Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-01-04
RUTH'S ROMANCE.
CHAPTER ".

Aunt Rachel sat down on the yeranda
TO talk after supper was over. The
meadows were bathed in moonlight,
and the river ran through them like n
broad highway of silver. Beyond, the
hills rose, strong and restful in their
might.
The everlasting hills, thought Ruth,
as she looked away toward them, feel
ing something of the peace which al
ways seemed to brood over them.
From the garden came the fragrance
Of the sweet-brier and the pinks, and
every breath brought a new sense of
delight.
did Jonas tell you that / expected
another yisitor?' asked Aunt Rachel,
by-and-by.
Yes, answered Ruth. Who is it.
Aunt Rachel?'
His name is Arthur Ford. was Aunt
Rachel's reply. His father was your
fathers cousin and mine. and dear
friend.
Ruth fancied that there was little
iremble in Aunt Rachel'a voice when
she said that.
Il have never seen Arthur, went on
Aunt Rachel, Int if he is like his father
know YOU will like him. hope YOU
will she added, drawing Ruth's head
down upon her knee.
Il hope so, too, for Your sake. said
Ruth.
Il hope 50 for your own sake, said
Aunt Rachel, and there was something
in her tone that set Ruth to wondering
if the plans she had spoken of in her let
ter were not about this young man and
herself
When she went down TO breakfast,
she found a cluster of pinks beside her
plate. Aunt Rachel had risen an hour
before, and brought them from the gar
den, with kind thoughtfulness.
she never seemed like this before,
thought Ruth, wondering at the change
Her aunt had always been quiet, re
served woman-one that people called
hard and calculating. though to Ruth
she had been kind enough, but never
throwing off the reserve which had
grown about her, as moss gathers upon
stone. Now she seemed cropping for
friendship and confidence, as the child
who breads the dark reaches out for
the first hand ii sees, glad to cling TO
stranger, if it only finds companionship.
That day Arthur Ford came.
He was frank-faced, honest-eycd
fellow, with laugh always lurking
about his month. and in that laugh
there was n tonic for Respondent spirits
Before he had been there two hours,
the old house had begun TO echo with
his laughter. Ruth caught the infection,
and laughed with him, while Aunt
Rachel looked on with a grave smile,
well-pleased. How do you like him?"
she asked of Ruth. when they were
alone together.
Il like him very much, answered
Ruth. Il don't see how any one could
help likeing him.
He has his fathers face said Aunt
Rachel, almost as if she were talking to
herself.
His face is n passport to confidence
and friendship, said Ruth. You would
be willing te trust him the moment you
looked ut him. And under his fun. there
is real strength of character. He makes
me think of some streams | have seec-
all ripples and sunshine on the surface,
and you count them little brooks; but
when you sound them you are surprised
TO find how deep they are. Such men
seem to concentrate cheerfulness from
everything they come in contact with,
and radate it everywhere they go, in
fusng It's warmth and good cheer into
lives which lack the ability to gather or
generate il for themselves
You cannot tell how glad / am to
know that You have formed so favorable
an opinion of him, said Aunt Rachel.
Perhaps / ought not to tell you yet
awhile what my plans are-perhaps
ought not to tell you at all, but leave
matters to take care of themselves. But
there can be no harm in taking you into
my confidence. have brought you two
together, Ruth, hoping that an acqsain-
lance may lead 10 marriage
oh, Aunt Rachelr cried Ruth, with
n tender thought of Robert stirring her
heart Il am sorry You told me-
'Why?' asked Aunt Rachel. He will
not know
But | shall, and it will be shadow
on the sunshine of my visit answered
Ruth.
Il don't see why IL need to be. said
Aunt Rachel Only you and l know
what have planned. If he likes you,
and You return the feeling
But can't do that, cried Ruth. Il
can give him friendship, but not love.
OF course. it will make no difference
with Arthur and myself, because know
what you have planned for us--what l
meant was, that was sorry to know
that must disappoint you. Knowing
that cannot do as YOU would like 10
have me Is the shadow / spoke Of
But why cannot you do thisp asked
Aunt Rachel. You are not engaged 10
~uv onar