The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-27

In truth Miss Rue had meant
nothing Of the kind, but her lovers
insulting tone exasperated her into
silence. Had it come to this that
she could not wink without first
consulting his lordshipl Her blue
eyes flashed. ominously, the steel
hook in her fingers darted out of
her crocheting with a murderous
rapidity.
"Rumor has told me as much" :"
repeated Mr.. Coleman, as impress
sively as if he had been addressing
a jury.
."And you let people talk about
me, John, and listen to what they
say"
81 might have known that a girl
who would not respect my dignity
could not value my esteem. Tyrant
or not, Rufelle, at least have no
desire to rivet CALLING fetters. Hence
forth you are free to smile upon Mr..
Lyndc or any other gentleman"
Had he omitted the last sentence,
affectionate, kindly little Rue could
even then have "made up" with
John, but this was too much for her
temper. Snatching the golden cir
clet from her engagement finger,
she hastily flung it at her lover,
with cheeks aflame.
"Take back your ring" cried she
"the girl who wears it should be a
saint or q simpleton, and I'm neith-
er. Goodbye john"
Auburn head erect, chin in air,
she swept out of the room with all
the stateliness possible to slight
girl of five feet two. She felt hers
to be righteous indignation. John
had no reason-no earthly reason
to treat her so. She would not per-
senate patient Griselda for the
amusement of the whole village.
"John wants to bend the whole
world to his will,' unused she, an
grily, peeping through her chamber
blind as he stalked away chewing
his black mustache; che wants to
bend the whole world to his will,
and 1 wont be bent. Our engage
ment is broken, and 1 am glad of it.
For full fifteen minutes she was un-
equivocally glad.
John Coleman thought that he
too was glad. Walking fiercely on
he squared his broad shoulders, and
told himself that the engagement
had been a mistake-an error Of
judgement. A grave, self-made man
of thirty should have been wiser
than to trust his happiness to the
keeping off gay, capricious maiden
Why had he been so dotingly fond
of the child, so hoodwinked by hel
coquetries? l.? Blind, driveling idiot
that he was, the sooner he was
buried again in the law the better
The mans soul was not within
him.
Shocked at his partners i'll looks
Mr.. Riggs in greeting him asked j
he had had chill.
"Yes, something of that nature,
was the grim reply. "How about
the suit of Ingalls, versus Wade?
find flaw in the indictment"
Mr.. Coleman was in the mood fol
finding flaws; his habitual self-con
troll had deserted him. Once h,
nearly annihil I'D Mr.. Riggs for cas-
ually mentioLing Mr.. Lynde an(
his reported engagement.
"Ohol / recollect now; Coleman
has lien on the young woman
himself. Queer 1 should have for
gotten" unused the discomforted ad
vocate, dipping his pen in the ink.
That night Mr.. Coleman had {
chill-not a metaphorical hear
ague, but a genuine physical, bone
shaking rigor that demanded blan
, kets and hot bricks and a heroi
dose of quinine.
"He's caught malaria from som
of those Western bog-holes," SAT-
the doctor aside to the landlord
"Unless we break it up, he's in 70
fever. See that he has a good nurse
I'll be around in the morning"
The landlord himself sat up will
the patient, and busy night he ha
, till daybreak, when Mr.. Colema
sank into a browse. The wear
. watcher improved this opportunit
to steal away for nap and sent hi
son to take his place by the bedsid,
: After an hours sleep the sick ma
i awoke refreshed, the ringing in hi
! ears greater, but the throbbing {
? his templess less, the pain in hi
. limbs no longer absolutely undeat
able.
"Heigho that you, Harry2" h
said, catching sight of the bo
e munching an apple for entertain