The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-07-21
graced man and I a rejected woman,

/
She sat in the choir Sunday, and 1 can
see how she looked in the evening ser.
vice. A black hat that was exceedingly
becoming rested iauntily on her head
and out from its shadow looked Ruths
pale face, like the white heart of a black
pansy. She looked very pale, and yet
very defiant, like a creature that feels
she is pursued in every direction, but
turns, and with the arrow fixed in her
side, faces her pursuers almost savagely.
She maintained her position some time,
The minister's sermon, however, was on
"Charity." 1t was plea for those who
had fallen. Ruth thought of her father
Suddenly the tears came dripping into
her eyes, and looking down, Ruth saw
Charlie Manton in the church, He was
saying: "How glorious she looks2" She
was saying: ''You have struck me, but
you have not killed me! defy you, your
family, Jack Linton, and everybody elsew
What was it the minister was sayingi
'There are natures so proud that they
will try to bear up under any strain, al
though they are so exquisite in their SEN
sibilities that the strain threatens to kill
them. Pity them, pity their tearsm
THAT is |, said Ruth, land every
body sees my tearsn Ashamed, mad,
desperate, she rose from her seat, hur-
ried from the choir, and ran out into the
night. Down the street, past the black
canal carrying mountain-curTent to the
mill like slave forced to his task {;
through gloomy lane, into the house
like hunted antelope she sped. There
she threw herself upon her chamber
floor, and did not lift her head until the
big mill-bell went boom-boom-bo boom
1t was the first bell in the morning. Ruth
rose up, stole downstairs made ready
her fathers breakfast, and then tripped
down-street to themill. She was defiant as
ever, and seemed to look even prettier.
How slowly that day wentl How slowly
other days went! And yet as they went,
the pain went. Little by little, she could
carry her burden.
All the while Usher Cowan was so
kind and patient, so wise friend. He
encouraged Ruth's father and stood by
him as his ally. Everybody at last knew
of Ruth's trouble as the precious news by
chance found its way into the stocking
basket of one of the members of the Sew
ing Circle, and it was given out much
faster than any of the yarn on the blue
and-white balls. Usher, of course, knew,
but he was as wise and reticent about it
as if he had been trained to this duty.
He was never in Ruth's way, and yet
! never far from her way. He rendered
little services. He dropped in to tell the
news. He said encouraging things about
( her father, who had really reformed.
'Usher is good young man, remarked
a neighbor.
"That he is" replied Ruth, with
;, energy.
One noon Usher called at the house to
say that he was going to New Jersey. He
. had been offered more promising posi-
tion in a factory there. Ruth was startled
: :, when he said goodbye, for his voice
7 trembled, and looking up, she saw hi,
lip quivering After he had gone, how
, she missed him! A gulf between her ano
: everybody seemed to widen in every di
) rection. 1t was not easy, that afternoon
to resume work, and indeed for every
body in "Number Two work soon came
to very serious halt 1t was in the base
i ment that fire was discovered, in a quan
: tity of ''waste, " and quickly the flames
spread in every direction. They sho
along the oil-saturated floors; with fee
, of dazzling gold ran up the stairways
Kissed out of the windows, and flying VI
= = the tall elevator, waved flag of awfu
menace in every story. Ruth was on the
third floor and soon learned that the fir
y had cut off all chance of escape by th
: lower stairway.
"Ladders laddersn the crowd gather
-, ing in the street shouted in frenzy.
'Here are some!n ~ cried a voice. Yes
the fire department had sent its supply
and they were planted against the walls
Il "Now, to the rescue !" shouted Charlie
Manton boldly, from a position in th
! rear. Somebody else, though, had gon
to the front, and was springing from
round to round, aiming at a window
% where stood Ruth Silver in her imperia
beauty.
!, "Hurrah!" shouted the excited crowd
e e ''He has got her"
Z Yes, Usher Cowan had seized his dear
u est treasure in the world and down tn
3, ladder bore her. No gulf between he
and Usher then.
/ There were other ladders planted ant
other rescues effected, but none that af
!. fected so closely the happiness of Ushe
- Cowan and Ruth Silver
io "a brave act You helped say
= 4 Others" said the mill-corporation's pres
u ident. "We sha'n't let you 90 to Ne'
5. Jersey. You must stop in town, unles
u unless Miss Silver says NAY, and vii
~ not let you stay. We will promote yo'
y here. You shall have Charles Manton'
~ place.
IN And Ruth Silver-she did not sa
u ''Nay." Indeed in very interestin
=, ceremony, she soon told the parson tn
= very opposite. .-FraHb LeSiie'S.
-
., When n Horse Falls