Milford chronicle., 1885-03-27
A Tale of Rue.
BY PENN SHIRLEY.

OF all the tired passengers of the mid
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 Narember l, When
he had started for San Francisco, TIL the
evening of this December l, he had been
constantly on the wing. To aggrayate
his fatigue, the trip, in a business view,
had been highly unsatisfactory, Il not
unnecessary.
But as he drew nearer home his scoWl
vanished and the lines about his firm
month softened. Stretching his long
suffering limbs across the seat, he spread
ibe Eyenin0 Journal between his aeh-
inc ewes and the glare Of the bobblng
LAMPS and INDUCED in tender speeula-
tions. How would Rue look when he
onneared before her next morning, two
days earlier than he had promised
She might be watering her plants IN the
bav window and he would walk IN non
cbalantly, as if he had left her the even
ing before, and say, "Good morning.
RTe." " and She would drop her watering
not and rush toward him, all smiles and
bushes. crying, "Oh, John John |!
how glad ! am to see you how have
missed You !" ,u,.
Dear warm hearted, impulsive little
RueI She certainly was fond OF HIM.
| He wished he had never been such a
brute as to reproach her about Mr..
/ T,Qnde. He was convinced now that she
had NOT really cared for the fellow. She
! had only been cordial with him in hel
/ free eirlish way. What charming, IN
imitable wavs she had The lovers
reverie merged into a dream. Mr.. Cole
man was unconscious OF the Stacking ul
of the train at B., and OF the entrance
of two young gentlemen into the seat II
front: but the name of Miss Rue Hay
wood. spoken almost in his ear, aroused
him like an electric shock.
"Mr. Lynde is bewitched with her
that's plain" continued the voice. 'HeI
having a fine time out of Coleman ap
sence."
"Pluperfect, said an answering voice
tTbev say Miss Rue wouldn't mlnt
Coleman's taking himself off for good.
UHe's an able man. You know there
talk Of running him for Congress.
WOh. yes: he's "a dig and all that
INIT he's q crochety fellow. Makes Mis-
Rue walk Spanish, 1 hear. By-the-way
how are she and Mr.. Lynde coming o.
with the operetta9 1 had to cut las5 It
"Famously. Miss Rue's solo wi
bring down the house. Lynde think
tbe entertainment will foot up at leas
one hundred dollars toward the ne
organ. He's jubilant. 1 believe tn!
instrument comes next to Miss hue ]
his affections. Can't he get the mus
out of it, though? Hailoo, here's Asi
land r =,
Wincing beneath his newspaper, M
Coleman recognized the voices as tho'
!, of two college students returning from
/ lecture at B. Forgetiul at last
trayel-stain. Weariness. and headacn
he waited till the youths had left u
car. and then walked out at the opposl
end. his whole energies engrossed
weiehing the evidence so gratuitous
l. Afforded. How far could he rely
Il current gossip? What attitude snou
70 he assume toward Rue Morning ioul
ls him undecided. he must be govern
k by Rue's own manner. As q test OF p
ie feelings toward him he would ASK n
II for his sake to Withdraw from the oop'
d eta. If she loved him she would
10 tbis cheerfully. If she would not 90
d Mr.. Coleman had not provided Tor
10 latter contingency when Bridget usher
ss him into Mr.. Haywood's parlor:: NJ
Rue and Mr.. Lynde were practicing
5e duet for the operetta, both too rapt
Of observe the intruder-a fact inexphcai
le on musical grounds to poor Mr. 20
le man. who did not know the notes apa
10 or care to know them. According
re his inference, the young people were
Or sorbed IN each other, and he was OIL
limbo. Under these circumstance,
le NAV not be strange that his face, L
le instant spied by Miss Rue, was not
vs. face Of an amiable man. 1t promptly
or minded Mr.. Lynde of waiting pu
cd and having congratulated Mr.. Colen
Mt on his safe return, he hustled his mt
It. under his arm ard departed IN haste;
IN Miss Rue wheeled the big easy-ci
in front Of the CRATE, playfully Tor
er her sullen suitor into it, and perc
or herself on its arm to hear about his i
ed new. Had he been i'll? No2 Ther
must be fearfnlly tired, She knew