Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-01-04
No, answered Ruth.

No. answered Ruth,
Then, if you have no lover, why
should you not accept Arthur as one, If
he sees fit to offer himselfe' asked Aunt
Rachel.
Il cannot think of him in that light,
said Ruth firmly. And he may not care
for ANYTHING more than friendship from
me. Oh, hope he won't! with long
breath, as if the thought it's afforded
some relief.
Il cant understand why you say so,
said Aunt Rachel. You have told mo
that you have an unusually good opinion
of him already. Acquaintance and in
timacy will be likely to strengthen this
opinion. Ifneither of you are bound by
other ties, il both of you have confidence
| in and respect for the other, why should
this friendship not ripen into something
dearer? Nothing would please me more.
You are my nearest living relative. He
is the only child of one of my dearest
friends. To you two l would like to
give what have to leave behind me.
Ruth tried TO think of some way in
which she could tell the truth to Aunt
Rachel without putting herself in an
never told her, in so many words, that
he loved her. He had never talked OF
marriage. But, for all. that, she felt
as sure that he loved her as she did that
the moonlight lay on the Winsted Hills,
that moment, and she was as certain
that he intended to make her his wife,
some day, rs she was that she loved him.
But, feeling all this, how could she tell
il TO Aunt Rachel in way that would
prevent her from thinking her foolish,
and perhaps unmaidenly, in counting
upon mans love when il had never
been put into words?
T--she opened her lips intending to
tell of Robert, but sudden restraint
came upon her, and she could not say |
what she intended 10; i am very sorry, |
Aunt Rachel, that you have set your
heart upon this, but don't think you
would insist upon it If you knew! A |
great wave of color swept over her face. |
She felt half ashamed of acknowledging |
to herself how much confidence she had
in Roberts untold love. Untold? Well,
yes, in words, but in hundred ways,
and in many looks he had revealed it;
and was il unmaidenly TO speak or think
of love which had found expression in a
language common 10 all lovers? Per-
haps not to herself, but TO others it
might. They would expect formal
declaration 10 precedc an open acknowl-
ment Of such an attachment. And then,
the affection between her and Robert
seemed peculiarly sacred, and to talk of
L with others would be sacrilege.
If knew what? Can't You tell me,
Ruth?' Aunt Rachel's voice had
sound of disappointment in it. To Ruth
{ seemed like sound of displeasure.
No, no. not now! she said, and burst
INTO tears She got mp presently. and
went up to her room.
oh. am sorry ] came here, she
aid. dropping down upon her knees be-
side the low window, and laying her
mead upon the sill. i know Aunt Ra-
,hel has set her heart upon carrying out
his plan of hers, and it will grieve her
f she does not. She has had such a
onely, desolate life that il seems wrong
o act against her wishes, and refuse to
10 that which will afford her so much
pleasure; but, for Roberts sake, for my
,wn sake. | must. To know that ! must
lisappoint her will spoil my visit. but
'he cannot blame me- She would re-
'pect me for doing what | must, if she
,nly knew the truth. Oh, if Robert had
,nly said in so many words, that he
owed me. il would be easy 10 tell her
But he never has, and it
seemed, when started to tell her about
lim, as ii there was really nothing to
ell, beyond the fact that he had paid |
ne marked attentions and l hoped he
meant 10 marry me! When she asked
( ! was Engaged, told her no; and she
,aid, If / had no lover' did not say
hat. She ought not to have inferred it!
Oh, hope Arthur is in love, and en-
gagged. Then she can't lay all the blame
If disappointing her on me.
ITO RE COMMITTED.