Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-08-09


much in practice-to dream and
lounge away the hours until evening
should bring a fresh instalment of
lovers, and Susie was one of life's
butterflies, and she enjoyed basking
i'll the sunshine with all her heart.
But there has been something in
careless words that set little Ruth's
pulses beating timidly and tremulous-
ly. -,
She had somehow grown to anti
cipate and look forward to visits with
a serene, happy pleasure. Would
they ever be the same to her again !?
Susie captivated everybody, she turn
even the wisest and soberest heads.
Would Fritz's philosophy enable him
to run the gauntlet of her bright
glances and sunny smiles unharmed !?
And then it was Ruth sitting in
shadow of the moving rose vines,
covered her eyes with her hands and
murmured:
'He is not mine-he never spoke
to me of love; yet if she wins him
from me, / shall never trust in or
care for man anymore. Am | in
love? Oh, l never thought of this.
l should not have given my heart
unasked; and yet there are so few
who talk to me and look at me as he
does. She has so many-should she
not leave me this one CLEAN of hap
piness in my gray, clouded life ?"
A few tears-a few bitter pangs
bravely battled against, and resolves
formed with Spartan firmness-and
Ruth'sonce vague dream was sepulch-
cred away. Susie had come home,
and life assumed newer and far diff
ferent aspect to the ''homely sister,"
''After ALL" she thought to herself,
"Susie is right. There must be sober
workers in the world, and | believe
nature formed ME for one. l will
think no more about the possibili-
ties which rightly belong to the
fairer and more fortunate damssls
than am." .
Fritz Allingham came as usual,
and Susie, unable to resist the chance
of conquest, began to weave her
smiling fascination about him. Ruth,
as she sat and looked on, could not but
see eand and acknowledge the gracious,
winning manners of her sister, and
the charm of her fresh, daisy-like
beauty.
"It's natural enough" thought
poor Ruth, with melancholy chill
at her heart. ''If / were a man, ]
believe l should fall in love with
Susie"
And when the sisters were alone to-
gether at night, Ruth patiently
brushing out the golden masses OF
Susle's magnificent hair, the little
belle began to chatter of what was
uppermost in her mind.
"He is very agreeable, Ruth, isn't
he ?" she said. "Take care! Don't
jerk my hair so. l say, isn't hep
"Mr. Ascoyne, do you mean ?"
"Fiddlesticks! l mean the scien.
tific genius, Mr.. Allingham. And
handsome, too, in rugged, unpolish'
ed sort of way. I've heard that the
Allinghams 60 in very good society
in New York. / always wanted te
60 to New York." added Susie, re.
flectively. "Did you notice the ele.
CANT diamond ring he wears on his
little finger?"
eyes," Ruth had noticed it, she
was forced to acknowledge.
81 shall be wearing that ring in a
fortnight" said Susie, nodding her
golden head, as she twisted up the
shining coil, her sisters hand had
just brushed "see if Pm not"
And Susie went to bed, and plunged
into phantasmagoria of rosy dreams
forthwith; but Ruth lay sleepless
upon her pillow until the clock be-
gan 10 chime the small hours of the
night.
TO judge from appearances, Mad
emoiselle Susie's prophecy was not
altogether without likelihood of
fulfilment.
Mr.. Allingham's visits were almost
daily, and Susie, enthroned in her
favorite corner, with the pretty make
believe paraphernalia of gold Thin