Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-04-29
QUIET RUTH.

Earle. Repose was IN every line OF hef
graceful form and every feature of her
pretty face. The soft waving hair,
brown in the shadow and tiecked with
pale golden CLEANS when the SUI shone
upon it; the solemn blue eyes, the
straight brow-all very quiet to in
tensity. She never blushed, or trem-
bed. or went into ecstacies of admira-
ion or fear or fun, her smile rose on her
GO and lit it, as the full moon does the
Ky on a still summer night, and every
tone Of her voice was low and musical.
Some called her cold, but |, who knew
her so well, would have laughed at them.
In one sentence she could embody the
sentiments another girl would have
spent an hour in delineating. In one
glance she could reveal tempest of Joy
or love or scon; but the glances we're
rare and words rarer; but Ruth's heart
was usually sealed casket to all about
her. A quiet interest and sympathy in
others veal and woe, a peaceful sort of
happiness-only those were on the sur
face, and the torrent of emotion rolled on
silently beneath.
Why, of all the men on earth, Ruth
should have given her heart to my
cousin, Charley Campbell, / could not
guess. How he--fiery and emotional to
degree, acting on impulse altogether,
loving everything that dashed and gilt
tered and made a noise, adoring martial
music and passionate poetry, and always
smitten by laxative, black-haired, waltz
ing, coquetting belles-ever fell in love
with quiet Ruth Earle, was still a
stranger problem. When one fine Au-
gust evening he bounced into our par
Tor, where | was sitting alone, and in
formed me, without parley or preface,
that he was engaged to Ruth, !, in my
astonishment, exclaimed; 81 should as
soon have imagined mad bull engaged
to a ring-dove! and was very sorry after
ward, ii was such foolish, singular
speech. Still, it did describe my feelings
exactly.
Every one wondered. Young girls
wondered what he could see i'll such
quiet girl" young gentlemen wondered
how she could like such a wild scape-
grace" But when, at last, she came to
me one day, with both hands in mine,
and said: "Mary, you do not know how
dear he is to me-he is my life, | Won
dered no longer, for | knew that Ruth
had given him one of those irresistible,
unconscious glances of hers, and shot
him through the heart.
/ think they were very happy all that
bright autumn, and when the winter
came the quiet contentment of Ruth's
face deepened, and every evening he was
at her side, reading, or singing or talk
ing to her in soft, loving whispers.
Was she tanning Down my wild cousin
Could mortal woman do such SEEM
ingly impossible thing? Were all the
wild oats sown--all The scrapes over? 1t
seemed SO.
The careless boy was maturing into
the high-bred man, passionate and I'M
pulsive still, but with higher aims and
higher principles.
The winter rolled away, the bright
spring came, and when the fragrant
apple blossoms were upon the trees Ruth
told me that the day was fixed for her
bridal, and we rode out together one
morning to purchase satin and lace and
muslin for the brides attire. Going
home together with the parcels slowed
away in the bottom of the vehicle, we
met Cousin Charley, his cheeks aglow
and his eyes dancing with suppressed
merriment. He waved his hand to us
and we paused.
"Take me in won't you?" he said,
pleadingly. Il have been to call upon
you, and of course found You not at
home. You have a seat for me, know. ="
81 sisniied my approval and he
jumped in aud seated himself beside
Ruth.
1.-THE Petrol came in to-day" he said,
as we drove along. odd you hear the
guns? She is fine vessel, just from
India, with set of the yellowest pas
sengers you ever saw. Liver complaint
is as common among them as among
French geese, and pepper is the chief
article of their diet Such tempers az
they have, too! 1t would puzzle Rutn
herself to keep quiet among them.
"How do you know SC much about
Them" | inquired.
"Oh, I've been to breakfast with one
of their number" replied Charley; IAN
old nubob who is as rich as he Is ugly,
and who has the handsomest wife.
By the way, an old schoolmate of yours,
Mary"
"Who is she ?" l asked.
He replied by another question; "Do
you remember Kate Glynn ?"
''Kate Glynn? Yes. Is she the ma
bob's wife,"
"Of course she is. / met her coming
off the boat this morning. She knew