, 1886-07-07

"Well 1t amt weather for a fellow to
turn out"
Il turn out quite rs early"
"Oh, women like it. They like to be able
to say, Look what 1 do; look what n
model l am 1 don't set up that sort of
thing, so when the boss told me 1 hould
have to leave II it occurred again, l told
him it should not occur again IL the
vally was punctual with my shaving
water and II the coachman brought around
the carriage in time. Then he told me l
was drunk, which was a lie. l told him |
didn't have money enough to get drunk,
and then he paid me what was owing
and said l needn't set foot in their estab-
lishment again"
"Oh, Dicki'
1Now don't begin oh Decking because l
won't stand it. l amt got to be answerable
to you for what l do; you may leave your
blessed old diapers, if you like, without
me saying anything"
II don't know how we should live If l
did, I" said Mary, bitterly.
well, you needn't trouble about me;
Pm going away from here"
"Going away Wherei"
"That don't matter to you. Pm not
going to be a burden on you, as you seem
to think. can do for myself"
al never said you were a burden Dick,
e lJA0hfh oh Y bO away " IN way
we've been together ever since we were
little children"
But he was r~esolute, and Mary thought
sadly of having to tell Ruth that he was
gone.
SHELL blame me. She'll think it's my
fault" thought Mary.
And Ruth did blame her. You shouldn't
nave spoken to him when he was in
trouble" she said, with newly-developed
fierceness. whats the use Of badgering
a man at a time like thatf"
Poor Mary! she had never badgered any
one In her life. but she felt half grateful
to Ruth for her angry p~artisanship of
the man she herself was ceasing to be-
lieve in.
Dick had gone, taking his belongings,
and he made no sign. Mary would have
been glad to hear a word-even al angry
word-from him. She would have been
glad to see his idle, useless head pressing
her sofa pillow again. What she would
not have been glad of was to Know that he
met Ruth every Saturday night, and
walked with her, and bade her not tell
Mary of his whereabouts, because Mary
was dead set against him, and that before
they parted nearly all Ruth's hard-earned
money had been transferred from her
pocket to his, the girl scarcely keeping
sufficient herself for the weeks food and
drink and shelter. No wonder that the
pale cheeks grew paler, the slight form
wasted almost to emaclatiQp a
heart ached for her friend, and A&SHE
a little theRsh hot all, the mischief nj
WORK.
You're getting ready for a sick-bed,"
Mary said to her one day. "What's the
matterS Are you f~retting after Dickf All,
Ruth, Pm afraid he's not worth it,"
Il don't desire to talk about him" said
Ruth, loftily; "but this l will say, don't
consider you're acting a sisters part by
him. If you can't do anything to help,
you might at least keep from abusing
him."
"How do you know he wants helpin
Mary asked, sharply. as he %sponging
upon your
Ruth turned away angrily, and from
that time a GOODNESS sprang up between the
two. 1t was not Mary's fault. She felt
very pitiful for the girl whose misfortune
she seemed to nave had a share
in bringing about; but Ruth re-
fused all offers of friendship and sym
patty. She even accused Mary once of
being a spy upon her, and soon after an
nounced her intention of quitting her pres
ent situation.
"What are you going to dot" Mary asked,
fearful of she knew not what.
~ can't see that it matters to you. How
ever, l don't mind telling you Ian going
to Mr.. Cartright's," naming a shop at
some little distance.
"Why, Ruth, it's not half such a good
place as this"
"Isn't it' The pay is better, and 1 don't
care for hard work and long hours IL / get
more money!
She felt the need of money sorely. She
had discovered her lovers place of resi-
dence, and now, besides the sums he ex-
torted from her, she took him from time
to time presents of dainty nourishing food.
At first he had protested vigorously against
her visiting him, a delicacy Of feeling al
which, in spite OF her blind alteration fol
him, Ruth secretly wondered. But when II
was arranged that she hould only come
on certain evenings and never by any
chance at any other time, he grew quite
anxious for her and her gifts, and chided
her If she failed to appear.
at was only that l didn't want you
when my place was in disorder" explained
the willy scoundrel. ats poor enough, but
l like to have it neat and tidy when a
pretty young lady honors me with a call
As time went on, anxiety and depriva-
ton and love told more and more upon
Ruth's fragile constitution. Meeting her
by chance one day, Mary was shocked at
the change in her.
you're just killing yourself, Ruth ;" she
said, angrily. 81 didn't think you'd bt
such a fool- Won't anything cure you OF
your follyi'
"Nothing'n make me turn from n mar
because he's down In the world, if that
what you mean. II things had gone right
we should nave been man and wife before
now"
"Bahl' said Mary, scornfully. allow dc
you know he doesn't get money from othel
women as he does from your Well, there
/ didn't mean to vex you. Goodnes,
knows you've enough to bear. Blu
doesn't it seem strange that he should bt
so keen against seeing me II 1t wasn't there
was something he was afraid of my find
ing outs | swear to you, Ruth, | nevel
said n harsh word to the boy in my life.
To prove how unjust was Mary's sus'
~picions, Ruth tried very hard to persuade
Dick to receive a visit from his sister. Blu
he was obstinate. If she could spare him
any money she might send it by Ruth, but
he wouldn't have her prying and pokine
into his affairs. AND don't let her set you
against me, Ruth" he concluded, "or
don't know what would become of me-"
Ruth promised tearfully.
"It's no good, Mary" she said, che dom
seem to lk you to know about his pow
erty. Not but what II you could spar,
him half-a-sovereign it 'ud be welcome"
Half-sovereigns and shillings and six
pencesg grew to be more and more welcome
Dick sometimes called on Ruth in bushes,
hours now, a proceeding which caused tn,
other young ladies ut Mr.. Cartwright's /,
giggle very much and to chaff Miss Stew
ems about her beau.
Cant | ever see you alone,n asked Dick
sentimentally. ii don't want all thos,
ytrtS Anttr,iuu md NnfchlnO