Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-11-01


school | had recommended. 1t was
windfalI indeed. She was going to
work very hard, and perhaps some
time | should hear of her. Then for
three months l heard nothing, and
then came brief note saying she
had not been able to 90 because her
mother had been ill., Mrs. Lamont
was out with her because of this,
and it would probably be her fate to
live and die at the Crossing. She
thought of taking the village school.
She could get no time to draw, and
she was losing her hope and courage.
1t was hard work 10 stand alone.
Four silent years went by. 1 did
not forget, but l was too busy to
write. In q Christmas vacation
for | had taught ever since leaving
SCHOOL, went to the city to visit a
friend. The bright stores, the gay
streets, above all the picture galleries
were a great treat to me, and / wan
dered at will among them. Entering
one, one day, saw lady half way
down its length examining some
etchings. l noticed the graceful
carriage, the rich dress, but no
thought that l knew her crossed my
mind, till, lifting one of the prints,
she said to the stout, bald-headed
man at her side:
s'This will suit Alice, think I will
take it.
The voice could not be mistaken.
In an instant | was beside her,
and turning at my step she faced me.
1t was the same lovely face, the same
Ruth, who dropped the print, gave
me both hands, and said with girlish
eagerness
us this really you
'.Is this really Ruth Burdick?'
'Not quite" she laughed. "Let
me present my husband, Mr.. Smith. %
The stout man bowed and I did the
same, but my heart failed me as ]
saw his coarse face. "And where
are you. and how came you here, and
when can you come to see me? My
home is here, you know
l promised for the next day.
found pretty house in the suburbs,
where if everything was not 'regard,
less of expense" nothing certainly
was cheap or common. MI. Smith
was no millionaire, but he was rich
enough to give his wife the beautiful
surroundings she wished. When she
had shown me through garden and
house, we sat down In her pretty par
lor, bright with pictures and cary.
ings, and the nameless nothings tina
cost so much, and in few brief sen.
tences she gave me past and present
II met Mr.. Smith at Mrs. La
mont's, and we were married, ,-or
rather short acquaintance, -three
years ago. She made the match, oi
course, after she found I was never
likely to be spared from home in any
other way. I was grateful for al
her kindness, and she wac sure j
was the best thing for me. Ny sis
ter lives with me, She has a goot
deal Of talent, and / mean she shall
have every chance. Astor,-you re
member my brother,-is practicins
law, and doing finely, they say. H
means to be great man some day
AS for me, since my wedding trip
have lived very quietly here"
"And you are happy, Ruth? Yo'
have good deal to make you So"
l could not say ''everything."
remembered Mr.. Smiths face to-
well.
"Isn't that too much TO ask? / an
pleased with.-with my surround
ings. Yes, suppose I'm as happ
as most women. I've given up an
troublesome ambitions, at least ceas
ed to live "a different life.
80 Ruth, your painting Hav
you given all that up now, when 20
have leisure and everythings
should have thought"
Eyes, that was what | thought be
fore marriage, that / should hav
every chance to work. But our Gil
Gle of friends is so large, societ
takes so much, that have very littl
time left. And Mr.. Smith though
it injured my health,"
"And so your ambition is give
up, your talent rusting. If you mai
, ried for-for love" the word stuo
in my throat" haven't word t
say. But if you didn't,-if you ha
to resign your ambitions, oouldn'
t you find something better than this
"The same old GIRL" she sal
smiling. ''Why, my grand mate
was the wonder of the village, an
my parents haven't ceased to prid
, themselves on the lucky stroke c
sending me away to school. / kno
: what you mean. The quotatio
/ that's on your lips is that awkwar
/ one about Esau and the mess of DO
j tage. Well, if had been strong, {
if had had boys chance. migl
[ have gone on working alone. Bn
mother always said that marriag
+ was the hest chance open to women
and I thought | was taking a Ion
step toward fulfilling my hopes.
| was mistaken, that's all. You can