Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03

needless girl to 60 with him to the hot
countries among the heather, and the
! girl, to whom the world seemed a vast
treasure-house lavish of gifts, had fout-
ed her young missionary, and he had
silently departed without complaint to
return no more. Then Ruth had shed
tears IN secret, bitterly remorseful tears,
and turned her back capriciously on the
Well-to-do farmers of her acquaintance.
Got a cinder in yer eyer" inquired a
sharp voice in our travellers ear.
The latter awoke from her reverie with
a start, and turned to her questioner
with guilty blush suffusing her cheek.
She, Ruth Mayhem, Of middle age,
caught looking IN the glass! Her inter
locutor was brisk, bright, little old lady
IN faded shawl and an antiquated bon
net OF the coal-scuttle pattern. She car
RED on her arm black silk bag, which
| seemed to contain unlimited stores of
snuff and drops. Encircling
her withered old throat was a necklace
of beautiful gold beads, delicately
wrought These beads, an heirloom in
her family, descending to her through
long generations, had been worn by her
since early youth, and SO much of super
stition is associated with such relics in
the mind Of the pOssessor that the old
| lady would have dreaded immediate mis-
! fortune had she lost them. Such was her
| childlike faith in her fellow creatures
/ hot no =
| her treasures
/ can get it out quick as a wink,
child" she continued, eagerly, settling
her spectacles and spreading out her soft
silk handkerchief, with the intention of
applying it to Ruth's eye
No, thank you. 1t is nothing said
Ruth, hastily popping the glass back into
a hiding-place.
Thus foiled, the old lady relapsed into
silence, although she could not remain
quiet long. She jerked her head about
quickly to observe different objects, with
a sparrow-like motion, and, becoming db-
sorbingly interested in Ruth, she peered
at trimmings, even testing the quality Of
a ribbon furtively with critical fore
finger and thumb. Age had chiseled
wrinkles, innumerable fine lines, in the
intelligent face, had whitened the scanty
hair and robbed the sunken mouth Of
teeth, yet the vital forces seemed unim-
paired. She was like queer little gray
bird hopping along to peck a crumb of
information everywhere.
L. 1. }.
goin'?" pondered the old lady, her busy
brain having unsuccessfully twisted
Ruth around the whirling-wheel Of mi
mute investigation. Then she bobbed
up abruptly and skipped into the seat
beside the object Of her interest with an
apologize, Guess I'll change my place
if you don't mind, and get out of the
draught from that winder Old folks
have to be kinder keerful about
draughts."
Miss Mayhem graciously assented, and
her neighbor was delighted with the
success of her stratagem.
Live in these parts?" small, beady
eyes twinkling all over her companion
interrogatively.
Yes. Have you come far?"
Ear? [ guess SO! I left my darter's
home in Indianny day afore yesterday.
I've seen sights of things. My son-in-
law, Marthy's husband, is lumber mer-
chant, you know, out West. Yes, the
winters been cold, some. We had Bible
classes and lectures, and once there
camn q panoramu of Now VorI~ Tobo,
took me. Hev you been there? Most as
good as seeing it for yourself, the piano.
RAINY was. Come home alone? Law,
yes Made my way right along as easy as
could be. l stopped over night at Mon
treal, in Canady, at a great hotel, and
the clerk gave me snug little room SOS
felt real to hum. There's big bridge
the Victory Bridge they call it there.
| see it. I've been a good piece on the
Grand Turk Railroad too"
The old lady had traversed all this dis
lance safely, enjoying every hour of the
journey, and she was now turning her
face homeward to a farm nestled among
the hills
My son lives in the other side of the
house and does all the chores about the
farm. take care of myself" she ex-
planned, with the curious simplicity of a
nature that contided all its private affairs
to strangers, never dreaming of doubling
that their interest equaled her own in
discussing their personal history
Ruth's sympathy was aroused. This
sympathy cost her dear. Three hours
later she was standing alone on the
crowded platform of a large railway
terminus, where locomotives dashed
frantically about, and anxious passep-
gers vociferated loudly, with her own
train disappearing in the distance, and a
string of gold beads in her hand
1t happened thus: Ruth and her new
friend hobnobbed delightfully."-. The old
lady was particularly pleased to discover
that among the many good things pre-
pared for the others journey by friendly
! hands were criSD tIlrD-oVerS Oenarouc