The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-09-20

mad asked me TO marry you, then You
+, could weave me such a gift, but we are
young and want only flowers and fresh
beauty"
They said good bye, and ere the tears
had dried on Ruth's cheeks her father was
crippled, hopelessly, tor life. Then came
the weary consultations OF surgsons the
same sad rspy. Travelling fron one place
70 another seeking aid, at last 20 come
home to rest aud stay until the poor
manned body should be carried rsy TO
its narrow bed, in that low thaschez cot
tsge none enter but the dead. Mr.. Hsz.
lett knew nothing of the letter Ruth
wrote, of the womsuly words OF parting OF
cheery 81 must be e.l 10 all to my father,
and no man should have 8 vile whose
htart, hands and services sre not all for
nim. as long as my father lives, / mnst
be to him what he has been to me since my
mothers death gsve him the burden of her
child, but as he has borne il low
ingly, teDderly, unregre.fully, so shall
l." There were some words OF regret,
that welled up from the woman's heart
that could not be denied, Dut they were all
decided and weighed before they were
written. They were finsl. Again and
agsin Mr.. Marshall begged her to recon-
slider her course, but All was unavailinR.
and after awhile his visits aud his letters
grew less frequent, and then ceased alto
gether. That was years ago, snd she bsd
neither seen nor heard from him for so long
that until to-day she did not know whether
be was living or dead. She was very lonely
she missed her father; she had been loyal
to her trust and her heart ached for the
gentle, kind voice and earess that had
taken all the bitter pain from her life of
renuncia ion. The house seemed close, and
wrapping her shawl around her she went
across lots to the woods. Her black dress
touched the fallen leaves, and here aud
there one clung to the hem, as If to bright
en- up the sombre gsrb. Fifteen years
since she had been here with Garrett Mar
shall, since she bad been as ligbthesrted
and gay as the veriess bu teIfy poising on
the lip OF purpls asteru by the brook. So
little OF romance had been hers, so little of
excitement, so much was she thin king of
him that IL seemed natural when she had
heard be was coming to see her. She
knew not when, only that hs had told a
friend, who had spoken OF it incidentally
before she left that morning. She saw
him as be came up The winding path
from the village, to her door, aud after a
moment's talk with her servant, turn and
start towards ths well-remembered way
that led to the grove. She remembered
when his form was 1.-THE, nov IL was erect,
but with weight OF the worlds care upon
it. The gray was shoWi6g in the dark
hair and in the full besrd, and the full
ness OF lime had marred the fresh-
ness OF bis cheeks and OF the broad brow.
He came TO her with esgerness and love,
and gathered the poor, lonely little body
to him aud kissed the face that he had
never forgotten. They talked long and
earnestly of the past. sad y of her loss, but
hope ully OF the future. He plead with
her that there might be no delay 10 their
marriage, but tnat it take place imme-
dlstely.
Yes, will not make you wait again for
the June roses, @ Iregt. The spring time
with Is flowers has passed long since. 1t
is autumn now for u, and we will be
married before the SHOWS of winter. I
remember when told you that only old
maids should wear autumn leaves, and L
certainly claim the privilege my own Sool-
ish lips accorded me. Bus better an
autumn afternoon of perfect love and
nope than the capricious brightness of an
April morning." And In the soft lace at
her throat, among the folds of gray silk,
Ruth Hazlett pinned the tiny leaves of
dark brown and scarlet when she stood be-
fore the minister Garrett Msrsnsll's bride.