The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-12-25


because 1 have turned over a page in
my history so new, so strange, that 1
must think it over again before 1 can
put it into words Did I write those
words ON the opposite leaf? Did say
i envied the dead? The thought makes
me shudder. God forbid that should
be taken at my word and torn from the
happiness that has come to me at last.
Now, ] will go back to the beginning.
Annie went to church this morning; /
had said before that could not go out,
and she did not urge me. went into
the library and watched her from the
window. Roger met her as she left the
gate. He will go with her, 1 thought,
but with gay greeting, she went on,
and he came into the house, into the
where waited for him. pre-
ferr d to be first in the room; it was
easier than to crme in at his bidding
I turned to meet him, but in spite of
nay schooling was strangely agitated,
and sank into the chair which he had
quickly placed for me.
"This is not the first Christmas day
on which you and I.have met in this
room," said he, with no joy or triumph
in his tone, but rather deep detection
in his look and manner.
He waited, as if for sn answer, but l
did not speak. What could say?
at have another interview in my
memory" he continued, rather sadly,
/" which belongs to a time, long years
ago, when ventured to hope that you
loved me-"
r"Why," / asked in my thoughts,
" "aphy does he torture me by recalling
those other days." 1t was not till after
long moments of silence that could
trust my tongue to say: al thought
you had long ago forgotten all that"
:" cannot forget it." he said, "nor
would l if / could" he continued,
coming close to me and seeking my eyes.
which | had to keep averted or they
would have betrayed me. "Do not
think, Ruth" be continued, humbly.
"that | ever thought myself worthy of
you or of your love. Ever since could
remember you had been my ideal of all
that was beautifu, and my love for you
grew with my growth. hoped, when l
had made myself more nearly your equal
that you might love me in return, and
in this very room. my tongue broke
through the bonds / had set upon it,
and / told you in wild words of the love
that would never die; but did not ask
you then to give me hope, for I knew l
had spoken prematurely. Then went
away, hoping to make nay fortune more
worthy of your sharing. At first disap-
pointments came to me; but when l
heard of your fathers death and your
loss of property, could keep silence no
longer, and wrote the letter asking you
to be my wife. Your answer, although
kind showed me how presumptious l
had been. L am proud man, Ruth, and
l resolved you should never know how 1
was hurt, so wrote a letter as cold as
yours. but Ibid not send it-some power
seemed to prevent. / never intended
returning, but could not resist the de-
sire to see you once more. When |
came to the door and Annie opened it, l
could almost have imagined it was you,
as last saw you:. l think she must
have considered me rather strange
acting person; for, knowing, was so
near you, had a great effect on me.
When heard the rustic of your dress,
that afternoon, and looked up and saw
you before me, 80 little changed in ap-
pearance-ohly, if possible, more beauti-
iul-I could hardly speak: but you were
as self-possessed and friendly as if / had
left only the day before. acknowledge
1 was terribly disappointed, 1 hardly
knew what had dared hope. Still, I
resolved to wait few days, and see if
could not change your opinion of me,
and seeing Annie every day has hel ped
me wonderfully. She is such dear,
kind girl, that no one can help loving
her When / would be most despond-
ent, she always had something encour-
aging to say. ] must leave tomorrow,
and, Ruth, ! could not go without tel
ling you"
"Iknew what you would say" in
terrupted for felt that could not en-
dure hearing any more, and must make
the interview short If wished to con-
,trol myself. "Take her ltshe Is wor thy
of even YOU, but what can DO without
her?' And then the tears would come.
Roger bending over me took my hands
from my eyes, and said: fs
What do you mean, Ruth? Who
| is it you are giving TO meY'
Why Anne, of course,p said.
have known all along that, however
much you NAV have loved me once, you
Yes, as a dear. younger sister 1 do,
but for wife / want. my first, my only
love-yoa!' s'sasa1 .-sis'ltses
/ could hardly believe nv ears. Had
nv tr uble been only. borrowed trouble
aftef ali2 Tlen T thought OF Annie, if
she Lowell him I must give him up eve n
then. | was just telling him so when
the door opened, and a merry voice
said: ~ ssief na ~ Fl.
oOb. Won dear old poosie. did Won
think 1 wanted him for mvseIf3 What
would do with a husbanda EspecialIy
s"cb "u crave ur s one as s;r Roger Sspe3 q They
She danced away again. and a minute
after r saw her Iomning with the chill.
Jrsnv ma ,oarr;ast npa eroorm thau,Nsbe