Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-11-13

| HS'N.
You see, Stein wasn't any wuss. as |
knows on. than other hoys-a family
alwus is in hot water that has one on 'enI
round. lie took TO book larnin as his
father afore him; and he was master
hand to pick things to pieces to see what
was in 'em, and was forever a brinCin'
home weeds and insects Of crawln' things
a clutterin up the house with EN-. And
many's the time he's nigh bowed Us all
up with his clinical sperimnts.
Ruth scented 10 think him all right ms
long AS he KEEP on stuiyin for college;
hut when her cousin, Mr.. Leonard from
Massachusetts. came along last wear,
Stein, great boy of seventeen. took a
notion TO go and help him on his sheep
ranch in COlerady. Ef you'll mind this
baby mint, I'll run over and see eff
Ruth has heard from him.
| Keturah found Ruth in her sitting room
strewed with various signs of speedy de-
parture, seated on the corner Of Il half
packed open trunk with Il crushed letter
in her hand, and with dazed, fearful look
in her eyes.
20 keturah,' she exclaimed, as that
worthy spins;er appeared before her.
STEMS letter came half an hour ago and
| | have sat like one stunned ever since. He
has been thrown from u horse. broken one
arm, spraned an ankle and bruised him
self terribly. lie hopes we have not
started on our journey for he wishes to
come home as soon as his condition will
permit him to do so. He will take up his
studies again and behave himself, he
| writes. The dear boy-I am so glad that
| ~ 10 ap1 that Teb. III /,
| home again. But it is so ridiculous to
have our visit delayed again. How fate
must enjoy upsctLing our plans" and
Ruth laughed hystercally until the tears
rolled down over the half folded garments
| in her lap.
But you can 60, keturah, and we will
come on later" she added when she had
composed herself.
Not a step will l bulge until YOU 90,
eff have to wait till l am as old as Me
thusleh. I've felt it in my bones all along
that somethin' would happen to that boy
so pernickety and venturesome,-nog good
comes CT mixin' up races
You need not say that; for see how
! STEMS Yankee proclivities send him
roaming after adventures and to see the
world, while the German part of him
brings him home to quiet study and duty
| But help me put this torturing trunk out
of sight" and Ruth arose from her cramp-
ed position with reganed cheerfuness.
AS she shut the trunk out of sight in a
dark closet she broke out afresh "ToI
think how many pictures of cliff, mountain
and sea I've bundled into that trunk with
every package; and now"
perhaps you packed in Il picter of q
great broad shouldered feller standn' anin
a rock, and a little woman streakin
through the bushes lookin' back kind ofl
scornlul"
Having delivered herself of this unex-
pdcted speech, which for moment quite
suspended her (Ruth's) breath, Keturah'
of her calico sunbonnet and in spite of her
disappointment, she went smiling back to
her duties.
The marplot nephew's letter was an
swered with due speed; and two weeks
later Ruth sat one afternoon in her cosy
parlor. The light from the nearly shaded
window played over her wayy, brown hair
and little gray clad figure, the sombreness
of the dress only relieved by II little knot
OF ferns and scarlet geranium blossoms at
her throat and lit up the pages of the book
she WAS endeavorng to read, " II is use
| less" she murmured, Il can neither read
nor work. 1t is that foolish dream of last
night which brings so vividIy to mind all
| those by-gone scenes-father, mother. Rob,
ert, Dick-dead and living, all mingled
together after the fashion OF dreams. Ke-
turah is So sure that he went away heart
broken! ] imagine, tho, that away in
that wild Vancouver with his coal mine,
his wealth, and with that doctors widow
that he married, he bassquite forgotten
little Ruth | was all to blame. What
idiots women are; saying and doing in
pure caprice what they would give worlds
II moment after TO uDsay and undo. But
y, it's the after thought, the Undergraduate
| that makes our bitterness Covering her
face with both hands Ruth lost all thought
| OF the present in revery of the past. The
sound of an arriving train at Il near depot
aroused her, and brushing away an imper-
| lnent tear she exclaimed aloud, " What a
sentimental old thing you are, Ruth Dean,
why, you ought to be wrinkled and gray
headed and sensble-you are only one Of
| thousands-only one
Whose overhasty impulse drove him
Past earthly joys he might secure"
She rose and opened blind that had
tempered the warm June sun. Pulling
towards her an overhanging vine she
gathered handful of roses, and rs she
| turned away from the window felt herself
half lifted from the floor in the clasp of
some intruders arm.
Stein, dear little Stein, you great
frightful daring!' she exclaimed, as her
blonde haired, Teutonic nephew released
her from his close embrace.
IL crept in by the back way TO surprise
YOU see these confounded splints how
they bother me, and my ankle gives me a
twinge at every step. But, Aunt Ruth,
have not come alone-here is somebody
Ruth-why-wha is the matter? For rs
Stein uttered his companions name Ruth
gave slight shrek, and stood pale and
trembling as n tall, bronzed, heavy beard
| ed man came forward to greet her.
May l come in, RuthP" her guest ask
| cd, with mock humility in his tone.
Dick-Rchard Saywood! Is it posi-
ble?"
1T is possble-it is the same Dick who
used 10 have so little sense about women
one woman particularly" he said, taking
her hands in his and leading her to seat.
81 came from Victoria to place my
stepson in school at San Francisco;
| while there learned that my friend Leon
ard was in Colorado. dropped in TO see
| him for old acquaintance sake, and there l
| found Roberts son, and as the poor bruis-
ed rascal needed an escort, have guided
him safe TO your arms. Could l do less