Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-01-08


Ruth planned in her heart some way to
take us all on a good long pleasurin'
tower east; an John Dean seemed to
} need change more'n any of us, for
/ he'd been failin all that spring Ruth,
} she teached in a friends school an col
ored photographs that it mightn't come
hard on John for the outlay; an we was
all ready, trunks all packed, and the
airly roses BLOWN an the black dust
a-chokin' US, when poor John was took
} down helpless with a shock of paralysis.
Instead of hollerday among them
blessed Maine hills, we staid In that hot
, city all that livelong summer a-tendin'
on that poor sick mortal Ruth wasn't
q angel; but she was better'n one of
: EN-, foppin' their wings around in a
sick room, for she was a woman with
human hands an CHEEKY words an he
was a childish, orr estful inverlid.
"Twas along in the winter he died;
and when the sound of them frozen
clods falIln' on his coffin struck Ruth's
ears she tainted dead away in my arms
Praps you don't behave it; 'tisn't them
we've loved most an been happiest
with that we weep bitterest tears for
when they're gone;-it's-sorrow for
hapnerness we never had cuts deepest
AFTER a while we moved down here
to this village, the decentest place ever
see out west, for it has few little rocks
in the road an a.little risin' ground. An
Ruth, with her school for little children,
an her studyin' and her eddicatin' OF
Stein, has been kind ofpeaceful an con
tent. She's minded all along, though,
to make that visit east, an twice sence
John died we've been cen most started,
an somethin' has turned up to hinder;
but guess we, shall go for sure, this
time, seem STEMS of to Colorady, an
there's only me an Ruth to go. An,
too, I'm impressed, as them Spiritualsts
say, that we'll be disappointed.
ooh, hope not; but it is unfortunate
that Stein is not here to accompany his
aunt" remarked Mrs. Lane, sympathiz-
ingly.
"1ou see, Stein wasn't any wuss, as
[ knows on, than other boys-a family
is alwus in hot water that has one on
'em round He took to book learnin
as his father afOre him; an he was a
master hand to pick things to pieces so
to see what was IN 'em, and was forever
bringin' home weeds and insects, an
all sorts of crawlin' things a clutterin'
up the house with 'em. An many's
the time he's nigh blowed us all up with
the chemical 'speriments.
Ruth seemed to think him all RICH t
as long as he KEEP on studyin' for col
lege; but when her cousin, Mr.. Leonard,
from Massachusetts, come along last
year, Stein, great boy of II, took no.
ton to go and help him on his sheep
ranch in Coiorady. Eff you'll mind this
baby mint, I'll run over an see eff
Ruth has heerd from him."
Keturah found Ruth in her sitting
room. srewed with various signs of
speedy departure, seated on the corner
of a half-packed open trunk with a
crushed letter in her hand and with a
dazed fearful look in her eye.
80, Keturahw she exclaimed. as that
worthy spinster appeared before her,
'Stein's letter came half an hour ago
and have sat like one stunned ever
since. He has been thrown from a
horse, broken one arm, sprained an
ankle and bruised himself terribly. He
hopes we have not started on our jour
ney, 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 it is no
worse, and that | shall have him at
home again. But it's so ridiculous to
have our visit delayed again. How fate
must enjoy upsetting our plans" and
Ruth laughed Historically until the tears
rolled down over the half-folded gar
ment on her lap.
But you can go, Keturah, and we
will come on later" she added when
she had composed herself
Mot step will I bulge until you 60,
if I have to wait till I'm as old as
Methus'leh. I've felt it in my bones ali
along that somethin' would happen to
that pOy-no good comes of mixin' UP
races"
"You need not say that; for see now
STEMS Yankee proclivities send him
roaming after adventure and to see the
world, while the German part of him
brings him home to quiet study and
f duty. But help me to put this tortur-
ing trunk out Of sight, and Ruth arose
from her cramped position with re-
gained che ,rfulness.
AS she Shut the trunk out Of sight in
a dark closet, she broke out afresh: "To
think how many pictures of cliff, noun
tain and sea I've bundled into that
trunk, with every package; and now
"P'raps you packed in picture of a
great broad-shouldered fellow standin
agin' rock, an of little woman a
? streakin' through the bushes q lookin;
back kind of scornful?"
) Having delivered herself of his unex-
/ pected speech, which for a moment
, quite suspended her (Ruth's) breath,
, Keturahs face disappeared in the paste
| board tunnel of her calico sun-bonnet
AID, in spite of her disappointment, D
l 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 little parlOr. The light from near