Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-01-09

stein, has been KIND Oh peaceful 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 I guess we, shall go for sure, this
time, SEEM STEMS off to Colorady, an
there's only me an Ruth to go. An,
too, I'm impressed, as them Spiritualists
say, that we'll be disappointed"
''Oh, | hope not; but it is unfortunate
that Stein is not hereto accompany his
aunt" remarked Mrs. Lane, sympathiz-
ingly.
"You see, Stein wasn't any wuss, as
[ knows on, than other boys 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
| a bringin' home weeds and insects, an
all sorts of crawlin' things 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 right
as long as he KEEP on q studyin' for col
lege; but when her cousin, Mr.. Leonard,
from Massachusetts, come along last
year, Stein, great boy of II, took a no.
ton to 60 and help him on his sheep
ranch in Coiorady. Eff you'll mind this
baby a mint, I'll 1un over an see eff
Ruth has heerd from him." a4Ee
Keturah found Ruth in her sitting
room, strewed with various signs Of
speedy departure, seated on the corner
of half-packed open trunk with a
crushed letter in her hand and with a
dazed fearful look in her eye.
so, Keturah!" she exclaimed. as that
worthy spinster appeared before her,
EEStein'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 I 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 halffolded gar
ment on her lap. sf -.....-..-
but you can go, Keturah, and we
will come on later" she added when
she had composed herself. .
"Not a step will I bulge until you go,
| if [ have to wait till I'm as old as
| Methus'leh. I've felt it in my bones ali
along that somethin' would happencto
that boy-no good comes of mixin' up
races"
"You need not say that; for see how
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
/ duty. But help me to put this tortur-
ing trunk out of sight" and Ruth arose
from her cramped position with re-
gained cheerfulness. #.s +aa'
As she shut the trunk out of sight in
a dark closet, she broke out afresh: "To
think how manypictures of cliff, noun
tain and sea I've bundled into that
trunk, with every package; and now"
-" P'raps you packed in a picture of q
great, broad-shouldered fellow standin'
agin' rock, an of little woman a
streakin' through the bushes u lookin'
back kind of scornful?"
Having delivered herself of his unex-
pected speech, which for moment
! quite suspended her (Ruth's) breath,
| Keturah's face disappeared in the paste
board tunnel of her calico sun-bonnet,
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 little parlor The light from near
! ly q shaded window played over her
Wavy, brown hair and little gray-clad
figure, the somberness Of the dress only
relieved by little knot of tiny ferns
and scarlet geranium blossoms at her
1 throat, and lit the pages for her book
which she was vainly cndeavoring to
read. at is useless" she murmured
Il can neither read nor work. 1t is
that foolish dream of last night which
brings so wildly to mind all those by
gone scenes-father, mother, Robert
fand Dick-dead and living, all mingled
together after the fashion of dreams.
Keturah is so sure that he went away
heart-broken! I imagine, though, that
away in the wild Vancouver with his
coal mines, his wealth, and with that
doctors widow that he married, he has
quite forgotten Little Ruth [ was all
to blame. What idiots women are;
saying and doing in pure caprice what
| they would give worlds 8 moment after
to undo. But o, it's the afterthought
the Undergraduate, that makes our bitter
ness" Covering her face With both
hands, Ruth lost all thought Of the
present in a reverie of the past. The
sound of an arriving train at a near
depot aroused her, and brushing away
an impairment tear, she exclaimed
aloud: p" What q sentimental old thing
you are, Ruth Dean. why, you ought
to be wrinkled and gray-headed and
sensible-You are only one of thous-
and--only one, bs5rara' T9ro go.
Y Whose over asty impulse drove him
| = Past earthly joys he might secure ,-
She arose and opened blind that
had tempered the hot June sun. Pull
ing towards her an oyerhanging vine,
she gathered handful of roses, and as
she turned away from the window feft
herself half lifted from the floor in the
clasp of some intruder's arm.g.a, sao53
Stein, dear little Stein, you great
! frightfll darlingp@ she exclaimed, as
her blonde-haired Teutonic nephew re-
leased her from his close embrace. r.. :
II crept in by the back way to sur
prise you-see these ccnfounded spHnts.
| how they bother me and my ankle
| gives me twinge-at every step. r But.