The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-04-28
Se1ert Stnrv.
A TALE Of RUE.

vi oil wv NtSN RNSS'S'6 49, ~ ~'~ .S.''
night express bound eastward over the
Old Colony road, perhaps there was. not
one more thoroughly used up than John
Coleman, ESQ.,, OF the law firm of Cole
man & Riggs, Ashland, Massachusetts,.
From the morning Of November /, when
be had started for San Francisco, till the
evening of this December l. he had been
constantly on the wing. To aggravate
bis fatigue the trip, in business view,
had been highly unsatisfactory if not un.
necessary.
But as he drew nearer home his scowl
vanished and the lines about his firm
mouth eoftened. Stretching his long
suffering limbs across the seat he spread
the Evening Journal between bis aching
ewes and the glare Of the bobbing lamps
and INDUCED in tender speculatioEs.
How would Rue look when he appeared
before her next morning, two days ear
ler than be had promised She might
be watering plants in the bay-window "
and he would walk in noncbalantly, as if
he had left her the evening before, and
say. "Good morning, Rue" and she
would drop her watering-pot end rush
toward him, all smiles and bushes, cry
ing:
"Oh, John! John! how glad l am to
see you! how I've missed your
Dear, warm hearted. impulsive little
Rue! She certainly was fond of him.
He wished he had never been such
brute as to reproach her about Mr..
Lynde. He was convinced now that she
had not really cared for the fellow. She
had only been cordial with him in ber
free, girlish way. What charming, in.
imitable ways she had! The lovers rev.
erie merged into dream. Mr.. Coleman
was unconscious Of the Stacking OF the
train ut B, and OF the entrance of
two young gentlemen into the seat in
front; but the name Of Miss Rue Hav
wood, spoken almost in bis ear, aroused
bim like an electric shock.
"Mr. Lynde is bewitched with her,
that's plain" continued the voice. 'He's
having a fine time out of Coleman's alb
sence"
"Pluperfec,," said an answering voice
"They say Miss Rue wouldn't mind
Coleman's taking himself of for good !"
"He's an able man. You know there's
talk OF running him for Congress"
"Oh, yes; he's dig and all that; !;
but he's crotchety fellow. Makes Miss
Rue walk Spanish, hear By the way,
how are she and Miss Lvnde coming on
with the operetta2 had to cut last
rehearsal"
"Famously. Miss Rue's solo will
bring down the house. Lynde thinks
the entertainment will foot up at least
one hundred dollars toward the new or
gan. Hos jubi!ant. think that instru
ment comes next to Miss Rue in his af
fections. Can't be get the music out of
it, thought Halo! here's Ashland"
Wincing beneath bis newspaper Mr..
Coleman had recognized the voices as
those of two college students returning
from a lecture At B. Forgetful at
last of travel stain. WEAKNESS and head.
ache, be waited till the youths had left
the car, then walked out at the opposite
end, his whole energies engrossed in
weighing the evidence 80 gratuitously of
fered. How far could he relv on current
eossipp What attitude should he assume
toward Ruep Morning found him nnde.
cided. He must be governed by Rue's
own manner. As test OF her feelings
toward him he would ask her for bis sake
TO withdraw from the opnretta If she
Owed him she would do this cheerfully.
n she would not do it-Mr. Coleman
bad not provided for this latter contin
gency when Bridget ushered him into
Mr.. Haywood's parlor. Miss Rue and
Mr.. Lynde we're practicing duet for the
operetta, both too rapt to observe the
ntruder-a fact inexplicabIe on musical
grounds to poor Mr. Coleman, who did
not know the notes apart or care to know
hem. According to this inference the
young people we're absorbed in each 9th.
er, and he was off in limbo Under these
1t may not be strange that
his face, that instant spied bv Miss Rue,
bis face was not that Of an amiable man.
It promptly reminded Mr.. Lynde of a
waiting pupil, and having congratulated
Mr.. Coleman ON his safe return be hus-
tied his music under bis arm and depart
ed in haste.
Miss Rue wheeled the big easy chair