The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1886-07-15

rather than with Charlie, though she
knew it not. 1t was his social standing,
his fathers big house, his college edu-
cation, the family display on Sunday,
when the Mantons swept up the church
aisle, that Ruth was really enamored
with. Charlie was kind. Charlie brought
flowers. Charlie on sloppy days had come
down from the lofty counting-room, and
taking Ruth protectively under his UNI
brella, like an oak-bough sbeltering a
summer bird, had escorted her home.
Still, though she knew it not, it was
Charles surroundings, more than Char
lie, that pleased Ruth.
1t was the reverse with Charlie. Ruth's
surroundings did not please him at all
True, he had held the umbrella over her
when it rained, but he wished the walk
had been up Central Park rather than
through milt-yard. Neither were Ruth's
surroundings liked by the young men in
Charles set, who all smiled and SIM
pered and wore eyeglasses, and each
carried little cane that needed only to
be twisted into curl and carried behind
to completa their resemblance to monk
eys. Charles set jokcd him about Ruth,
and hit pretty hard; that is. if soft
putty can give hard blow. There was
Ruth's father cher mother was dead). He
was mill-hand. No, Charles set didn't
like Ruth's surroundings; neither did
Charles mother.
She was the daughter of Judge Smith,
Gudge of what, nobody knew unless it
was to judge his neighbor). Behind her
was long list of ancestors, sclcctmen,
militia colonies, justices of the peace,
registers Of probate, and this stream of
ariStocratic blood had gone on flowing,
swelling and gathering strength till the
mighty current came to q head, 4 front,
form, in the digniticd person, the trc-
mendous presence, of Mrs Manton. Of
course, she did not like RuthS surround
ings.
AS for Ruth's father, how his drinking
habits had worried her! That was the
little worm in the honcysucklc'S heart,
eating its life away. One night the
honeysuckle's heart received a fearful
wound. Charlie had been making an
evening call at Ruth's home. He was
about leaving, when noise was heard in
the little passagcway running beside the
house. There were voices; then a violent
thump against the wall; finally a sound
of something heavy falling on the kitchen
floor. Ruth guessed what it was i'm
mediately. She kept on talking as if
nothing had happened, like robin that
keels on singing all the while that an
arrow is piercing it. Charlie passed out,
and Ruth went into the kitchen. There,
on an old lounge, her father was lying
drunk. By his side sat Usher Cowan,
basin in one hand, sponge in the other
He was bathing Mr.. Silver's face, and
Ruth saw that the water in the basin was
bloody!
"Why, Usher, what is this?"
Don't worry" said Usher, in the
calm, steady, assuring tone so natural to
him.
'sBut is he hurt2n
''Not much. He will be all right to-
morrow
'But has he hurt anybody"
"Well-there-there was a little
trouble between him and Jack Linton.
Both had been drinking
Jack Linton Ruth started. Jack
belonged to Charles set AS to habits,
the only difference between him and Mr..
Silver was that Jack went in at the back
door OF the apothecary-store, and Mr..
Silver went in ct the front door of the
bcer-shop. Jack had pressed his atten-
tions upon Ruth, and Ruth had as per-
sistently pressed them back. Jack was
angry at last, and vowed that he would
yet be even with her. The next day
after the trouble with Mr.. Silver, to bal