Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-03-23

f~N, ~ AeSs, tAOuRH suIuclently strong
contrast 10 the Meliiord place where he
had last seen Ruth, looked cosy and home
Ike. The garden was neatly kept, AID
well filled with late fall flowers. An old
woman answ cred the knock. and ushered
nun into tiny parlor, where the PLAIN
furniture, cheap carpets, and inexpensive
ornaments we're in exquisite order, and
whtie little cottage piano stood open in
ole corner. Before he had waited mo-
meni, little nguIe In print dress and q
linen collar, with short, glossy curls, and a
lar, sweet lace came into the room.
lie forgot his sister, the painful story,
everything but tie fact that Ruth was
there. graver, paler Ruth than tine one
he had l,it, but The one woman in the
world who could STIR bus heart TO the core.
"Ruih, he cned, springlng forward,
and then drawing back, tor there was no
welcome IN the lace he loved, only look
OF suppressed pain.
''kuth, aIe you not glad to see meln he
cried.
''Glad,' she murmured, and then the
forced calmness broke down, and the Tears
rained down her cheeAs. Glad she
cned again: 20, Frank, have lost every
friend, aid you Will go too, when you
know all"
Il have heard" he began.
'You have heard of my slinginess, my
miserly habits-yes, see you have, anu
yet you ale heIef"
because 1 AIN sure you have some good
reason Tor your conduct. Tell me you ale
not changed, Ruth1'
~ scarcely KNOW"
Nv len We paIted, he said, '.you know
the hope Ill my heart, Ruth. 1ell me
now, II the love you promised NE Is
mine"
''It is all yours, Frank, but" and she
drew b ack from the embrace he would
have given '.you may throw 1t away
when You Lear MY secret. have hidoen
II fr-m every ole bui you, but to-day am
need iIom a bondage OF six long years,
and you have night TO hear what / shall
connce to no ole else- You Will not be-
! tray NY sorrow1ul secIet, Frankf'
Nv haieSer trust you put III me shall be
sacred, hutn," he answered grayely, awei
by soiemnIty upon her lace anu In her
Voice.
There was silence In the little parlor for
some moments before the low, sweet Voice
was heard again. Then steady, without
faltering, Ru h told her story:
When you left me, Frank, careless,
| happy child, the shadow of what l mast
tell you now had not fallen across my life.
knew tLat l was an orphan, and that my
moIter died away from her home anu
friends. But Was still a mere baby when
! Uncle Wellford came for me and took NE
noIue. They called ne Ruth W clifford,
and l never thought OF my right To The
name TIL my uncle died. Upon his death
bed be told me the story OF my mother s
! life She was married against The wishes
OF her family 10 a man whose only CRIME
then was poverty. Her father refused 70
own her, and hsr brother, many years her
senior, was stem and bitter III hls resent
ment-
They were proud of their name, their
position, and tier wealth, and tLey never
Iorgave their only daughter and sister that
she lett them ior a man OF obscure parent
age end without means TO support her as
tLey had done. My father at that time,
Was clerk in dry goods house In New
York, with a small salary.
Il would not wrong my mother; but my
uncle SAID she grew peevlsh and soured by
The contact with poverty, anG constantly
fretted Tor the luXuries she had voluntarily
resgLed. My father worshlpped her. Ii
nnghI have Deen his loving desire TO graf
lily her, OF a sudden gleed ior wealth, l
cannot tell; but he forged his employers
check for twenty thousand dollaIs. My
mother was too little acquainted with busl-
ness 10 question the sudden influx OF mon
ey; but The orIn.e vas detected, my father
arI ested, tired and convicted, and sent 10
The states prison for n term Of years. lie
died there IN SIX months; but NY mother
had already preceeded him TO tie grave.
''Her last wish, her last appeal, WAS to
my grandfather and uncle, begging Them 10
pay the money ana clear NY iatber S nainc.
| ILey refused. AIter she died they took
NE home, and never knew want; bet
they igBoled and IepuGialed my faih,r
though my uncle believed hc died Truly
penltent Liam.
s.In my uncle's desk, after his death i
found tie papers Ielatlng 10 The forgeIies,
ana my pOor mothers passionate appeal TO
him to l,ay the money 20 wIongtully taken.
she took all the blame upon herself, re-
pentlng, when too late, her replnIng ds-
content, and her extravagant expenditure
OF The stolen money.
my first impulse was to yield to her
pray er, even Tor So many years, and pay al
once the amount OF the forged check still
IN the hands OF the firm who employed my
Iather, but my uncle probably kew whai
would desire, tor he 50 willed his money
10 me that can never toucn the principal.
Frank, with my mothers letter before me,
1 vowed never 10 spend a dollar In luxury,
one cent more than the merest necessities
of iite required, until the debt was PAID
that haunted Ler death bed. For six years
1 have saved all my income, adding 10 IL
portion OF the rent of the house my uncle
ieft me. l have Jared poorly, dressed
plainly, and ADDED little by little to my
hoard Dy closest economy and care.
Poor childi What lfe!"
81 was not unhappy. Martha knew all
and was Tar more in.nd than servant, and
when my friends gave me up thought oi
my mother and was comforted.
but you say you are flee, Ruthf'
"I am free. 1 sent the money to the
firm last week, and to-day, only to-day,
have received and destroyed the check, the
ldSt pTOSl VI ul ioehSA NAA-AS- D.
| tleman wrote ME such letter, Frank, that
am sure they will always respect my Sc
cret."
"Oh, if had only been here Ruth, to
give YOU home and protection, TO make
Your life happy by my love, while you
saved your own means for your holy pur-
pose"
1T could not have been. Frank. l
would have never burdened your Ia with
my duty TO the dead.
But now, Ruth7 You are free now,
and you will be mine! Mime to cherish
and protec:! Mine to guard from ali want
and all sorrow in the future"
Frank Frankl You forgetl" Ruth
cried. her face deathly pale, her large dark
eyes dilated with pain.
/ .Forgetl"
| al on, NOT the hannv chih Won left.