Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-10

me. You don't love me y she said
with sob.
"Now here, Ruth, don't talk that
way. You can find a better husband
than | could possibly be. Ruth,
where are you going?"
s'To the house.
81 hope that have not offended
you"
ssOh, no." she replied in tone
of sarcasm, s'the courteous Mr.. BLY,
never offended any one. Goodbye"
'Here, Ruth, just minute"
sNow I have fixed it," he mused.
81 intended to break it gently, but
failed. Well, I have simply done
my duty. l would be miserable if l
were to marry and settle down here.
It is impossible for man to explain
himself to woman. Hang it, she
don't want to understand me. am
sorry for the old man-and am sorry
for myself. Now I'll show the peo-
pie that l can accomplish something"
Ruth did not tell her father. The
next day when he asked why Ned
did not stay all night, she replied
that he had a business appointment
which he was compelled to meet.
Two days later the old man died.
Just before passing away, he spoke
in high praise of Ned. The girl was
almost broken-hearted, but she spoke
to no one of her greater grief. The
flower of her love became the thorn
of hate, and deep within herself, she
burned with revengeful desire.
The farm was sold and Ruth went
out west to live with her uncle. Sew
eral years passed, but she had never
ceased to pray for revenge. Her
time was coming.
One day, with feeling of pleas
ure, kind of bitter delight, she
learned that Ned Bly, lived in the
country, that he had begun to prac-
tice law in a town not far away.
She felt sure he would come and see
her, for he had tried to see her be-
fore she had left her old home.
"Ruth," said her uncle, upon re-
turning from the town. 81 met an
old friend of yours to-day. His
name is Ned Bly,. You know him,
don't you?"
"Oh, yes, know him."
she said that he had known you
long time. 1 had some law busi-
ness and gave it to him. The peo-
pie say that he is fine lawyer"
| / am glad to hear it. When you
see him again, give him my compli-
ments."
''All right. 1 am going back day
after tomorrow"
When Mr.. Hartford returned from
his second visit he said to Ruth:
"When 1 told BLY, that you sent
your compliments, he seemed to be
surprised. He blushed, l thought.
All, Ruth, he is capital fellow, and
by the way, he promised to call here
next Sunday
ST shall be delighted to meet him, y
Ruth replied.
She was delighted, but what a de.
light! The face of her father came
up before her. ''Then l will teach
him better lesson. / despise him !!
: When BLY, came she met him with
out the slightest betrayal of emotion
He had not changed.
"Miss Ruth, time has not in tn,
least altered you," he said, as h
1 fondly looked upon her.
"No, l am about the same,
. think"
4 81 was afraid you would hate me.
ooh, / could never hate you, Me-
i OR Mr.. BLY,, rather"
+ 'sThat's right, call me Ned. VIII
shouldn't you? We are old friends.
e eyes, we grew up together"
IS ''Let me see. Six years hav
passed since we parted in the gal
q den."
eyes," she said with sigh.
70 "Six years-the longest of my life
Two years ago, / went back to th
~ old home. 1t was four years to da
since we parted. went into the ga1
den, which was glad to see had III
dergone but little change, and sat o
the old bench. / have it's withere
,, leaves"
!, ooh, Ned"
: "Ruth, was fool, but, darling
~ I loved you then. Now, though,
worship you. Be my wife,"
eyes," she whispered.
- When he had gone. and while ST
sat in her room, gloating over tt
near prospect of her revenge, tt
face of her dead father came up b
fore her.
81 will teach you lesson, oh, ye
:. fool will walk on the floor vii
you and then, in the presence Of tt
r. company, I will denounce you. Thar
q. God, that the time is coming"
Ned was happy. AS he drove t
ve ward home he fondly mused over tt
h. bright promises which spread out b
fore him.
"It is better as it is," he though
[y ssHad I married her six years ag
/ would have settled down on Il
es farm, mere laborer, without a si
gle prospect of ever amounting
n anything better. I was not readil
I'd law for nothing. / felt it within n
ou that something must come Of it. Nc