The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-05-31
My Highway Robbery


der would have been if had not. Isolated
as we were, shut out from other society and
diversons-I, young and susceptible; she,
queenly and fascinating-any young man
in my place would have fallen in love with
Ruth Bonner. All | she was so lovely, 50
graceful, so imperious, so strange; she had
as many moods as there were hours in the
day, ard in each she was more enchanting
than the last.
She was two seasons my senior. She had
been belle two seasons, and, disgusted in
the midst of the third, ran away to my aunt's
to recruit and forget. She was there when |
came home from college at the summer va
cation. l was twenty, she twenty-five, and
we spent all those lingering, scented summer
months in the same house. dare say she
never thought of anything so improbable as
my falling in love with her. l doubt if, in
her superb indifference to surroundings, she
would have cared If she had. The idea ola
STRIPPING like me falling IN love with her
queenship! The audaciiy Of a youth of my
tender years telling her his folly
Her look, when confessed the state ofmy
heart, said all that and more. The regal
head turned languidly on the crimson cush-
ion against which she reclined, and she re-
garded me with most provoking, steady
increduity in her beautiful eyes. The full
finely-cut lips quivered with suppressed
smiling, and l stood like great awkward
BOBBY waiting for my reply. believe my
face was very red, and am not sure there
were not tears ready in my eyes. l did
not like to be laughed at, but had some
spirit
Does my honest love deserve to be laugh
ed at, Miss Ruth ?" questioned, with hal
angry tremor in my voice.
Certainly not" said Miss Ruth, bat bit
ing her lips still. al dare say you are hon
est enough, Steve, but really you are no
old enough"
Ruth Bonner sank back among her cush
ions, convulsed with sweet, singing laugh
/
ling, passions of anger devouring me.
"Miss Ruth" l said, " am waiting 70
my answer"
You ridiculous Steve, haven't you 60
it," she said, sitting up and staring at me.
al am to understand, then, that my ag
is your only objection to me-" said, fore
ing quiet tone, and with fair show O
smiling. "Time will mend that"
"Hum-possibly," with another stare
bowed coldly, and taking a book, asked
her if should read to her as usual.
" You won't laugh the next time tel
you love you, Miss Ruth" said to my
self. as turned the leaves
had taken up Aurora Floyd" as
CHARGED, and opened and read at random
one Of those scenes between Mrs. MellisI
and the handsome groom.
Ruth Bonner interrupted me almost an
grily.
"Why do you read that stupid book t
me?" she said. "Aurora Floyd must hav
been a fool-an idiotw
She gathered her silken draperies aroun
her and swept into the house, and l saw he
no more that night.
Women are mysterious-this one mus
be, most Of ALL" | said, as watched her fl
up the stairs to her chamber.
a gentleman in the parlor to see Mis-
Bonner" heard the servant say.
Miss Bonner was lounging the mornn
away in my aunt's room. She seemed
hesitate two minutes, nervously pulling
pieces the card Peggy had brought he
then, with her proudest mein, swept fror
the room.
Stepping through the window, CAREFUL
gathered the fragments of torn Pasteboar
from the carpet, and put them tog'th'r o
the palm of my band rs .r-rE
Mr.. Richard Dunkirk," was what
heard.
"Is it her lover?" queried, knitting m
brows over the name and the query. "Sh
J did not seem pleased with his coming
But my brow throbbed as with fever at th
thought The door slammed.
"she's coming" and fed to the veranda
again.
Just in time to hear her voice in toni
| Of passionate expostulatiqn answered by al
others icy with sternness.
Both changed presently, as ! stood idsc
mated TO the spot.
Hers said, haughtily, 81 would nev'
marry you were thrice as much in yo'
, power as / am"
. "whom, then ?" was the response in a
cents of slow sarcasm'
"No matter, so it is a man more mani
,han you"
"Than u" with low laugh He ma
. be less than a man who would yield or
! chance of marrying the woman he loved
e could hear her quick drawn breath an
I the angry rustic Of her dress as she move
away from him I had no business lisieI
ing, 1t was cUwaTdly and mean TO stan