VIA, do yon-what car
you mean = she cried "As il he-as i
anybody could ever take yom. place Aud
Mr. Grantley has a wife and three child
ren besides" AMI laughing little TO hid,
the embarrassment ms eager glance CAV,
her, she added. II have never heard o
his being Mormon, aud anu quito sure
i, is Virginia, aud NOT ittt, whore b,
proposes tn take Us.
Rn,hie--uy darling = was the quicl
rapturous cry. and then we'll, no mat
ter What followed couldn't be half a,
interesting to YOU us to the parties con
cerued. ii should tell it,
We'll. the whole story came out. aftel
Deacon Stone and Ruth had been gone
few days, ard the old homestead sat darl
ami deserted ovsrblcwn With drifting
winds aud SHOWS And this was ia,
story:
More than twenty-five years ago. wher
Robert t'rantleg was young struggling
merchant, there came period of inancia
distress. He had no wealthy friends /,
| ail HIM and with sinkin. heart ha q, a
one after another going down ahon, him
aud the way before him growing darke
and darker every day, At length 'hcr,
came crisis--a day when the heaven
we're shrnuded, and hope died utterly ou
Of his heart. Deacon Stone. then one o
the wealthicst men in Thorhdac, cam,
into his office on somo sort Of business
and somehnw. he never quite knew how
succeeded in getting the whole story o
| his tr,nkirs anil dial aartu,epts fra,, hin,