New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-16

full handy to the shop and mill" a. his
foreman said. Ruth meanwhile taught
school in Noppit Center, halfway between
old Noppit and Hillside; boarding in the
family of q master carpenter. by the name
of Heale, who had brought her over tonight
with his wife, for George had to go thirty
miles west the next morning to settle a lum'
Der contract, and was not able to take her
himself; 40 be tucked her up in the sleigh
beside Mrs. Heale, and said reluctant
good night Now, Mrs. Heale certainly had
as much claim to ne called the mother OF
mischief as the proverb says midge's Wig
has, though che was by NO means 80 small.
Nature had given her full measure; her
figure, unlike most American women, was
full and plant, and even graceful; her rose
and white ellin showed her English descent
as we'll as the large blue eyes and red gold
hair that wound Its waves about her head
and parted in little rings over her smooth
low brow; full red lips with an uncertain
curve finished this peculiar face; nobody
could deny that Mrs. Heale was awful
pretty loOkin'," but nobody ever called her
"a real pretty woman'-that true Yankee
idiom which have heard applied to a female
with parchment skin, gOoseberry eyes, ana
lantern Jaws, who was saint upon earth-if
there ara any. Neither was Mrs. Heale a
popular woman. for Noppit Center distrnsted
her. She had made more than one small mis-
chief there, being woman OF rampant
vanity, no t,uthfulness, Jealous and greedy;
though By no means devoid OF certain
aetueness and considerable executive ener'
gy No children occupied her leisure hours,
she did not like children; so she took three Or
four boarders, and kind or otherwise, over
looked their affairs. Among these was Ruth
Nav. Now Mrs. Hesls liked to be admired,
extremely. She knew she was handsome,
she thought herself fascinating, and she al
most hated George Wilbur because he never
looked at or spoke to her more than courtesy
demanded. but devoted himself to that little
thing who could not, to Use Mrs. Heale's
own phrase sholi candle to her own
beauty. So she set herself to work to
trouble him if she could. and dropped here
and there, in Ruths hearing, but net to
her. little contemDiuou remarks, and Gu
bious opinions, and half sentences, till in
spite If the girls real. loyal affection tor
George, there was sore spot in her
heart that her subtle tOrmentOr did not SUIT
fer to heal.
This woman's husband was great honest
fellow, who adored his wife as spaniel
does its master. Clumsy and kind, he
waited on and worked tor her, thought her
perfsc.. and supposed erybody else did.
and was as good to little Ruth as if lie had
been her brother.
An the way lone from the donation par
ty Mrs. Heale cOntcived. in her own feline
way, to scratch the absent George while
pretending to pity him: she apclegized for
bis not coming back with Ruth till the
poor girl felt as if he had reant to slight
her; she spoke of his wishing for donation
party, and hoped everybody would carry
him something, it was so hard to start in
life with nothing at all; she should use her
influence to have Mr.. Smith. who owned
chair factory, send him at least foul chairs,
and she guessed she could persuade the tin
man out of some ie-plates or bread-tins;
and the store keeper Mr.. Blivins, was her
husbands cousin. she knew he would send
thought George literal pauper; and Ruth
chOked with rage, but managed to say, bit
terly:
Perhaps you'll give him some cold
pieces"
oh, yes" giggled Mrs. Heale. IN do
all can to help; he's young man thatIl
always get helped and she emphasized
the words in way that made them say he
would always need to be.
In hundred ways after that che told the
tale of Georges donation party, till the
idea spread and took root that he was an
idle, uncertain, "shiftless' fellow: the bank
cashier who boarded at Mrs. Heale's was
shy Of discounting his small! notes; the
painter and glazer whom he tried TO en-
gage hung back and delayed and asked for
security; even Ruths letters grew short
and Gull, and the rare evenings he could
spend with her she seemed silent and cool,
tor Mrs. Heale had clouded even her clear
head and warm heart with these creeping,
clinging scandal mists. aud, moreover,
planned with Jesuitical ingenuity that each
night George came some other visitor
should help occupy the parlor, and not
leave him a half hour alone with Ruth
At last she contrived to have him hear
that Ruth said he was too poor to get along
without begging cold pieces, and had told
Mrs. Heale 81. Georges foreman had come
to Heale's shop on an erraud, and Mrs.
Heale happened to be in the back shop just
as her husband stepped in to get the new
saw Jones wanted to ask about. Mrs. Heale
grasped the situation: her husband was very
deaf; she knew that Jones was thoroughly
devoted to George, and she began, in loud
tOne:
George Wilbur wants the saw! well,
don't trust him for it: get your pay. Ruth
May says he's go poor he'll have to beg for
cold pieces yet; she won't never take up
with him. Be sure of your pay, Sam"
With this she slipped out OF the back
door; but Jones had heard enough, and,
paying Mr.. Heale on the spot, in great
rage told him he d heard, somebody lynn
to him about George Wilbur. George was
a dom fustrate and there was better fish
in the eea than that stuck-up little school
marin. who needn't think that George was
goin' TO knuckle down to her.
So Jones went to Hillside, his quick
Welsh temper still raging. and raved all
out at George. who, poor fellow, laid this
and that together, and with silent agony
at his heart went about his business, and
MIR. Heale going hone at noon and report
ing Jones' talk to his wife. she repeated it
loudly after him with small alterations and
knowing Ruth to be overhead
in her own room, and the stove pipe that
ran up through hole in the floor was that
very day taken down for spring cleaning.
Here was nice little situation! One which
common sense and cool head could have
righted in an hour; an honest, dispassionate
letter from either lover to the other would
have brought the truth to light directly.
But when was an angry and grieved man
ever able TO see any side to question but
his own! When did an exaspecated and
woman ever write letter
that was just or even generous! And,
ITO be wroth with one We love
Doth work like madness liz the BRAIN"
is as true diagnosis as ever any physician
gave of disease. No more letters passed
from either side; I o more visits were paid;
Ruth's rosy cheeks paled to the delicate
tint of hot. house blossoms, her bright eye
grew languid, her quick step slow and
weary. But her grit came to her rescue;
she did not fall ill, she only worked harder
than ever, laughed louder and took inter.
minable walks before and after school
hours with anybody who would 60 with
her, or else alone, and eaid in her sweet
soul all the bitter things about men, and
life and love that could have occurred to
an ancient cynic. George meantime worked
with unnatural energy; his mill ran deep
into the moonlight nights, his hammer and
plane we're heard at early dawn. The
Widow Jones, where he boarded, vexed her
kind heart to see hsw little he ate. Had he