The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-05-07

And just then Ruby looked up and
saw Harry Stafford standing in the
doorway.
9" WONDER" she thought, "if he has
heard all we have been saying? l
don't like Harry Stafford one bit. He
is so precise and dignitied, and Polly
Twitter says he thinks l am romp.
What business has he to think about
the matter one way or another?"
So Ruby rose. and went out of the
room with the stateliest step that she
could command; and although Harry
waited until nine o'clock, she never
came back.
II wanted to ask her to 60 with me
to the picnic at the Great Gorge" said
Harry to Mr.. Ennis. "Do you think
she will accompany me?'
"Well, 1 don't know" said Uncle
Ennis, looking intently into the bowl
of his pipe 81 rather guess, by what
she said, that she calculates to 60
with Jerome Franklin"
Safford's dark face flushed.
as he fit associate for her ?"
said he.
mo, don't think he is. But gals
are uueer!" reAectively added Uncle
Ennis. "Just tell 'em you want 'em
to 60 one way, and see how straight
they'll start in the other"
Harry Stafford went away with a
heavy heart. One smile would have
made him happy, and she had not even
vouchsafed him that.
But the next morning there came
news that Jerome Franklin had disap-
peared most Unexpectedly, and so had
a considerable sum out Of the safes of
Furdyce & Fordyce, in whose legal
chambers he otliciated in the capacity
of clerk.
And the first thought that flashed
into Harry Safford's mind was:
"NoW I can ask Ruby Archer to &c
to the Great Gorge picnic with mel"
And yet Harry Stafford was not more
selfish than most men.
Just within the cool shadows of the
Ennis woods he found Ruby hersslf
her hat hanging down her back, hel
tresses all disheveled, her blue eyes
drenched in tears.
"Why, Ruby!' he cried. "What i:
the matter?"
-"Pve lost him!" sobbed Ruby, clasp
ing her hands despairingly. He's gone!
A sudden chill seemed to grippe poo
Harry's heart. Had she then love(
his rival so well? Were they actual,
engaged?
"And it's all my own fault, too!'
continued Ruby, with fresh burst o
tears. "Uncle warned me how i
would be. He warned me agains
having anything to do with him. Blu
aoould have my own way. And nov
l am rightly punished. He's gone
Jerry has run awayl"
"Ruby, for heavens sake do no
speak thus!' said poor Harry.
"But I can't help it!' walled Ruby.
"Did you then love him so well /?
bitterly demanded the young man.
Didn't care snap about him!'
cried Ruby. "But uncle told me t.
let him alone. and l disobeyed. AM
now he has run away, and what will
uncle say? Oh, I do wish the dog
catchers had captured him before
ever unfastened his chain!'
"Ruby." said her amazed lover
"what on earth are you talking about ?
"Why, about Jerry, the red Irish set
ter, to-be-sure!" said Ruby. "Wha
should be talking about?"
"Is that alp" said Stafford, with
great sigh of relief. "Then you ma
set your heart at rest. Jerry is SAT
enough. l passed little Tommy Eato
on the mountain-road, few minute
ago, bringing him home with chat
and rope. 1t is of the other Jerr,
l am speaking-Jerome Franklin. Il
has run away, also, with a lot of none
} out of Mr.. Fordyce's safe"
"Has he?" said Ruby, apparentl
very little interested in this secondar
piece of information. "Well, 1 am NJ
at all surprised. 1 always wondere
where he got the money topay for
much jewelry. I'm sorry for his poo
mother, though. Are you quite SUI
that Jerry is safe, Mr.. Stafford ?"
"Yes, quite" said Mr.. Stafford. "An
: now, Ruby, that you cannot go to tt
Great Gorge picnic with Mr.. Franl
7 lin"
"But / wasn't going with him." sal
Ruby. "He asked me. and l said no
: "With whom, then, are you going
: "With nobody at ALL" said Ruby, wit
l charming pout. Nobody has askt
me-"
And she looked at Harry from und'
her thickly-curling lashes with such
: laughing. mischievous glance, that
e promptly followed up his advantage.