The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-01-17
OFFICIAL PAPER OF ALEXANDER COUNTY,
RUTH'S MISTAKE.
Ely ADN.A ". LIGHTNER.


$50 you are going to town again, are you
Rob-"
Ruth's blue eyes we're filled with tear:
and her childish face wore grieved look
but her voice had commanding ring in il
that spo;lt the effect OF the eyes and face,
Rob West stood in front OF merry
cracking hickory fire, that sent out 4
warmth which penetrated every corner o.
the tidy little sitting room. He was brush
ing his clothes briskly, and, being thus oc.
cupied, did not look up at his little wite's
inquiry, but wondered, What was the mat.
ter now
If Rob had only looked up and seen that
beseeching, yearning look, that pretty inter
lacing Of the fingers, how different would
have been the ending of my story
YES, Ruth he said, in bright, CHEEKY
voice, that rang out through the room like
the song OF bird, Il must 60, but will
be at home on the seven o'clock train
Must go! What for, would like to
know"
Never mind, Ruthie, you would not I'M
derstani if | should take the time to eX-
about businessl'
Robs playful words that he imagined
would soothe her, had the very opposite ct.
feet.
"Oh. Of course don't know anything.
What pity you did not marry Mary Ed
wards. No doubt she would have been ca
pable Of understanding you and your bust,
ness both"
Ruth spoke with O. sarcastic, taunting
ring to her voice, as she began energetically
TO brush the dust of Of the mantle with her
apron that Rob had raised but moment
before.
Rob compressed his lips tightly to keep
back the angry words, He was not perfect,
far from it, although his heart was large
and warm. He had many faults and in
tirmities-none knew them better, none re-
GREETED them so deeply as he, Rob had
formed resolution long before that he
would never allow himself to get angry
when Ruth did and he would keep that
VOW, be it ever 80 hard; and il was hard,
for Ruth was quick as a fash to anger, and
as quick over bursting out with hot, i'm
patient words, and ready to make up in the
next breath.
mo, Ruthie, did not want Mary Ed
wards. am satisfied with my choice, and
wish that you could say the same"
"Well, for my part think you ought to
be satisfied, when you know that might
have married Will Ellis, and lived in fine
house with servants to 90 and come at my
command, instead of this little ten-by-
twelve frame, and myself the household
drudge
Ruths temper was up to white heat now,
and she did not care what she said.
swell, Ruthie," Rob said with deep
sigh, at will all be right some day. Twill
grow rich or die, and you can marry rich
"Great danger Of your growing rich, and
about as much Of your dying; better get
you life incurred, if you are going to died.
"All right, will Now must 90.
will be obliged to drive Bird single to day,
Speed is lame. ! don't like to drive
her alone, she feels too good this cold wealth.
or. But brush my hat Ruthic, and get me
a handkerchief, While harness up, and
will try her."
Rob heaved a deep sign as he walked out
TO the barn, Ruths angry words bled his
tender heart; for with all her faults, he
loved little brown.haired Ruthie better than
the whole world, although she tried him
sorely sometimes. lie harnessed Bird to
the light buggy and drove around to the
hitching post, tied her, and entered the
house to find his wife standing just where
he had left her, with the same irown on her
brow and the same pout on her pretty lips,
What in the wide world possessed Ruth
and caused her to be 80 unkind to Rob,
would have been hard to tell. She knew
that she was cross and pettish, but could
assign no reason for il, only she wanted
something and she did not know what Oh,
how her heart acbed to lay her head on that
great, brave, handsome fellows shoulder
the husband who would have died for her
and, with her face very close to his, sob
out her repentance and crave his forgive
ness for her bitter words But pride, stub
born pride, held her back. Rob came aud
stood by his wee little wife, and looked
sorrowfuly down upon her.