Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-01-08

bad man; but kind of hard for woman.
kind to deal with, for he was monster
conterary an hadn't much gumption
about business, an lost his property as
a child. Ruth couldn't do nothin'
TO better things, for them kind o. men,
and the weaker they be the wuss they
be, is everlastin' afeared they IL be ruled
by women-folks. Little Stein. as Ruth
| calls him. was with me at home when
Robert an Bertha was lost at sea, an
Ruth sent for me to fetch him to her.
1t nigh upon broke her heart to lose
em both all Of sudden; but twas Il
comfort, she said, to- save Robert 5
boy.
I've had home with Ruth ever
since, eff budy ever Is ut nome IN this
shlfless out west"
Being Il native of keturah's scorned
"out west" Mrs. Lane hid q smile in
her question:
HAS Mrs. Dean never been east to
see her relatives in all this time?'
keturah beeswaxed her thread and
gave her peculiar, chuckling laugh be-
tore she spoke.
''lt's funny eff disappointments ever
is, but she hasn't ever been. When
Stein was 10 years old, or upwards,
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 Il failin' all that spring. Ruth,
she teached in Il friends school an col
ored photographs that it mightn't come
hard on John Tor 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 n 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
a angel; but she was better'n one of
EN-, a hoppin' Their wings around in a
| sick room, for she was q woman with
human hands an CHEEKY words an he
was childish, onresttul inverlid.
'"Twas along in the winter he died :;
and when the sound of them frozen
clods falhn' on his coffin struck Ruth's
ears she tainted dead away in my arms.
P'raps you don't bell eve it; 'tisn't them
we've loved most an been happiest
with that we weep Ditterest tears for
when they're gone;-it's-sorrow for
happerness we never had cuts deepest.
"After while we moved down here
to this village, the decentest place ever
see out Weot, for it has a 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' or
Stein, has been kind of peaceful an CON
tent. She's minded all along, though,
to make that visit east, an twice sence
John died we've been cen Almost started.
an somethin' has turned up to hinder;
but | 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 well be disappointed
| 'Oh, | hope not; but it is unfortunate
mat Stein is not here to accompany his
aunt" remarked Mrs, Lane, sympathiz-
ingly.
You 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 q
master hand to pick things to pieces SO
to see what was IN EN-, and was forever
a bringin' home weeds and insects, an
all sorts of crawlin' things c!utterin'
up the house with EN-. An many 5
the time he's nigh bowed us all up with
the chemical 'speriments.
Ruth seemed to think him all RICH
as long as he KEEP on n 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 90 and help him on his sheep
ranch in Coiorady. IF you'll mind this
baby mint, I'll lun over an see ei
Ruth has heerd from him.
keturah found Ruth in her sitting
room, strewed with various signs OF
speedy departure, seated on the corner
of half-packed open trunk with q
crush ed letter in her hand and with a
dazed fearful look in her eye
so, keturahw she exclaimed, as that
worthy spnster appeared before her,
"Stein's letter came half an hour age
and | have sat like one stunned ever
since. He has been thrown from 8
horse, broken one arm, sprained AZ
ankle and bruised himself terribly. He
hopes we have not started on our jour
ney, for he wishes to come home n;
soon as hi, condition will permit him tC
do So He will take up his studio:
again and behave himself, he writes
The dear boy--l am so glad it is NJ
worse, and that | shall have him q
home again. But It's SO ridiculous t
have our visit delayed again. How fat,
must enjoy upsettng our plans" ant
Rnth launched historically until the tear