The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-07-04

{tHE NJ
conspicuously and so very discreditably in court.
you cannot expect me to continue an acquaintance
whore muss mingle in such low circles free
you from your engagement and free myself also
Respectfully yours, O. MASToN.
Charlie had spent the previous evening
with the elegant and refined circle that
met in the apothecary's back Office. Stung
by the jokes there executed at his and
Ruth's expense, goaded by his mothers
wrote the note.
| After reading it Ruth held it long time
in her hand. Her face was as pale as q
snow drift; her heart seemed no warmer
Poor thingi God only knew how cold
was this repulse of her hopes. How long
she sat by the window of her chamber in
this chilling stupor, she knew not. She
was aroused at last by voices outside.
Il tell you, sir, there's hope for you.
Make one more trial. God will help you"
That was Usher Cowan's voice.
Il thank you, Usher; but what good
will it do? Aud tonight ] am burning
with thirst. Let me go just this once-just
this once"
No, no, You cannot gol'
Ruth heard Usher pleading. Then she
heard their voices sounding in the alley
wsy. Then she heard them In the kitchen.
Rulh-hurried down stairs.
Ruth, have brought your father in,
| and don't want him to go out again.
| You are very kind, Usher. will make
him some hot coffee directly. Don't go,
fatherr'
Il won't, Ruth. She is good daugh-
ter, Usher. ! wish l was a good father,
the man blubbered, and then broke int a
/ pitiful weeping.
What is the matter, Ruih?" asked
Usher, noticing her appearance.
Nothing, Usher"
Something is the matter, /" said Usher
to himself, and left.
Usher Cowan was plain, upright fell
low, with a warm, generous nature, ten
| der in his feelings, quick in his sympa-
thies, but quiet in department. His habits
had always been correct, and consequently
he had not been that conspicuous member
OF society that some of those scapegoats
are, who, guilty OF a dashing sia, reform
and are lionized for their penitence.
Usher has always been agood boy"
said his mother, one of Ruth's neighbors.
He was bookkeeper in the counting
room Of the mill, and person who turned
of good deal of work, Charlie disliked
Usher, because Usher did something and
he did nothing. Usher and Ruth had
always been good friends. They had in
childhood pulled dandelions together in
the Spring, and in Winter had gone down
bill on the same sled. They had at school
often blushed to find themselves standing
side by side in front of the masters desk
when caught ia a common mislemeanor,
and had walked home at night trying to
comfort one another in their mutual dis
grace. So they had grown up together.
Such word as Glove" had never been
lisped between them. Usher was very
diffident about expressing his deepest feel
ings, and ere he had summoned courage to
speak, Charlie Manton had spoken. |
think Ruth would never have said Nay"
to Usher's "Yes," hvs Usher didn't say it,
So she listened 10 Charlie, bowed her sweet
face lower and said eyes" to him. She
was really asserting, though. to the attrac-
tons OF Charles surroundings When
she awOke out OF her dreamy dazzle. she
was like bird that, In the cold Winter
night, flies for the warm window-light
only 70 break its wing against the hard,
unfeeliug glass. But it shouldn't kill her
that she resolved upon. Her pride was
wounded more than her love.
Nobody shall know how feell l will
go to church Sunday, and sing just the
same as ever, If my father is a disgraced
man and rejected woman, said Ruth.
,, She sat. in the choir Sunday, and can
see how she looked inthe evening service.
A black hat that was exceedingly becom-
ing rested jauntily on her head, and out
from its shadow looked Ruth's pale face,
like the white heart Of black pansY.
Sac looked very pale, and yet very def-
ant, like creature that feels she is pur-
sued 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, she saw Charlie Manten in the
church, He was saying, How glorious
she iooksp She was saying. You have
struck me, but you have not killed mel
defy you. your family, Jack Linton, and
everybody else!"
What was it the minister was saying9
There are natures SO proud thai they will
try to bear up under any strain, although
they are sc, exquisite ip their sensibiliiies
thai the strain threatens TO xiii them.
Pity thenl-pitY their tearsr
THAT is !" said Ruth, ''snd everybody
sees Hy tearsp
Ashamed, mad, desperate. she arose
from her seat, hurried FROM the choir, and
raa out into the night. Down the street,
past the black canal carrying mountain
curreat to the mill like slave forced 10
his task: through a gloomy lane, into the
house like a hunted antelope she sped.
There she threw herself upon Der chamber
door, and did not lift her head until the
big mill-beu went boom-boom- booml
It was the first bell in the morning. Ruth
rose up, stole down stairs, made ready her
fathers breakfast, and then tripped down
street to the mill. She vas defiant rs ever,
and seemed to look even prettier. How
slowly that day vent How slowly other
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