Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-07-15

pulling his long mustache, and ponder
ing over the piece of old English war
which had so attracted his attention.
"I'll sit down formally before tina
cream-pot," said he. "I'Il besiege It
1t shall be mine, or I'll know the reason
why"
For Mr.. Napier was a connoiseul
in ceramics, and the moment his idlt
glance, cast upwards through Mrs. Wal
lis's milkroom as he drank glass Of
water at the well, had fallen on tht
piece of old English china, his soul had
coveted it.
"I've just month to stay here before
l must be back in my dingy old law of:
flee again" meditated he. "a man can
do a great deal in a month"
And he set himself regularly to work
to win the treasure which be yearned
for SO deeply.
Day after day he strolled to the old
farm house, now with this excuse. now
with that, q handsome, courtly, middle
aged man, whose winning manners
would have attracted any one. and who
was as much at home under the white
washed ceiling of the Widow Wallis's
best rooms as in mansion.
One day he spoke of the old cream
pot.
"Ruth's cream-p pot i' said Naomi, the
elder sister, q hard featured, loud voiced
spinster of nine and thirty. "Wasn't
1t strange provision of grandmother
Crocus's will that Ruth never can part
with that old piece of cracked absurdity,
unless-n
Naomi, hush !" and Ruth had sprung
across the room and laid her hand on her
lips, whilst her cheeks turned az red as
her own scarlet geraniums. "Our fami-
ly affairs shall not talked of to strang.
ers."
"Am a stranger ?" said Mr.. Napier,
gravely. II am sorry for that"
~ didn't mean quite that" falter-
ed Ruth, "only-only-Naomi, please do
remember that this is never to be spok-
en- Of"
dear me-" said Naomi, bridling up.
Here's pretty how to-do about an
old cream-pitcher."
That self-same evening Mr.. Napier
followed Ruth out in the garden. where
she had gone to water her carnations.
Ruth" said he, .'are YOU Determined
not to tell me the secret of the cream
pot?"
YES" said Ruth, resolutely.
MOT to let me have it on any terms ?" |
PLEASE, Mr.. Napier" said Ruth.
don't ask me. I oapnot.n
well, then,n said Mr.. Napier, "here |
19 yet third demand. If I can't have
either secret or cream.pitcher-can I |
have you ?"
"Me!"
YES" said the staid lawyer, with |
strangely softening eyes. "Dear little
Ruth, have lost my heart to you the
lest three weeks. can't go back to the
old life without you. am not a Young |
man, but 1 have never loved before
and"
But" interrupted Ruth, with man
tling cheeks and a culver in her voice, |
i'am good enough?"
By way of answer he took her in his |
arms and looked tenderly into her face,
and to Ruth Wallis it seemed "a if
whole paradise had opened to her in |
that moment.
"Here it la" said Ruth, with glisten-
ing eyes and smiling Ii ps. '"The old
cream pitcher, dear Wynfield.
The ceremaniac fergot even true love
in the fascinatiqns of the piece of old |
English ware that Ruth laid in his Lao. /
He took 1t up with a loving touch.
But thought it was decree of the |
A4eues Auu TefStans Lnat you were not |
to part with 1t ?" said he.
"You don't understand" Ruth, color
ing radiantly, "Iwas never to pars with |
it-so grandmother CrooSs's will said
except to my husband.1
Why didn't you tell me so before ?"
$50 that you might have taken me !
for the sake ofthe old cream pitcher ?n
said Ruth, little pieued.
He drew hor fsantlvy IN his e;Io
my own darling,n said he, "I love
you better than all the old china that is |
in the world.n
Which was great admission for
WINFIELD Napier to make.
A month later there was a wedding in !
the village church, and after the we'd
ding came the wedding breakfast, and
not few OF the guests wondered that
the center ornament of the table. on
such and auspicious occasion, should be
an old cream.jug.