The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-06-28
MY BEAUTIFUL RUBY.

"And this is her picture, Miss Mon
ma, the picture OF the adopted daughter
you loved better than all the world
beside-and lostP How beautiful she
wasl oh, how beautifull'
The speaker drew long, long breath,
and stood with clasped hands and blue
eyes rveted upon the oil painting which
hung In a curtained alcove in my pleas
ant sitting-room.
/ was lonely old woman, lonely and
heart-broken, since my child had left
me so mysteriously, with never a word
Of farewell or explanation, upon that
handsome October evening, so long ago,
and now, yielded willingly to my fair
young VISITORS entreaty that l would
tell her the story of that wonderful,
pictured face, with its mournful dark
eyes, forever looking out 80 sadly, so
thoughtfully, from the canvas; that
ethereally pale face, with its frame Of
sun-gold hair, perfect halo, like that
surrounding the pictured head of some
saint.
''Take that low rocker, there, my
dear, and sit here, close beside me,
while l tell you her story" 1 said to
my eager young friend, who, somehow,
reminded me of my child, in subtle
way that 1 never could just make out,
but which made me like to have her
near me.
1t was nineteen years ago that she
came to tighten my dull life and cheer
my lonesomeness, and it was like this
was living quite by myself, in this
great roomy old place, excepting for
Betty, my maid of all work, who was
old and rheumatic.
used to read a great deal in the
evenings in order TO make myself for.
get how lonely l was, for hadn't q
neighbor within five miles of me, and
you may guess what sort of life
led. But l had got used to it, in sort
Of way, for had been living by my
self ever since my parents died, long
time ago. One night, it was bitterly
cold one, in November, 1 sat dozing
and reading in my big chair before 8
blazing fire Of logs, feeling quite COM
Portable, while old Betty sat asleeI
upon the opposite side of the fire witt
her favorite cat curled comfortably VI
upon her clean apron. was only hall
asleep, and suddenly, mixed up dream
lily with the thoughts that always come
to us when in that state between sleep
ing and waking, heard a call for help
L started up to listen, broad awake
Betty still slept on TRANQUILITY, ant
there was half smile upon her ageC
features. The cry was not repeated
and, after listening intently for. a few
moments, 1 came to the conclusion thai
my imagination had been playing me {
trick and 1 had been really sleeping
and had dreamed it. Accordingly
laid my head back upon the chair agaiI
in comfortable position, and was sool
in the land of dreams once more.
1t could not have been ten minute
that 1 slept, at least so it seemed to me
l awoke again, and this time with ;
violent start, conscious that sOmebod,
was in the room. ITarkl heavy, la
bored breathing souuded near mel
raised my head, almost afraid to lool
or even breathe, for In those days ther,
were a great many idle tramps roaming
about and was never Uery courageous
especially at night; but Betty had cour
age enough for two. turned my eye
in the direction of the door, and there
standing with her hand upon the latch
as if she had just entered and was abou
to steal quietly away again, stood tn,
most entrancingly beautiful and yet thu
most pitiful and abject young creature
my eyes had ever rested uponl Sht
could not have been above 26 or 81
and, as 1 have said, SO lovelyl But hel
great, dark eyes were painfully bright
and had famished look like those of ;
starving, dying animal. She was liter
ally dressed in rags, and an old hoot
fell back from her head, disclosing :
mass of pale gold hair-the lovelies
hairl She was holding closely abou
her emaciated shoulders tatteret
shawl, from which peeped out the tiny
snow-white hand of a child.
l was no longer frightened now
though still astonished, for could moi
imagine how she had come in. 1 had
thought the door securely fastened, but
plainly, Betty had omitted to do this
as usual, being tired out with her days
work.
"For the pity of heaven, give me {
nights shelter and something for my
child to eat!' she gasped hoarsely
and her words ended in a racking caugh
which awoke Betty instantly. She
looked dazed and sat rubbing her eyes
thinking herself still dreaming, 1 sup
pose. 1 hastily assured her, however
that what she beheld was not dream
but reality, and that human creature
was in distress and needed our help, fol
instantly all my womanly sympathies
had been aroused by the beauty and
apparent misery of the young WSaar
before me.