The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-07-04
BELLEVUE, I'll { RsI9AY. 4. 1s7s.5a

l" sum d bureau, or was now under
consideration by such an official, etc.
Aud SO the weeks heightened into
months, and he waited aud hoped and
heard nothing definite, and the time
when he would be in position to mar
ry Ruth seemed very far off. She would
have married him next day if he had
been willing She would have been
glad to work for him, because she loved
him, and work for those we love is al
ways pleasant. But he was too proud
to consent to any thing of that sort, as /
have said
One day Isutbogot a letter from Aunt
Martha Fielding. Aunt Martha lived ia
thriving little village among the Berk-
shire hills, and all that Ruth could re
member about her was, that she always
made her think Of some of the old
mountains to be seenfrom her windows,
because she was 50 grim in aspect and
seemed so Interchangeable in all ways
There had been, some family trouble,
and Aunt Martha had but very little to
do with any OF her relatives. There
fore it is not to be wondered at that
Ruth and her mother were surprised
when this letter came, asking Ruth to-
come up and stsy with her for a month
that summer. u&Ut ..-fJ1l iH
Shall go?'' asked Ruth. -sr
81 think you had better,'' answered
her mother ass She Dmrs5 be lonely.
there. Poor thing! she's had a good
deal of trouble, off and on, but She's
made the most OF it herself. But sup
pose she couldn't help it; it was her
disposition. s..-r t-a:s;s.e
u can't see what she wants me to
come for" said Ruth. 81 haven't seen
her since Twas a little bit of girl. l
wonder she didn't send for one OF Aunt
Lucy's girls ..., a..
vShe's got some plaa in her head, ~
said Mrs. Gerrish; ;rl's she always has
when she invites any of her relatives to
visit her. = Yes, Ruth, r'thihk you'd bet
ter go, and do all you can to make. it
| pleasant for herr
/ So Ruth went. Aunt Martha well
coined her in her usual grim fashion.
| Her kiss made Ruth think of one of the
old mountains departing from its usual
| dignity and saluting one of the. hills.
Ruth wasn't long in finding out what
| Aunt Martha had invited her to visit her
| for. One of her nephews was coming
next week--her favorite nephew, she
! told Ruth, and the one to, whom her
| property wouldsgo when she was done
with it, and she had got the idea into
| her head that he ought TO marry Ruth
! =. I always liked you,n she said, in
one of her eonfidentialmoodsi SO Now,
when Lucy's girls were up here was
!. completely disgusted with 'em All
they thought OF was dress and parties.
| They were willing to see their mother
slave herself half to death for 'em, and
1 they wouldn't lit q finger to hel pa her.
/ But i've heard all about you, and know
you're good girl, and l know Johnm
| like YOU. He's sensible, and hope you
| are. -
When Ruth saw how determined she
/ was to make a match between her and
/ this expected nephew, she thought it
time to tell her how matters stood sE,ia
"Aunt Martha,n she said with a little
frightened catch of her breath, for. she
was afraid the old lady would be NOR
tally offended at the failure of her plan,
s' I'm engaged to be married. y And
then, the worst being over, she went on
and told her all about it,, and succeeded
! in making her lover into great hero,
in her own estimation, if not in Aunt
Martha's. ~. ~ =,
"And SO. you're going to marry a
man with one arm and as poor as pow
erty, are your said the old lady,
| grimly. "a sa.if aaa.s F.
"Yes.if nothing happens to prevent
it,n answered Ruth, bravely. G We
love each other, and we'Il get along.
some way; and loves. better than all
the wealth in the world, l think, and so
does Rodney ..r. - Ss@.
| "Hulnphl'' said Aunt Martha, and
Ithere the matter dropped asE e b.
1 Nephew John came, and he and Ruth
! were good friends at once; but neither
| of them ever dreamed of loving each
BOTHER. One day Aunt Martha limited
her; plan to him, and then had q long
| talk with Ruth, which hadn't the least
! 1ileifect- toward changing herlmind. EJ5};
i YIhave promised to marry Rodney, y
i said Ruth, firmly. 81 shall keep my
] promise. Not all the wealth ia the
/ world would temp me to break my
! promise TO him, because T1ove hin1."
| That afternoon, when she and John
were together,s hestold' her what Aunt
Martha bad SAID in stfe faaurning; and
then they, had q good laugh, over, the
old lady's plains, and sbefore the inter
view was ended he e;shewed, hertAeapic-
t1ure of 'shis girl,'' and Ruth, told him
all about Rodney. r Il
Sits almost too bad to 'disappoint
her so," he said laughingly. g But |
don't feel quite willing tn give up smy
own plans for hers, and see you don't;
so we don't seem to be able to CRAFTY