The Dawson journal., 1885-04-23
A TALE OF RUE.

the midnight express bound east
ward over the Old Colony road,
perhaps there was not one more
thoroughly used up than John
Coleman, Esq, of the law firm of
Coleman & Riggs, Ashland Mas
sachusetts. From the morning of
November l, when he had started
for San Francisco, till the evening
Of this December L, he had been
constantly on the wing. To ag-
pravate his fatigue, the trip, in a
business view, had been highly
unsatisfactory, if not unnecessary.
But as he drew nearer his scowl
vanished, and the lines about his
firm mouth softened. Stretching
his long suffering limbs across the
seat, he spread the Evening Jour
nal between his aching eyes and
the glare of the bobbing lamps,
and indulgedin in tender speculations
How would Rue look when he ap-
peared before her the next morn
ing, two days earlier than he had
promised? She might be water
ing her plants in the bay-window,
and he would walk in nonchalant-
ly, as if he had left her the even
ing before, and say, Good morn
ilg, Rue," and she would drop
her watering-pot and rush toward
him, all smiles and bushes, cry
ing, "Oh, John! John! how glad l
am to see you'll how I've missed
you!'
Dear, warm-hearted, impulsive
little Rue! She certainly was
fond of him. He wished he had
never been such a brute as to re-
proach 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 her free, girlish way. What
charming, inimitable ways she
had! The lovers reverie merged
into dream. Mr.. Coleman was
unconscious of the lacking of the
train at B, and of the entrance
of two young gentleman into the
seat in front; but the name of Miss
Rue Haywood, spoken almost in
his ear, aroused him like an cleo
trio shock.
"Mr. Lynde is bewitched with
her, that's plain" continued the
voice. "He's having fine time
out of Coleman's absence"
"Pluperfect," said an answering
voice. :They say Miss Rue
wouldn't mind Coleman's taking
himself off for good"
Hes an able man. You know
there's talk of running him for
Congress-"
"Oh yes; he's "a Dig and all
that; but he's a crotchety fellow.
Makes Miss Rue walk Spanish, [
hear, By-the-way, how are she
and Mr.. Lynde coming on with
the operetta? l 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 organ. He's jubilant
believe that instrument comes
next to Miss Rue in his affections
can't he get the music out of it,
though? Halloo, here's AshlandI'
Wlncing beneath his newspaper,
MI Coleman had recognized the
voices as those of two college stu
dents returning from lecture at
b. Forgetful at last of travel
stain, WEAKNESS and headache, he
waited till the youths had left the
car, then walked ont at the oppo-
Site end, his whole energies en-
crossed in weighing the evidence
30 gratuitously afforded. How
lar could he rely on current gos-
SIP! What attitude should he re-
sumo toward Rue? Morning
found him undecided. He must
De governed by Rue's own man
Her' As test of her feelings to-
"ard hlm he would ask her for
HIS sake to withdraw from the OPP
eretta. If she loved him she
would do this cheerfully. If she
would not do oit-Mr. Coleman had
no' provided for the latter contin-
eehcy when Bridget ushered him