Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-08-09
WHOLE NO. go.
81 don't know whether I shall or

uoIi huOW WuctucT Silall oK
not" Susie answered indifferently.
Ruth would have given a score of
dollars for the possibility of boxing
susie's pretty little pink ears soundly
for her, had she only dared.
"But I'll bring him to the propos-
ing point" added Susie, carelessly.
And so that afternoon, when Mr..
Fritz Allingham, all unconscious of
the doom that awaited him, saunter-
ed languidly into the shady drawing
room and took up his usual position
beside Susie's work table, just where
he could look at Ruth's dropping
brow, as she sat at her sewing oppo-
site. Miss Susie ranged her batteries
and commenced like the experienced
little tactician she was.
''Do you know, Mr.. Allingham,"
she said, with demure glance from
under her sunny brown lashes, "that
you are a perpetual source Of Won
derment to me 2"
"Why?" he asked, looking up from
the scissors with which he was daily
ing.
because l can't comprehend why
you, who are so fond of the society
of ladies, do not marry"
"Perhaps intend to do just that
very thing" observed Mr.. Allingham,
quietly.
Ruth, coloring like pomegranate
blossom, gathered up her work and
hurried from the room. Fritz looked
absently after her. Susie threaded
her needle, dimpling and smiling as
she did 80.
"You marry?"
"Why not I ?"
"Oh, l don't know" said Susie,
laughing. "somehow l set you down
in my mind as a confirmed old bach
elor; and you actually think of mar
riage?"
eyes," said Fritz, courageously, "I
do"
"Do tell me who is to be the favor
ed damsel," coaxed Susie, bending
forward until the golden tendrils of
her hair nearly touched his brow,
while the light of conscious triumph
stole into her eyes.
"Do you really care to know to
whom my heart is given ?"
"Of course | do. Are we not fast
friends %
"But," added Fritz, 81 have not yet
ventured to breathe my love into the
ear OF her whom most admire"
"Do not be afraid" said Susie, en-
couragingly. "She will not say no."
"Can you assure me of that?"
81 think can" she answered, with
a bright glance.
81 thank you for that" he said
earnestly. "She is so reserved, so
quiet, that"
"Who?"
Susie lifted her head suddenly as
if some new possibility had entered
her brain. ..
"Ruth, to be sure"
"Ruth ?" echoed the disappointed
beauty.
eyes, Ruth, the sweetest, noblest
woman I ever knew" said Fritz, his
face lighted up with animation. "lf
she will have me, Miss Dalton,
know of naught else l can have to
ask of fate or fortune"
Susie, defeated little maneuverer
though she was, had yet well-spring
of womanly softness and sympathy in
her nature. She rose, and, opening
the French window, called aloud to
her sister, who was gathering roses
on the lawn:
"Ruth ~
But Allingham rose.
SIS she there? Nay, l will 60 to
her myself"
And when he led her in again, an
hours or so afterward, the diamond
ring glittering on her own forefnger,
not half so bright as her happy eyes.
Susie went forward to kiss her.
81 congratulate you, darling, she
said, although did think you were
exactly cut out for an old maid"
And Ruth was the first Of the two
sisters to wear orange blossoms and
bridal white after all.