The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-05-18

their perfume crept out on the air; she
assured he, petted me, loved me, till
even my nlisfOrtunes seemed blessings
drawing us nearer together.
And when she was all the world to me.
all that saved me from misery, John
Hayes asked me to give him Ruth for his
wife. | could have struck him dead
when he stood before me- young giant
in strength, with his haLdsom un-bulut
face glowing with health, and wanted to
take away my one blessing, my only
home child
II will be a true son to you, Mr.. Mar
tin, he said, earnestly 81 will never
take Ruth from here; but let me come
and share her life, and lift some of the
burdens from her shoulders. "
laughed bitterly. knew Well what
such sharing would be when Ruth had
husband, and perhaps children, TO take
her time and her love from me. But
was not harsh. I did not turn this
suitor from my house, and bid him never
speak to Ruth again, mucn as longed
to do it. worked more cautiously. !
let him go from me to Ruth and when
he left her and she came to me. all rosy
bushes, to tell me, with dropping lids
and moist eyes, of her new happiness. I
/ worked upon her love and her sense of
duty till she believed herself a monster
of ungrateful wickedness to think of leav-
/ ing me or taking any divided duty upon
her hands.
] wept, asked her if she could face her
dead mother after deserving her helpless
father. pointed out to her the unceas-
ing round of wifely duty that would keep
her from my side, and proved to her that
the duties of wife and child must clash.
If undertaken under such circumstances
rs were proposed.
The loving, tender heart yielded to me
and John was tearfully dismissed.
Through the warm autumn months. when
the corn ripened and was garnered-
when our crops were blessed and the lit
tie bank fund was increased by the price
Of the farm prOduce-Ruth gIew very
quiet and subdued. She was not sad.
having always a CHEEKY word and pleas
ant smile for me; but the pretty rose tint
left her round cheeks, and I no longer
heard her singing at her work. When [
read the best pages in my books to her,
would see her eyes fixed dreamily on
some far-away thought, her work lying
idle, till she woke with a start at my
fretful questions.
For l grew fretful and trying in those
days. I wanted her to give up woman's
dearest hopes and sweetest affections.
and be the same sunshiny Ruth she was
before my hand tore away her love
dreams. [ wanted her to put away all
the loving tender ties of wifehOod and
motherhood, and pass her life in devo-
ton at the armchair of a paralyzed old
man. And when she complied, with
gentle, touching submission, then I
wanted her to be the bright, happy girl,
who had resigned nothing, and who
could nurse sweet girlish fancies, with
John for hero. An unreasonable old
tyrant, wasn't I?
The winter came IN early that year,
and before Christmas everything was
frozen up tight, and the cold was intense.
We piled up coal in the stoves, listed
doors and windows-that is, Ruth did
the work, and [ enjoyed the result; but
there came one cold day-one Friday
when it seemed no Goals, no listing,
could conquer the cold Children
froze on the way to school that day, and
were found, stiff and stark, leaning
against the fences. Food froze on the
tables. Ask anybody in Maine if they
that black Friday, and see if
some mothers eyes will not fill as they
think Of the little scarlet-hooded figures
brought to their doors, white and rigid,
that had lifted rosy, round cheeks for
kiss only few hours before.
On this cold Friday, Ruth hurried
through her work in the morning, MAX
ing my room the warmest place in the
house, covering my armchair with soft
and moving it near the stove.
[ would have it face the window, for my
glimpse of outdoor life was too precious
to resign; but was not, as usual, near
it, for Ruth said there might be a
1raught
When all was done indoors, 1 saw from
my chair Ruth, With q scarlet cloak and
hood thrown over her, going to the we'll
with an empty bucket. She stepped
along quickly over the hard, frozen
ground, and was admiring the trim
little feet and the dainty figure, when I
saw her slide to the two steps that were
above the well walls and fall. She had
slipped, and she lay doubled up between
.he two wooden steps and the rough sides
7f well, as if she could not rise. Two
or three times her hands clutched the
over step, and she raised herself half
way up only to fall back again, as if her
limbs would not support her.
And could only look on, powerIess to
move to aid her. Oh, the agony of it!
10 know she was hurt, unable to rise,
md l helpless as log. I screamed and
called for help. SIas was somewhere, [
Gould not tell where, and called loudly
or him. / could see, after time that I
Ruth, after her frantic struggles, was
growing drowsy with the death sleep of ]
old. The scarlet hood dropped more
md more, till it rested against the we'll
ide, and the blue-veined lids closed over
Ter eyes. The sight called from me
uch cry Of agony as thought must
De heard for miles.
1t was heard. A moment later John
Hayes, painting and eager-eyed, burst !
'pen my door
''What is it?' he cried. ST heard you
.alling on the road" J,
Ruth! Ruthp 1 screamed. aShe is :
reezing to death by the we'll"
He stopped to hear no more Out up ,
N the hard, slippery ground, down the s
teps with swift, rapid strides, and ,
hen saw him stoop and lift the little
carlet cloaked figure in his strong arms
nd come swiftly back, bending his face
lown over the senseless one on his arm. !
While hot tears rained down his brown I
heeks. He put her on q lounge near i
ny chair, and then dashed ont for snow
Grub her, rub herr be said. Il am /
,oing for a doctor and for my mother. +"
Before it seemed possible he could I
AVE crossed the lots to his home. his
mother was with me, and lifted Ruth I
way from the fire to The bed. The doc /
or came, and the two worked till nv
leG't sank with utter hopeIessness be-
ore the blue eyes opened again, or the
'reath fitttered through the pale lips. r
But it did Nt last. aud John joined me O
Ii f"rvoi.t THANK Godl' n
But Ruth had broken her leg, and we t
anew s!.e must lie helpless for MANY #
-ecl.- before She could be our own active a
right gin again. 1t was an appalling t
ruth for me to face, but she Was not d
cad, not lying frozen against the rough a
Fell cuIb, and eonldnotbut feel thank
1lness far f;ll lInNl lie min ,,f L.