The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-20
A WOMANS REVENo E.
CHAPTER 1.

The time for the marriage ot Ned By and Ruth Hadord was drawing near. By was the mos, promising young man in the neighborhood of Gray Eagle church, Arkansaw. He possessed many good traits of character, yet he had not that ssead.ness of purpose necessary to the achievement of-well, people who knew him said that unless he cultivated tenacity he would never ses the world a6re-
 Ruth was quiet, even tempered girl h the pic;uring of gentleneSs, she could have appropriately served as model
 Saturday evening, Ned was to come aud spend Sunday. Ruth stood a; the farm gate, looking down the road. She saw Ned coming and she waved her handkerchief at him. He is ihe dear. est man in ,he world" she unused. ~l will spend my life in devotion to him.
 There she stands" Ned unused Good girl, the nigh, kind of girl to make good wifi. bat-heigho."
 Ned, 1 though, you never would come" she said advan cing 10 nee, him.
 " thought that l was making good time, Ruth"
 Oh, you might have thought so for i, is much more wearisome to wait than i; is 10 ,ravel.'
 ~Yes. l suppose so. Is your father well ?" he asked as he opened the gate for her.
 No, not very. His cough does no, seem to gel any better"
 Sorry to hear it. Shall we go to the house or walk awhile?"
 'You have walked enough, Ned. Why didn't you ride ?"
 Well, was out in the woods. think. ing. when the time for me to set ou, ar rived, so thought that il would be say. ing time to ~alk rather than to go back to the house and catch horse"
 Mir. Haford, win feeble uead, was walking up and down the porch. He cordially greeted the young man, for whom he had pronounced regard Be lieving that he could not live much longer, and with natural Anxiety for the welfare Of his daughter, he looked upon Ned as he would have looked upon a son.
 How are you feeling, MT. Haiford P the young man asked as he seated him. self in large arm chair which Ruth had drawn out from an adjoining room.
 am not at all well, Ned. To tell you the ruth, believe tha; my time here is short."
 "oh, don't say that fa,her," the girl implored.
 "i cannot help but say it, Ruth, when feel !, 50 strongly. l. should not make you sad, for it is much better to be dead than it is to suffer without the slishtes, hope of recovery. l, is the pain of this world that makes us willing to try the fortunes of the world to come. There is one thing that cannot help but regret This farm is mortgaged for all it is worth. Being hard pressed, in consequence of in- ability to look after my affairs, compelled me to go in debt"
 Ned made no reply. Ruth looked at him with an expression of easerness She longed to hear him tell her father that ii made no difference @He is devis. ing some noble plan" she mused, bu, Ned's face showed no sign of generous contemplation. Well" said the old man, @i must lie down. l am afraid ofthe pleasan, air out here" @Rath," Ned remarked when the old man had withdrawn, "let us walk ou, into the garden" They walked among the flowers which the girl had 90 carefully cultivated. The air vas sweet with the rich perfume of roses. Ned, something seems to be weigh ing on your mind"
 ~l am not very well"
 "I am % sorry. Can l do anything for your.
 No. I'll be all right affer axhile.n
 They walksd in silence. Neda man nz vas restless. and his frequent sighs did not escape the giri's observation
 Ned, please ten me what is the maa- su wish yoa. SouefAing mus se roub- ling yoa-s RntA, let us sit down heze.n They saf On rustic bench. Afiex al few moments of meditatisa, Ned re- marked: