Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-03-14

Nv hen l tr1ed to talk, however, June
wouldn't hear to me. He knew what he was
doing'-so he persisted. Anna was the girl
who would make him just the wife he wanted
an the Stone farm was all ready for EN- to
move in right away He had rather taken
n fancy, he remembered, to Ruth at one
time. but that hadn't amounted to ANYTHING
| said no more, but kept up quite a-thinkin'
The night before Thanksgivin' Of that
year was as clear as a bell. There was three
feet o snow all over the country At Z o'clock
June an drove to the Gaylers' door, Almost
before I'd got the horses still, a figure all
tightly wrapped up slipped out the gate.
Poor Anna. She seemed terrible nervous as
June helped her into the seat by him.
"'Oh, june heard her say, Il almost wish
I'd never thought o this silly plan
June did almost all the talkin' while we
spun down the street and ont on the Battle
Hill turnpike. Anna sat with his arm half
round her, and seemin' for the first time to
realize that she was takin' an important step
in life
Il hardly looked at 'em after Anna was
in her seat by June The horses was
them my hull attention. 1t required whip an
ichiS cNci tiiiiS else W Iudko ell DtiltNe.
The parsonage at Battle Hill is only two
miles-an' a-half from our village. We fairly
flew over the road. Then, just before We
passed the big gates that led to Squire
Loftus's place, Dollar gave a lunge. That
set Prince a-goin'. Before l could help it.
they wheeled sharp, overset the sleigh, an
ran themselves up to their shoulders in a snow
bank. There they stood. We, meanwhile,
were pickin ourselves up as best we could.
'ln the name Of goodness l heard
Juniper shout in a voice that frightened me
half to death. l scrambled up and looked
at the other two. 1t was bright moonlight
There stood Brother Juniper. In front of lis
was the person who'd come with us in the
sleigh-Ruth Gayler
Before either of us could say word she
burst right out a-cryin'. Then followed
the queeriest, the most mixedup and
ginerally surprisin' explanation of
what had took place an how it had come
about, that ever expect to hear in all my
mortal life. Most Of the time Juniper just
stood there. pale and bewidered. / put the
best part of tn, bad questions there was to
ask, holding the horses heads. 1t must have
looked curious picture.
''Our hired help and Lucretia Tabb, who'd
been dressmakin' at the Gaylers' for a couple
O weeks, off an on, was great friends. That
night when Brother June had drawn that
lot-we'd ought both to have been ashamed
Of ourselves for such foolishness
Almira'd overheard the hull affair. She told
Lucretia Tabb. And what does Lucretia do
but tell Anna; an Anna told her sisters
"At first, Anna was pretty we'll put out at
Brother June. Then when she an Jenny an
Ruth talked it over, they couldn't but laugh
and call it all real joke on June.
Then they put their heads to.
gether directly, to find out a way to
punish June for coming to one Of them with
an offer under such circumstances. That
was why Anna'd contrived the stolen we'd
ding.
"When they first planned it out, Ruth (who
had plenty of mischief in herr was perfectly
willin' to undertake the part arranged for
her-she to meet brother June, instead of
Anna, in the dark. That'd be easy; the girls
had all much Of height, figger and voice.
When we'd reached Parson Latham's steps,
she was to pull off her wells and make a low
terry, I've brought my sisters compliments
girl to marry you, you'll know whether you
love her or whether any of her sisters
mightnt do just as we'll - especially,
she hopes that you won't toss up
for her, Then she was to hold out the
identical piece Of paper with Anna written
on it. (Almira pounced on it, while she was
sweeping, the day after twas written) An,
last Of all, Ruth calculated to say, Come,
June; a jokes a joke. We don't bear no
malice, not even sister Ann. You mustn't.
Just drive me back home
But you see, Master Frank, Ruth had
liked Brother June more than she thought,
an all week tho idea Of actin such part
even to oblige Anna and have some sport,
CALLED her the worse. She couldn't bear to
think Of it. She begged Anna and Jenny to
let her off an Jenny to play the part of
Anna herself. But, no; they insisted on her
keepin' to her promise. So, between her be-
in so mortified and SO afraid o. hurtin'
brothers feelin's too keenly, she was
pretty we'll onnerved when Anna and Jenny
pushed her out of the door to run to the
sleigh. Then, too, there was me- June hadn't
happened to say a word about calculatin'
on my goin to Parson Latham's with 'em.
Ruth felt worse than ever.
"'Oh, June. she said. with her long golden
hair all fallin' down ON her shoulders an her
voice choked with cryin', will you, will
you forgive met Please do, dear June, I'm
SO ashamed Of myself. Whatever shall do,
to show you how sorry am?
"June didn't answer for u minute His
eyes we're fashin' an his teeth SET could
see that Anna Gayler was out of his
books forever. But what l couldn't see
was goin' on, jest in that identical
space O. time. Brother June was findin' out
his own heart at lastl He looked at
Ruth an remembered what good true
friends him an herd been during all their
pranks and capers. He was discoverin'
what beautiful face she had
for she was the handsomest Of the three)
an how she felt at havin' helped in NOR
tifyin' him. She was good, true girl, was
Ruth. under all her mischief.
Ruth says brother, coming up closer to
her an holding out his hand, don't say no
more; please don't. It's who ought to beg
pardon Of Anna, an all of you. l do it
specially Of you, Ruth know now that l
haven't ever cared half so much for Anna as
as I have-for somebody else. What a
blind fool a man can be, if he only tries!
Ruth, came down this road tonight to get
married to a woman l thought ! loved
Please don't be angry, nor think me a
weathercock as I've seemed to be. want to
60 back an tell Anna and your folks an
mine an all the village that I've married the
girl love. There's the difference"
Ruth Gayler started back from Brother
June. l could see how white her face
had grown in the clear light. June
she says don't understand
As she spoke she tried to draw away her
hand, and June went on quickly, But
do an must make you see it,
Iquietly turned away, under a pretense
o the horses bcin' restless. I waI dumb
founded. June and she stood there, with m.
a little way off. They talked AZ talked.
would only catch June's voice now an then
not hers at all. knew now that she loved
brother; an that, whatever he said, she d
have to fight against herself, or June would
carry any point he chose-the n'some, per