Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-09-25
" 'H"FI.LAN EDUS.
IN A TUNNEL.

THAT will do nicely" said Ruth Mayhew, re-
coiving her last package through the car window
from MIR. Perkins ON the platform.
write us how you get along Ruth. II your
aunt can spare you spell in the summer we'd
be glad to see you hum again. Oh, my here's
Mis- Curtn with u bunch of posies from her
gardn. Hurry hurry you'll be late, sure's tho
world, Mis- Curtin"
Thus spoke the group at the depot in shrill
chorus AZ the locomotive, every plate FURNISHED
and dazzling, which had simmered quietly for
minutes, started. impartng jerking wrench to
the cars, and then the long snake of train
glded smoothly away.
''She takes it iirst-rate, commented Mr.. Per-
kins. wiping his brow with red baudana hand
kerchief.
Then he climbed into his rusty carry-all. drawn
by meek whito horse the others returned
along the village street to resume separate avo-
cations, and the event of the day was over. Ruth
Mayhem had departed from the home Of her
youth, and the place would know her no more
forever
Tho struggle had been hard ono, but sho
bore it well, as Mr.. Perkins averred She did
not look once at the whito house on the hill
where death had robbed her of parents and
shelter, because even her fortitude could not be
trusted to witness the Smalla moving in. What
close sick. chamber slave of all invalid's ca
prices, and grateful for daily bread. Oh the
long dreary years, with nothing but old age in
advance
She took small pociet-mirror from her bag,
and gazed pensively into its depths. The re-
Elected image was by no means unattractive
She was not as young as she had once been, yet
her features were good, her complexion fresh,
her eyes clear, and her physique robust. More
over rhe was carefully and becomingly attired,
and her chignOu WAS of the latest style. Never
theless sigh swelled up from her heart when
she gazed in the glass, not altogether in un-
reasonable dissatisfaction with her present ap-
pearance still the past had had disappoint-
ments and the future with Amt Harriet was
without promise. Away back in the vista of
summers she behold herself, a fanciful girl,
building cloud-castles out OF the sunnlest glo-
ries One spring time was brighter and more
fragrant than the rest around ii still bloomed
flowers OF iegretful memories, blossoms with
out earthly semblance in the cold bleak climate
where Ruth lived, because it sprung from the
richest sources of humanity.
A brave young missionary had urged heed
less gir to so with him to the hot countries
among the heathen. and tho girl, to whom the
world seemed = vast treasure-house lavish of
gifts, had iouted her young missionary, and he
had silently departed without complaint, to re-
turn no more. Then Ruth had shed tears III
secret, bitterly remorseful tears, and turned
her back capriciously on the well-to-do farmers
of her acquaintance.
:" Got cinder in yer eye ?" inquired sharp
voice in our travellers car.
The latter awoke from her reverie with start
and turned to her questioner with guilty blush
suiIusing her cheek. She, Ruth Mayhem, of
middle age, caught looking i'll the glass Her
interlocutor was brisk, bright little old lady in
faded shawl and All antiquated bonnet of the
coal-scuttle pattern. She carried oh her arm a
blach silk bag which seemed to contain rnm-
tied stores of SNUFF and peppermint drops. En-
circling her withered old throat WAS a necklace
of beautiful gold beads, delicately wrought.
These beads, an heirloom in her family, de-
ecending to her through long generations had
been worn by her since carly youth, and 10
much OF superstitntion is associated with such
relics in theo mind of the possessor, that the
old lady would have dreaded immediate misfor-
tune had she lost them. Such was her child-hke
faith IN her fellow creatures that she never
dreamed of parting with her treasures.
~ can get it out quick az wink, chIld,' sue
continued, eagerly, setting hor spectacles, and
spreading out a soft silk handkerchief, with the
intention of applying it 10 Ruth's eye.
mo, thank you. 1t il nothing" said Ruth,
hastily popping the glass back into hiding
place.
Thus foiled, the old lady reapsed into silence,
although she could not remain quiet long She
jerked her head about quickly to observe differ
ent objects with Il sparrow-like motion, and be-
coming absorbingly interested in Ruth, she peer
ed AT trimmings, eyen teBtlnb Lne Quhuly Vi d
ribbon furtvely with a critical foreiinser and
thumb. Age had chiseled wrinkles, innumera-
bic fine lines, in the intelligent face, lad whit
ened the scanty hair, and robbed the sunken
mouth of teeth, yet the vital forces heemod un-
impaired. She was like queer little gray bird
hopping along to peck crumb OF Information
everywhere.
81 wonder who she is, and where sho's goin Z"
pondered the old lady, her busy brain having
unsuccessfnlly twisted Ruth around the whirl-
lng-wheel of minute investigation. Then she
bobbed up abruptly, and skipped into the seat
beside the object Of her interest with an apol-
ogetc, ''Guess I'll change my place, il you don't
mind and get out of the draught from that
winder Old folks have to DO kinder careful
about draughts."
Miss Mayhem gracously assented, and hei
neighbor was delighted with the SUCCESS OF her
stratagem.
"IIive in these parts 7" small beady eyes
twinhling all over her companion interrogatlye-
~
ayes. Have you come far?'
"Far? 1 guess 10 left my dalter's home
in Indianny day afore yesterday. I've seer
sights of things. My son.in-aw, Marthys hus
baud, is lumber merchant, you know, out West
Yes, the winters been cold, some. We hat
Bible classes and lectures, and once there can't
panoramy of New York. Jabez took me. He'
you been there? Most as good as seeing 1t fo
yourself, the panoramy was. Come home alone
Law, YES Made my way right along Ms easy at
could be. 1 stopped overnight at Montreal il
Canady, at great hotel, and the clerk gave INT
II snug little room, SOS l felt real to hum
There's big bridge-the Victory Bridge, the,
call it there. sec it. I've been good piece
on the Grand Turk Railroad too"
| Tho old laly had Travelled all this distance
safely, enjoying every hour of the journey, ant
| she was now turning her face homeward to
| farm nestled among the hills.
"My son lives i'll the other side of the house
| and does all the chores about tho farm. l taxi
| care of myself sho explained with the curiou
simplicity of anature that conided all its privat
affairs to strangers, never dreaming OF doubling
| that their interest equaled her own III discussing
their personal history.
| Ruth's sympathy was aroused Thia sympath;
| cost her dear. Three hours later she was stand
| ing alone on the crowded platform OF a larg
| railway terminus, where locomotives dashet
| frantcaly about, and anxious passengers voclf
Grated loudly with her own train disappearing
| in tho distance, and string of gold beads In he
| hand.
1t happened thus: Ruth and her new frien
hob.nobbed delightfully."-. The old lady was pal
ticularly pleased To discover that among til
mapy good things prepared for the others Jour
ney by friendly hands were crisp turn n-oVers
generous slices of dried-apple pie, and dough
nuts
'.Seems like hum" she declared, with big
of satisfaction. Couldn't git any cake nor pi
in Carady. They said they had plenty OF bee
and beer but | don't need nothin' quite