The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-26
nd wish you all the luck you de

and ] wish you all the luck You dc
serve"
Palmer eyed him suspiciously for q
moment and then staggered up the
road. with the gold-headed cane once
more fitted snugiy across the small oil
his back.
"Well. 1 swan" said Jim. IF that
don't beat all. I'd like to take that
walkin' stick and prod him in the back
right out of the village. But s'pose
she'll take him and kill the fatted cali,
and all that sort of thing. thanks to his
pooty face, whilst never even darst-S'
but the last of the sentence was lost in
the merry cl.nk, clink clink that had
begun again.
Ruth Corbett was hanging out her
washing when Jack Palmer stepnni
on to her front porch and raped On
her front door with his gold -headed
cane.
She was tallish, slim woman, with
soft fair hair drawn up on the top of
her well-shaped head and arranged
there in three or four loose puffs, and
she had keen blue eyes, nose of no
particular shape. a thin. rather decid.
ed and yet pleasant mouth, and ears
that forced themselves upon your at.
tention.
The clothes she was hanging on The
line were, as the Widow Crummins,
who lived in the next house, had often
remarked. las white as the driven
snow," and Ruth, with clothesp in be.
tween her lips. stepped back on the
grass plat to regard them complacently
when she heard the rapping on the
front door. For moment she stood
and wondered who it could be. for it was
a very unusual thing to have anyone
come to that door, all her friends, after
the manner of country people prefering
the back. Then she dropped the clothes
pin on the grass and went to see who
the caller was,
Jack Palmer grasped her hand as she
opened the door-thc thought passing
through his mind ct the time how diff
ferent it was to the soft hands he had
for years been accustomed to grasp
and exclaim, in as imprisoned a tone
as he could command: Ruth. dear Ruth,
and do I indeed see you once more?"
Miss Corbett wrested her hand from
hi md l~@l nk l,s
Then light began to dawn upon her.
"Is it-can it be Jack Palmerp" she |
asked.
'It-is-it can" replied the gentle.
man.
'And what do you wantP" Ruth went |
on with cool. calm directness.
"What-do-l wantP" stammered
the caller.
Eyes. what do you wantp"
"What do I wantp" again repeated
Mr.. Palmer. "Why, Ruth. how can
you askP I came to see you.
':And whyP" pursued the lady.
''Why, because my heart has re-
turned to its old allegiance. Because
l longed for my boyhood's home. Be-
cause, Ruth. I want you to forgive and
forget the past.
''And thenp" said Ruth.
'Then--then. repl ed the city gen.
tleman. shifting his hat from one hand
to the other and wincing perceptibly
under the steady glare of those calm
blue eyes; "and then I hoped. Ruth,
you would become my wife"
"Have you lost all your money"
asked Miss Corbett.
''Well, yes, have lost the greater
part OF it, Bpt before I lost it made up
my mind to seek you again. I did.
upon my word. and ask your forgive
ness.
Sorry to say doubt that very
much. And now, Mr.. Palmer, I al
wise you to return to town as soon as
possible. while hang out the rest of
my washing"
''And you won't forgive me. RuthP'
well. really, I've quite forgotten
what have to forgive you for. But.
there. I forgive you. if that will do you
any good, and wish you pleasant
Journey back 10 your city friends"
If ever city gentleman walked off
\ front porch after an interview with
IN elderly rustic maiden. utterly rout-
ID and discounted by that elderly
rustic maiden. Jack Palmer was that
,ity gentleman. He could not have
'elt more discounted even if he had
'een Miss Corbett. with tranquil lit
lie smile lowering about her mouth. 90
olacidly back to her grass plat. pick up
he clothes pin she had dropped to an
Iwer his knock, and to let him in. and
proceed to fasten handkerchief on
he line Herewith.
Jim Farlow sped his old chum COM
ng back and went to the door of the
hop. HALO" said he; ''what luckG'
But the other never answered, but
trode by, his jaunty manner all gone,
Without word or sign.
.Ha! ha! no! hoy' shouted the black
ninth. nearly doubling himself up in
he excess of his mirth. THE darnyer
aysort didn't work.
That very evening as Jim Farlow
vas on his way home he stopped for a
moment to speak to Ruth Corbett She
vas standing by her gate evidently on
he lookout for him."
did you see Jack Palmer to-day"
he asked.
"Well yes. had that honor" re-
lied the blacksmith. Ibid you?"
II did," said Miss Corbe:t, 'and
II I've got to say is-and couldn't
ring myself to say that If it wasn't
sap year-that it's pity you haven't