The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-23
of the college catalogue helped me to place
ROb's home toward the far north.

were nv next questions; and here the acute
female intellect might have drawn shrewd
conclusions from my aunt's cautious, cynical
replies, and perhaps connected them with
Miss Clara's llstless, distracted air.
But the reader doubtless understands that
the scenes and incidents heretofore recorded,
as we'll as others to be presently set forth,
were made known to the writer at period
considerably subsequent to their actual oc-
currence. Otherwise he would have be-
thought him at this juncture to communicate
little circumstance calculated to dispel with
magic cogency the worst symptoms of GER
tain distemper, and cause the mind of a we'll
regulated young woman to recover instantly
its normal tone. / mean the circumstance of
my friends engagement, which l might with
out much difficulty have resuscitated from
my memory 1.-THE idiot had engaged himself
before he left off Jackets, and even drawn g
tolerable likeness of rosy-cheeked, bustling
lass, who, on class-day, danced with lively
interest and sense of proprietorship in Master
Bob's concerns.
While was Illuminating on Aunt Tyrrell's
equivocal demeanor, and my knswoman, by
sheer want of confidence, lost the comfort
and healing virtues of a timely word, Mr..
Lyon was rapidly nearing the natal village.
which proved to be--as l guessed in New
Hampshire, and was, in fact, no other than
the township of Conway, in thei county OF
Carroll. 1t was late at night when he
reached the quiet station which lay nearest
the farm. and, leaving his traps on the secure
platform, set out cheerily to walk home.
How we'll he knew the road! There was
the red school house, and the Baptist church,
and clump of naples at the Four-corners.
That was the Saco humming on his left,
threading the meadows, and feeding the pool
above Squire Aliens mill; and here were
sheep on the upland-Ruth's sheep, perhaps
asleep in the dry June weather. West and
north rose familiar hills, clothed to the peak
with pines and hemlocks, kneeling, it seemed,
before the mountain lords that reared above
them their bare heads, gaunt and weird
enough in the moonlight, and hid somewhere
in their shadow the wonders of the haunted
Notch.
He sped thel CLEAN of candle-in the
keeping-room, no doubt-as he swung open
fanked with sunfowers and hollyhocks.
"That is Ruth darnfng and mending-faith
full soulv' he thought, letting the clapper fall
against the door, and Ruth, indeed, it was,
who trotted forward in great amaze, thrust
back a bolt nervousy, stared second doubt
fully in his eyes then caught him in a warm
embrace.
SIS it you, Bob-really you?" cried the
eager girl. "Come to the lght-let me see
your ldCeg Oue leu ullu W Cuo loW'Cchcu
room, where all looked spruce and prim, and
neat as wax. ''Why, how you've grownp'
she said, scanning her cousin with admiring
eyes. "You've got beard, too-a great
brown beard. Is it the fashion, Bob, in for
eign parts? What haven't you seen and
donel And is it true, Bob-do they give you
heaps of money for bits of canvas like that
you sent US from France? How much now?
come"
'How are you all? said bewildered Robin.
''How's little Nell?"
'sLittle-why she's a woman, Bob Where
is she ?-Nelie?" And excited Ruth ran in
to the passage to bid her sister dress quickly,
and come down speedily, and welcome some
body who had come home to his friends at
last.
And then modest Robin was again inspect
ed, and marvelled over and catechised, and
presently in bounced Nellie, a gamesome,
sprightly lassie-aDd flung two plump arms
about his neck; and Ruth made tea, and
woke up Reuben the hind (hired help she
called him) and dispatched him to fetch the
great mans luggage, and Nellie filled Bob's
pipe, and gave him currant wine, and alto
gether there was joy and festivty, that night
in the Lyon homestead.
Nobody could help liking Ruth Lyon, who
marked the kind, firm mouth, and honest
eyes, or watched her earnest, matronly ways.
A little too brisk, too careful and practical,
you may think, with scarce sentiment or leis-
ure enough to play the role of sweetheart,
but no such doubt or cavil occurred to those
who, like Cousin Bob, knew the story Of her
loyal lite.
He ran it over, lying awake by and by in
the best bedroom, and noting the bright
woodwork, spotless curtains, quilted cover
let and other vouchers of Ruth's housewifery.
He remembered his introduction to the farm,
when his father, the genius of the family
poor, luckless, abortive, rustic genius. we
have all seen Notwithstanding finally to
strong drink and disappointment, left nothing
behind him but fretful wife and sturdy boy.
He could see his uncle-plain, oyerworked,
kindly man-tending the wid 5segg5;is sRn piaints,
lasted patient aTa Is Buy Bob books, and put
thy the lad to Exeter school, flor the son of
a genius must have advantages and at last
throwing up in his turn the hard task of liv-
ing. And then Ruth, a mere girl, not seven
enteen yet, with big, barren farm, ill-stocked
and mortgaged, and little sister on her
hands, taking up the burden quietly and sing
ly-Bob should never forego his college and
the chance of a fair career-wringing from
those reluctant acres independence and COM
fort, and even profit. Was it not a fine,
brave thing. he thought, and could heart of
man wish more generous comrade, or help
meet more efficient and true? And Cousin
Ruth had waited for him all these years, an d
now he was come home to marry her. They
would be married at once. That, at least,
was certain in an uncertain world-fixed and
certain as that he would finish Miss Tyrrelrs
picture, and forward it as per contract, with
in a week.
dare say it incommoded Ruth to sacri-
flee her capacious store-room, which, happen
ing to open from Bobs bed chamber and to
possess skylight. was at once promoted to
the function of atelier; but she proceeded
cheerfully to transfer her household stuff,
slowing 1t away in hooks and pigeon-holes,
merely craving permission to leave some
strings of dried apples which depended from
the rafters. She could not find it in her
heart, however, to rebuke the kitchen-maid,
who bewailed Justify the confscation of her
clothes-horse $50 she termed drying.frame)
and probably Ruth condemned in secret the
perversion of that machine to art purposes.
But she esteemed it her plain duty to further
Bob's wishes, and forestall them if she could
so when he had rugged tolerable easel and
got fairly to work, Ruth eDjoined the utmost
quiet on her subjects, and strove to compass
the death-like silence which she presumed
congenial to aesthetic toll.
1t was shock, therefore, to the well.mean-
ing girl, when she stole in on tip-toe to an
nounce the midday meal, to find Nellie at
Bob's elbow, giggling and prattling right moi
silly, and daubing strip of canvass with en-
thusiasm. Ruth disliked to scold, but some
reprimand seemed necessary.
"Why will you be so thoughtless, Nell?.'
she said. Look at all that fine paint wasted
How can Bob keep his wits with such
dinp'
80, let her stay" said the artist "Talk-
ing don't tease me; rather helps this sort of
work"
''Does it?' said Ruth, astounded, and be-
ginning to find small difference between such
work and play. sWhy, Mr.. Greathead, the
Baptist minister, locks himself up for days
when he writes sermons"
"Thats what makes them so musty," said
prcfane Bob. "But come here, Ruth; what
do you think of this? '' and he pointed to
Miss Tyrrelrs portrait.
81 think she's lovely" protested Nellie,
who had bestowed close attention on the
young lady's toilet. ''See how she does up
her hair; and the ruff around her neck-I