Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-03-27

IS Ailu ztItH4 luz CuiiN CIHtIiOli VII il
ed to less practical subjects tina
j that of Mr.. Briscomb's money, an
was carried on in u rather lowe
& tone.
1t was of Mr.. Briscomh's none,
that Ruth was thinking, however
as she sat in her window that nigh
z looking down the sleeping road ant
B listening to the chirp of Il belatet
cricket.
She had heard slight Earring
sl,sound from the next room-hel
Ghosts; and her thoughts had fowl
slimmediately to the loose board and
a Mr. Briscomb's inheritance.
s Shessat motionless, withsstartled
& face, listening intently.
soft step crept down the stairs
:sII-she heard itplainly;.ind the front
Idoorsopened with a creak.
i slthefeltsher heart beating fast
,2lndsher hands trembling, but she
5Earose to her fectand leaned far out
.iofthe window, straining her eyes.
+ A tall form stepped softly to the
ground and made its way through
1.-THE yard with a careful stealthy
movement.
+ But at sight of it, Ruth gave a
Esigh ofrelief and laughed softly to
herself.
She stood watching the proceed
Iings OF the ghostly figure until it
turned and came toward the house
until the front door closed softly,
and the stairs creaked under an as
cending tread.
Curiosity, perplexity and amaze
nlent mad filled her face in turn, to
be followed by regretfnl pity.
"Poor manw she said to herself
compaSsionately. sit will worry
him into his grave, at this rate"
School closed, week or so later,
for one of those untimely vacations
which district school committees
are fond Of decreeing; and the sur
veyor drove Ruth to the station
she was to go home for the holi.
Gays.
These two had come toan under
standing. Ruth wore ring on the
proper finger, and all theft CONVEX
sation of late had been upon one
subject-whch was, upon how lit
tle9a young couple Of extremely
modest wants could safely start out
together.
They had not yet succeeded in
bringing the probable amount with
insthe narrow limits OF Horacc's
salary, although their feats in this
direction had been marvellous; but
theyha not dreamed of losing
courage.
81 shall begin cutting rags for
carpets as soon as get home, "Sald
Ruth cheerfu!ly, as the train came
.rnmbling in. dear mel what will
'EhG sht5k Rer. ss,a.;fl d l;car,,I,iaf-EssoEs
the window as the tfiflfHif H Eo'Sst-on.
and leaned forward TO catch
Horace's parting words:
"Ill be here to meet you, OF
course
With the assurance still in her
ears, it was no wonder that when
she stepped off the train, two weeks
later, and looked around with an
eager smile, the sight of the desert
ed little station should have filled
her with something like dread.
Nobody was in sight except the
station master, and he was tipped
back in a chair against the baggage
room door, half asleep.
Ruth walked to the edge of the
platform, and looked anxiously up
and down the road. There wits
cloud of dusk in the distance, and
she watched it with a lightened
heart.
But the wagon which numbered
up slowly and stopped before her
was not Mr.. Briscomb's nor was
the tall young countryman who
stepped out awkwardly, the person
she had hoped to see. She recognize
ed him as a neigh Dor Of Mr. Bris-
comb, and her fears returned.
"Going down to Briscomb's, amt
1ou7D sold the Young man. heSita.
tingly. 'sWant to ride? [ CAN take
you down as well as not"
Ruth climbed into the wagon 81
lenily. Why had Horace not
Gomez Something must be wrong.
.sHeard about that surveyor fel
Iowa" her companion observed, as
they drove away, aud lie looked at
her sympatbetlcally.
"About what" sad Ruth, clutch.
ing the edge of her high seat, tren.
blingly-
at was The day after school let
out" said the young man, obvious
Undivided between pity for her dis
tress and his enjoymento of telling
startling story. "Briscomb went
to mill that day, and the surveyor
(Bennett) he went out to Crawford;
he said lie wanted to telegraph
to the railroad company about
something or other. Well when
Briscomb got back-you know he
had lot Of money wllled 10 him
lately7-well he got TO thinking
about that money, and he went to
see if it was all righr. lie kept it