The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-09-06

Oh the AldSAasss5 NO OHs3z Uut = OOnKeyps
goose or baboon would 20 up IN No
goldsby Legend, but in case Of oversees
aerial voyages it need not be limited to
November.
RUBY'S GHOST.
DO you believe in spirits, Mr.. Harding1"
And the speaker looked up seriously from
her drawing, balancing an h. b. on very
These two, Ruby Farris and Alec Hard
ing, wDuld have made pretty picture, now
that Art delights in depicting modern young
ladies in scostumes," and gentlemen OF the
period, instead of gods and goddesses in
nothing particular. Ruby hada dear little
face. with rosebud mouth, and was de-
cidedly pleasant to look upon; and Mr.
Alec, who was evidently OF that opinion al
30, looked we'll matched with her, being as
natty specimen of q good-looking young
fellow as you might wish to see.
well, that depends on what you mean by
the word, Miss Farris, he replied, abstract
edly. 1T has rather wide signifcation.
II NEAR" she said laying her pencil down,
and still more serious, @that if you love
any one very much, it is POSSIBLE that they
may come to you after death-just possible
you know2" she added. Don't reason me
out Of the idea, as know you are going to
do. like to believe it,
Then I won't say word about 1t, " he
said, his face suddenly flushing; but, in
turn, will ask you question, which is OF
far more importance to me. have been
afraid to say anything aboutit, for you are
90 much too good for me-but can't keep
quiet any longer. Ruby, my darling, do
you think you could"
Mr.. Raddles, if you please. miss; and
at this most inopportune moment, q lank,
Q wkward youth was ushered in.
Was ever anything more provoking? Ruby
felt as if she could have cried with-vexa'
as if his coming were personal insult. MIR.
Raddles, however, being pre- occupied and
short-sighted, saw neither Alec's frowns
nor Ruby's bushes. but plunged into the
account Of the latest croquet news, and
the baseball matches in the preparations
etc.
By the time these subjects were exhaust
ed, the family party had collected, and any
chance for further tete- o. tete for the two
was gone. Alec stood pulling his mustache,
and now and then furtively looking at
Ruby, who drew diligently, though, it must
be confessed, more to the detrimeht of her
picture than otherwise.
Have you any commissions for me in
town, Mrs. Farris2" he said, at last, rueful-
" looking at his watch. Il have to 60 up
to- day on business, but only stay over
one night"
IF Mr.. Harding would bring home a
valuable pin, which had been repaired, it
would be SO much safer than sending it
through the post; and line to the jeweler
could be written in a moment"
When the note was written, Alec took
leave of all Rubys sisters in order, and
then coming to her. held out his hand With
wistful look. The soft, little fingers were
trembling and cold, but he felt sure they
slightly returned the pressure; and he went
away happier, though disappointed.
"Oh! Mrs. Farris! what do you think?'
exclaimed Miss Raddles, Bursting the next
day into tho room where that good lady was
sewing. ''There has been such dreadful.
railway accident! The train from New York
has been run into and ever SO many people
killed. Poor MIR. Slack, and Mrs. Scanlon.
at the corner, ond that good looking young
man, MIR. Harding. and"
"Mr. Harding! How very shocking"
cried Mrs. Farris. ave know him quite
we'll, and-Oh, dear! my diamond pin!
Why, Ruby my child, what is the matter2"
For poor little Euby with dreadful look
in her eyes, and her lips white and parted,
was standing close at hand. As her mother
spoke, she made step forward, and fell
fainting. Miss Raddles departed, amid
the general confusion, to remark, confden-
TALLY to friend or two, that Ruby Farris
had fits; she had just left her in one. She
always thought that red and white complex
ion really very unwholesome, though pee-
pie admired it.
bewilderment, that slowly grew to dull,
intolerable pain. she steadfastly refused to
answer the questions that were asked her.
81 want to be alone" moaned the poor
child; and so they laid hef bn the drawing
room sofa. How shockingly bright was the
summer day now! though only short time
since that sunshine had seemed to &C cord so
we'll with her happy heart. They closed
the Vene tian blinds, and drew heavy cur
taips over the glass-door that led into the
garden, leaving it little open. that a breath
Of fresh air might steal through the folds,
and left her-to have a nice sleep, they
said.
A nice sleep! What mockery all the
tender household sayings had been to her!
None knew of her grief, for Ruby had been
piness. She felt as if the past and future
had been blotted out, as If nothing ever
could happen again-ever had happened
bat this horrible event. And yet she Won
dered why she could not cry. Did she love
him less than her pet canary, that died last
week-years, ages ago, when she was her
self, and had heart, instead of this leaden
weight that did not feel, only pressed all
the life out of her.
Oh, if she could die and go to Alec! But
she could not die. She would 60. on living
for length of years, and her youth would
pass, and wrinkles come, and her pretty
hair grow thin; and even her love woult.
fade In the long years, leaving her only
sad, spiritless old maid. And poor little
Ruby's mind wandered in these sad laby-
rinths Of thought, hour after hour, as she
az in the darkened room. One memory
after another passed before her, each more
full of pain than the other. Only yester-
day she was sitting at her drawing, and saw
him coming in from the garden through
that =ery door, now so heavily curtained.
She lived that scene over again in her mind,
feverishly recalling every word and look.
She had told him an old legend about the
house they lived in; and then she remem-
bered what she had said about spirits, and
his look, and the half spoken words. How
she hated Mr.. Raddles for interrupting
them. If she could only have told one
word of her love! But now Alec would
never know it. Ah! if her belief were but
true, and his spirit would come to her, and
show her that :"love was stronger than the
grave" -,
All at once sudden light broke on the
darkness. She turned her heavy eyes, and
there, between the curtains, stood her lost
love, in the sunshine, looking tenderly at
her.
Ruby half raised herself, held out her
trembi ng hands, and cried:
ALEC, my love, you have come to me! l
am not afraid; not at all afraid!"
Afraid of what, darling?" replied the
phantom, in tone of the greatest surprise:
aCome to you2 OF course have-straight
from the station. Have you a headache,
that the room is 80 darkened2"
The last words were lost upon Ruby. He
was kneeling by her, her head upon bis
breast, and torrent of tears was utterly
spelling the specter's shirt front. Gradu-
ually, with great difficulty, he learned the
truth; and by dint of soothing and caress-
ing, and laug Ching little at her, the tears
dwin died into an occasional sob, the color
came back to the rosebud mouth, the light
to the eyes, and Ruby was herself again.
ut was that gossiping Miss Raddles,"
Alec explained THAT family seems des-
tined to annoy us. had intended coming
by that train" (Ruby shud 1ered, and had
to be restored by kiss), "but found my
business would not let me. l was yexcd