The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-05-01

pTOIuutu III Whfllht IlhlntI lTOln DC
meath his arm, and mended cotton glovei
covered his hands, while rusty red wig
was half concealed by his bent and battered
hat.
"My goodness, Ruth, what figure "
calculated Rachael, in very audible voice.
"What can that bundle of second hand
clothes want herein
"Hush !" said Ruth, almost sternly,
"he will hear you. "
"And what if he doesi What do carel y
"He is old and infrm, Rachael, and his
age should render him sacred in your eyes
Rachael tossed her head sneeringly.
"Ruth, yon are too absurd for anything.
| won't wait on him.
But the old man steered resolutely for
Rachael herself.
81 want to buy some gloves, Miss, " he
said in feeble, croaking voice.
YOU'D better go somewhere else, " said
the young lady superciliously; ''our store
doesn't keep cheap goods. "
"Please let me see the article"
Rachael tossed the box down on the
counter; the old man bent his specialized
eyes down to survey the goods
GLOW much are these Z"
"A dollar pair.
"But | am poor man, Miss; have you
nothing cheaperi"
"No, " snapped Rachael, 81 told you to
go elsewhere, I've no patience with paup-
ers.
81 beg your pardon, Miss said the old
man; ! am not pauper
"Well," observed the girl scornfully,
you look like one!"
appearances are often decetful. Did
you tell me you had cheaper glovesl"
81 didn't tell you any such thing!"
Rachael" Rachael" demonstrated
her cousin. "Let me show you what you
want, she said softly, turning to the old
customer. "We have some very nice
gloves'at seventy-fve cents y
"Seventy-f cents is great deal of
money to pay for pair of gloves, said
the old man, looking sOrrowfully down on
the mended fingers of those he wore, but
the weather is getting very frosty, and |
am not so young as | was. "
81 should think that was quite evident, "
said Rachael, with heartless litter
Ruth bent toward the old man, saying in
low, sweet voice:
"Take the warm worsted gloves, sir
The price is seventy-five cents, but you
shall have them for fifty. | myself will
make up the difference to the store. You
are an old gentleman, and am young and
able to work.
"But am nothing to you, Miss.
Ruth folded the gloves nearly in piece
Of paper, and handed them to him.
"For the sake of dear father, who died
year year ago, old age can never be moth
ing to me, sir. Please don't thank me
indeed | deserve no gratitude.
And Ruth drew blushingly back, while
Rachael burst out into laugh.
"Upon my word, Ruth, you are the
greatest fool ever sawl" she cried, while
the old gentleman hobbled out of the store
i" | would have seen the old gentleman in
Jericho before | would have given him
anything! Why does he not go to the
poor house2'
The days crept on, and one day Mr.
Harry Meredith astonished little Ruth Durr
very much by asking her to be his wife.
1t was as if the gates of Paradise had
suddenly opened to her-the modest little
girl, secretly worshiping Harry Meredith
in her heart of hearts, had never dreamed
of the possibility Of such good luck being in
store for her.
That evening she told her cousin;
Rachel listened in silence. The prize had |
been very near her grasp once But some
how it slipped away.
81 think you must be mistaken, Ruth, "
she said, acrimoniously. 81 think Mr..
Meredith never would"
She checked herself, for that instant the |
door opened, and Mr.. Meredith was an
"Well, Rachael" he said pleasantly, |
care you ready to congratulate me on the
sweet little wife have won2"
Rachael muttered one or two formal SEN
tences, she was very pale. Meredith answered !
with a smile.
"Ruth," he said, turning to her 81
have something to show you. "
He put tiny parcel in her hand. She
opened it and out fell a pair of worsted
gloves
She looked wistfully in his face, then
the whole tide of memory came upon her
heart
"Harry were you the old mani"
81 was the old man, my dearest"
And then Rachael knew why it was that
the ship freig6ted with all her hopes had
lrifted away, when it was so near the
haven.