Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-01-18
when She thonrht that this sniritless

When she thought that this spiritless
feeling came because she had counted
upon the love of man who had never
told that love in words, kind of swift
shame would take possession of her. II
seemed like boldness TO count on love
before il had been offered. And yet
always like this her heart cries out
when she upbraided herself for what
she had done-and yet. was it bold and
unmaidenly TO believe that which an
eye told in a language all lovers knowp
Had she been silly fool in considering
that love was offered when every action
spoke of it? No! she had believed him
to be the man he protested to be, and he
had deceived her. She had not been
bold or unwomanly. She had taken
| the false for the true, and that she had
believed in him and his regard for
| her. had been her misfortune, not her
fault.
AS she sat there in the boat, and look
ed at Arthur, whose hand was on the
oar to keep the craft from drifting into
shadows and cddies, she caught herself
wondering if he was man capable of
such deceit as Robert Haviland had been
guilty Of Not if his face could be trust
ed, she thought. But then! Robert had
had an honest face. She would never
trust faces again. All men were alike.
They said tender, beguiling things, but
never meant them.
1oor fool' she told herself, rousing
up from the cynical mood, to say that
all men are false because one has prov
ed TO be- You know better, Don't
let this event sour you, and make
you skeptical of honesty and trust in
men,
Ruth had a healthy nature, and one
that meant to be just to all. Because
she had reason to condemn Robert Hav-
iland, was no reason why she should
condemn others who might be all that
he had claimed TO be.
You understand how it was with her.
l take it. Beating back and forth in
all her thoughts was the bitter fact of
her lovers treachery, while she tried
to think of other things. 1t was so
hard to get away from the truth. She
might put it out OF her mind partially,
in time, but she could not now. Pride
could not force it out of sight. She
must grow familiar with it, and perhaps
the Indifference which comes with most
familiarity would make it easier-even
easy-to bear. Drifting down the
stream, sang Arthur, in his soft, clear
tenor. 1t would be pleasant to drift
always, if those we love drifted with
u.s.
But if we must drift without themp'
asked Ruth. What thcnp
Then l should prefer to row against
the current answered Arthur. One
has something to think ofwhen he rows
Perhaps one would tire of drifting, any
way. But to have those he loves with
him-he would never tire of that
Il will not drift, thought Ruth, and
the resolution had in it kind of tonic
that brought strength. Il will go back
to work, and in work will learn to for
get. Other women have--why should
not Ip'
We have known each other week.
said Arthur, letting his hand dip the
water and leave swift-fading ripples
behind it, as the boat went down the
stream. Only week. 1t seems as if
| had known you for years, Ruth
His laughing, honest eyes wore on
her face, but with graver light in
them than she often saw there.
we are almost home, she said, turn
ing her face away from his eyes. i am
glad. am tired of drifting
To BE CONTINUED.