New Ulm weekly review., 1885-06-24
had eaten little for a week, and, when

= 2 s=
had eaten little for a week, and, when
Ruthie, who had learned after many
times burning the bread and her face
together-to make toast, carried him
up a repast, which, though scant was
delicate. he moved the tray aside and
polntedto the open door.
s'Look at the easel, Ruth. Do you
see that have had my picture framed? /?
Is it not beautifu1?''
And when Ruthie acquiesced, he
took her hands.
Dear child, we have fallen upon evil
times. Not that it matters much for
me; but for you-well, you Will not be
left penniless- There is fortune for
you in my picture -
A stream of bright arterial blood
flowed suddenly from his mouth.
Ruthie's screams brought Ray and
Chloe as he sunk back among the pill
lows. They summoned the doctor,
sent for Lord Lay ton; but Rosco Vane
only lived an hour.
At a suitable time there was search
among his papers for his will, but
none was to be found, and no one
knew of any property save the old
mansion of the Orchards.
'There is the picture" Ruthie said,
timidly. to Lord Layton. is worth
a great deal of money, is it not? Un-
Gle said-'' . and she repeated Roscoe
Vane's last words.
'sOf course Uncle Roc intended that
itshould be disposed of for our bene-
fit!' put in Bay.
s.My dear girls said the gentle
man, kindly, II grieve to disabuse
your minds of a pleasant idea, but the
truth is, the picture is comparatively
worthless, but he was mistaken in his
estimate of his own ability. His de-
lusion that this picture was great
one, no one who loved him could bear
to deprive him of, so great was his
qualification in it; but beyond few
pretty effects the canvas has no merit
amoEg connoisseurs, and would not
bring ten dollars"
Ruth looked astounded-Rav an.
CRY:
II knew it, said the latter. 81
guessed 1T long ago, and you and Iare
beggars, Ruthie! A pretty set of men
the Vanes have been, to leave two
girls nothing out of such propertyr'
She went down into the garden, ard
Lord Layton followed her.
It seemed to Ruthie that she would
never get over the shock of the news
concerning the picture. Was she then
so poor, even poorer than she had
feared, and must she labor for her
bread? She could sew exuuisitcly-
but sewing-girls starved. Well, She
could give music lessons. And when
she had decided this, in the dim
watches of the night, Ruthie fell
asleep.
The next day, Ray announced that
she was going to marry Lord Layton.
"He asked me long ago, and 1 told
him Yes last night, in the garden.
We are going to New York. You can
come with us, she added; 'sor YOU
can live here. For myself, I repudi-
ate the old home and everything there
is in it. If Uncle Roc's picture were
sold, l suppose it would buy us pair
of shoes apiece!"
'Dear Ray, I should like to keep it. !"
'You may have 1t, then. I never
want to hear of it again. Sell it or
keep it, as you choose, and everything
else in this dismal old barrack. am
provided for; it is only fair that you
should have what there is here.''
So Ray was married and went away,
and Ruthie remained in the old man
sion OF the Orchards, and gave music
lessons for her bread. She made a
nice little teacher, and every day
golden-haired girls came through the
little garden into the low, broad par
lor, and chatted gayly while they
drummed their exercises. Ruthie had
learned herself, and then taught Chloe,
to rub the window-panes, clean the
brasses, and dust the old mahogany
furniture, and, in the chilly fall eve
nlngs, Llsle Staniels would come and
bear her company by the bright hearth
stone of the lonely home.
ssDear Ruthie," he SAID, "we might
be married if were not quite so poor. ~
81 have shelter for us both," said
Ruthie.
''And only bread and cheese and
kisses for my share,'' returned Lisle.
':My practice grows so slowly
olAo IAAOJ UAOuSAo VI CuC Ulcdu duu
cheese and kisses until they determln-
ed to try them. Ruthie was able to
help her husbands modest income
along by continuing ner music lessons
for nearly a near; then there was a
little one in her arms, and added ex-
pense.
Poverty is no disgrace, but I, for
one, shall never write poetry to it,
said Lisle, ruefully, one day, when the
grocer's and butchers bills both came
due, and he had barely money enough
to buy himself decent new suit in
which to visit his sick.
| ''Lisle," said Ruthie, walking the
floor with Baby Lisle, who was teeth.
ing and worrying, 'there is the pic.
ture. I would like to keep it; but
know how you are harassed for money,
and yesterday I asked Chrome &
Crayon what they would give for it.
They said seven dollars. Let it go.
had rather see you relieved than to
keep It,
Chloe brought it and set it against