The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-08

you Ve put TWO napkins On Mthuf
platea"
Ruth Redeemed to het temples, but made
no answer. A pair of brown eyes was
haunting her, and she was sure that she
had seen them before this day, but when
Or where she could not tell.
At length tea was ready, and Mr.. Harris
sat beside Ella, wSo was In her happiest
mood, and used her silvery voice and shin
ing eyes with apparently good effect, for
the young man laughed often at her With
cisms and praised her delicately. Ruth
said but little, but took good care that tile
guest was supplied with all the tempting
viands.
'"rhis preserve is delicious" said Mr..
Harris, bowIng toward the hostess. "Father-
has often spoken of your skill in prepar-
ing these delicacies Mrs. Stacey"
Ruth made these; I had nothing to Go
with them,' replied the MOTHER with par
donable fondness.
Arthur glanced quickly toward Ruth,
and something in those liquid eyes of his
sent the blood to her cheeks and the fact
mortified her SO that she came near crying
then and there.
'llow silly you are to reddep up every
time Arthur looks at you ~ said Ella, when
they retired to their chamber. "You don't
fancy that he is already in love with you,
do you ?"
Ruth did Dry then; she could not help It
for worlds-the covert allusion to her plain
ness cut her to the heart. For moment
Ella stood looking at her in mingled won-
der and vexation then her better nature
came to the surface, and throwing her arms
around her neck, she kissed Rutlis
tear-stained face, aud begged forgive
ness.
SITS all right, Ella, only you must re-
member that have feeling, and that am
not to blame Tor being 80 ugly" and then
the salt drops flowed again in streams. 81
won't stay moment where he is, dear;
you shall have him all to yourself, for 1
know you want him." said Ruth, as she
kissed her sister good. night.
Days passed, and Ruth kept her word
religious'y, and Ella, with enthusiastic
selishness, called her "the best and dearest
girl in tbs world"
At times it seemed to John Stacey that
Arthur was restless and i'll at ease; but of
course he could not ask him if such was the
case, and the young man, for reasons of the
same order, could not divulge the cause.
Every day they went somewhere-he and
Ella-and lie was obliged to play the cnva-
Eer, whether he liked it or not, and Ella
fancied that his attentions of mere courtesy
were infnllible signs of love. At last Ar
thur invaded the precincts of the kitchen,
and determined to see Ruth and hear her
talk little, but she repulsed his efforts at
so persistently that he imag.
inad that she did not want him near
her.
II shall have Rproposal soon, dear" said |
Ella, as she stood before the gli,ss fondling |
her lnxuriant hair, and smiling at the re-
Election Of her red lips and glistening teeth.
Arthur is very tender, and looks at me q
dozen times an hour rs if the words were
on his lips, but he dare not utter them. |
You'll come and stay long time with me
when live in my great house in London,
won't youp twill be so nice to talk it all
over then." @
eyes, dear, TIL come" answered Ruth,
very fnintly, and trying to repress the
iobs that wOull arise from her aching
heart
With the first flush of returning day
Ruth walked slowly out into the gnrden,
lor dropping eyes scarcely noticing the
lew-gemmed flowers that seemed to ask
With oicrous voice forher gentle greeting.
Ter thoughts were fur away in the dirk
nture, struggling for hope, but finding
,one.
Suddenly she was startled by feeling o
land placed softly on her shoulder,
md, turning quickly, she beheld Arthur
Iarris.
Ruth Imust speak to you. I wish to
inow why you have avoided me SO studi-
'nsly 2
II didn't know bad," she faltered,
visiting one corner of her apron uerv-
'usly.
81 know il, he went on, in a low, dulcet
oice "And shall tell you the reason
ince you are so ret;oent. You think too
title of yourself, and would sacrifice any
hing for Ella." ,n. .r..l.
"What do you mean2" she demanded
omewhat sternly. .. -....
81 mean, Ruth, that love you, and you
My; that your beauty of soul is more to
le than all else on earth. have studied
ou when you never dreamed of it. Speak, 7,
~ darlingp Will you come to my heart
oreverp" 4
Her color came and went with every