Middletown transcript., 1873-09-20
MDpEYowN COUNTY, DELAWARE SATURDAY MORNING.

link swinging on . swsying bough Of the
great olm by the garden gate. and i,nprov-
ed upon 10 perfect torrent Of jinglisg,
rat,ling. joyous song.
Deacon Stones face frightened, and
his trcmulcus hand involsntsrily closed
over the little firm fingers resting on his
srm. God bless you forever and ever"
little Ru,hie. he whispered. in = husky
voice.
Ruth smiled brigh " up in bis face,
and opened the gatc--a low. rustic con-
trivance. consisting Of a cross-piccc. with
q narrow strip Of joist top and bottom.
aud held together BY a rope fastened at
opposite corners. with a large stone tied
in the centre. The garden ran straight
un to the house. with a high picket fence
on either side. In the centre wns brick
walk--or rather there hud been one once
Nov. the vigorous tufts Of white clover
and knot-grnss. with here and there u
.none-so. pretty" almost entirely con-
cealed the broken aud suukon bricks -
Al each side Of tho path was row OF
sweet red and white pinks. and at the end
Of them. under the high. narrow windows.
alternate clumps Of daffodils and damssk
roses All the rest was green's xnrd. aud
this sunny June day. Of soft exquisite
green, shading from dark to golden as the
sunshine sifted here and there through
the branches Of the stately old elm.
Ruth slipped Of her gloves and picked
little handful Of pnks as she went slow. /.
ly up the path. Her grandfather had
gone on 10 the house and she was quite
alone, when suddenly murmur Of voices
struck on her ear. and. looking up, with
start, she espied Della Warner. Lucy
May and Mr.. Bradford, walking lrisurely
along t he meadow path. and almost oppo.
site the house. They had. apparently
discovered her at the same moment, fl
they looked up quickly. and involuuiarily
lowered their voices. Obcying her first
impulse. Ruth bowed to the young ladies
both Of whom gave her cool stare, and
the very faintest possible inclination o
the head a- they rus'lcd by in their Gle.
giant spring silks
A vivid flush ovcrsprend the pretty sen
sitve face, aud the sweet lips ,rcmLled n
moment Then voice from within called
"Rn,hic,' in snch strange unnatural
tone that everyihing else was forgotten. as
in sudden alright, she hurried into lh,
house.
"Grandfaihcr." she called. There VA.
no answer, only faint moan from til,
/ kitchen
\ moment more. and Ruth was knnel.
ing OF the floor. trying to lit the limp,
neryelcss form Of her grandfather in hen
arms. lie had been sitting in the door.
way and had fallen back into the room hi.
feet still resting on the broad grass.fringed
doorsions
20 grandfather speak TO me- she
cried, breaking in,o tears. aud again ss.
saying to lift the insensible form
= Le, me assi,t.,ou. Miss Clifton" said
strong qnic, yoice--ihe voice Of the new
minist.rat her side aud without waiting
for her 10 answer, pair Of muscular arm,
lifted the old mau as II he had been an in
fant Now whore shall We put him tha,
he will get the most air Have you
large COOL room with n bed in it,
Without speaking Ruth threw open the
door ihio thc 'north room. a great shad
owy-laoking apartment. in one corner o
which the spare bed had stood from
time iluincnotial
Just the thing. only a ,rihe close =
OPEN tue north window please. aud brn,
,nn,c cold water. he said. laying dawi
hi. burden on the white lavender scented
bed
70 Mr.. Bradford, is my grandfathc
goisg to die Ruth asked sharply. he
natural awe Of "the minister" Us we'll a
her recent modification completely swal
lowed up 10 anxiety aud alaru.
Il think not-l see nothing to indicate
such an event Il is nothing mora than
fain,ing fit. am quite sure" he said. /,
snch n quiet assured tone that Ruth re
gained her usual composure Immediately
and went quietly aud defly to work 70
his restoration.
1t was time for the afternoon service
however. before he was so far recovered a
Ia speak though he smiled foudly whe
bis eyes rested ON his grand daughter, an
pressed the hand of the young minis,e
warmly when he tonk his departure. .whic
he did with no small degree Of reluctance
Il shall sec this picture before my eye
all service time he said. looking dow
at Ruth as she knelt. very pale aud still
by the side Of the whise- haired old mar
who every now and then passed his hun
+, cares.iugly over hers.
lift you could come in this ever
ing Ruth sta,nnered. feeling her fac
, grow hot. I'VE are 40 alone here .theug
never though, of j. when grandfathc
was we'll"
!, "Certainly. Mi.s Clifton" h. respond
ed in n hearty voice Il should have com
, for my own sake. il you had no, spoke
Of your need am. aud shall be yer
:, anxious about Father Stone until | see hi
i face in its accustomed place a, church"
: Then be shook hands with her in sue
4 friendly, cordial way. aud had morcov,
, such an atmosphere Of healthy vi,ali,
l.. L. II 4