Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-11-03
Mith trcmLling fncers Rnth siipllol

" lsu tItll!liliS ringers httlh SlpIjtt
on her dress, and twisted her golden
hair into heavy knot at the back OF
her head.
"Shall | wallen everybody up?' she
whispeiad.
Yes. But bark surely l know that
voice. Oh, Ruth, it is your father
We are safe! Yes, JOHN, l heart l an
coming"
In another instant Mrs. Sewer was
Juggling al the huge bolts-the door
flew open-and she was in her hus.
bands arms.
ooh, John. you are Just in time :
she ex Ia meli and the tears, which
| had been so brayelv bani she'd while she
ha l been tic sole protector Of her dear
ones, trickled unchidlen down her
! checks.
L know all about IT, Kate; and hero
is me one to thank for my being here
so much sooner than | intended. Gen
| err ] Wayne sent him to tell me, and he
ran Il great risk t. get the iiews to his
! iii time Come hither, Richard, and
| LEI Mrs Sewer thank YOU.
Tho youth addressed was noble
type of the human race Tall, clean
limbed, and straight as pine sapling,
with q fine head covered with masses OF
! curly Blown haif, aud with large, dark
blue eyes, 50 intently engaged in study
! ing Ruth's pretty face that their owner
; started violently at hearing the sound
| of his name But he soon recovered
/ himself, and received Mrs. Sewers
thanks for his service with a natural
! dignity that became him we'll.
Richard Sparks had been taken cap,
tive by the Indians when q child, and
: had been reared among them-receiv-
ing the Indian name of Shawtunte.
But his heart had never ceased to yearn
Tor his own people, and now that he
had grown to mans estate he had re-
Sumad his lightful name and hal en-
listed under Wayne While thoroughly
versad in forest warfare and an I'M
airing marksman, he was deficient in
book-learning and had never handled
h pen. Colonel Sewer hal taken II
liking to him, and had invited him to
become an inmate of the family. But
brought thus into daily intercourse
with beautiful Ruth Sewer, his pride
rose in arms mt finding himself so far
her inferior in mental attainments. Had
he been | IS out of conceit with him
self, he might have seen that Ruth held
him in high esteem. His manliness
and courage made him seem, to her in
! expert need eyes, as a being inferior
only to her father.
One morning Ruth arose at an I'M
usually early hoar to attend to some
| household duty. To her surprise she
/ found Richard in the kitchen fast
asleep, his curly head resting on an
open book, and paper scrawled over
with rude attempts a writing lying on
/ the table beside him.
She turned to retreat, noiselessiy
| when Richard awoka and started to his
feet, dismly imprinted on every feature
of his expressive face.
I'm sorry | have intruded upon
| YOU" said Ruth; Il didn't know you
were here"
cts no matter" answere Richlrl,
| flushing holly. You might as we'll
know now as ever what an ignoramus
am. You can't think less of me than
[ do of myself 1t will be no wonder
if you do despisc me-"
"Despise yol." echoed Ruth, Won
derin9ly. "No, Richard, shall never
do that. You know L have debt OF
gratitude to pay you, and so have We
all
at isn't gratitude / want, it's re
spect would be your equal in evory.
thing, so that | might hope -" he
broke of abruptly. His secret had
nearly BEEN betrayed,
"You are more than my equal, Rich
ard, and Ruth's face grew bright with