Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-05-11

very JOY, thinking of the pretty things
she could buy and make for the cabin
and imagining how picturesque 1t
would look covered with Lady Bank
roses, and how sweet the yiolet-oeds
would be in the spring time,
And so the very next day she set the
hired man to work laying off a garden
and all that week and the next she
spent her spare time in digging and
hocing and spading. The following
week John took her to the nearest
town, and she selected the various
articles she desired for the house.
She managed to furnish it quite com
fortably, and under herdeft fingers all
things began to wear a homclike air,
The place lost its barren and shiitless
look, and even the dog, Harold, seemed
to feel the change. He no longer wan
dered aimlessly about as though seek
ing a comfortable spot, but went to
sleep, a picture OF contentment, on m
of the soft rugs in the sitting-room,
keeping one Jealous eye always half
open upon his playmate, Ruthie.
The months sped by, in spite of all
the ~hardships she had to endurc-for
life is hard for a woman in a new
country-on light wings for Ruth.
| She made the best OF all her trials,
and vas as sweet and contenlcd as she
had been in the fair home they had
once owned and lost. Though often
her limbs ached and her head was
weary with the weight OF work which
fell TO her share, she nevercomplaincd.
Not once did she grow f%rctful, or re-
proach her husband for taking her so
far away from all that she loved.
ale is doing the best he can" She
always said to herself, land what
would a palace be without his love?
Besides, how much | have got to be
grateful for" And somehow the re-
membrane Of their first evening in
the log cabin would always bring the
tears TO her eyes. 1t was such a real
proof of his love and thoughtfulness
for her.
When the next spring heightened
into the summer, and her sweet face
began to wear ii tired look that he did
not like to see, he came to her one
evening, saying gyavely:
Ruth, pack your trunk tonight.
Tomorrow want to take you with me
to San Diego. Important bushes,
calls me there, and you and Ruthic
both need a change"
"But how can you leave the ranch
Ruth asked, Just now, when you are
most needcd?"
'Oh. Redly will take charge of The
place and the men will work for hin
as we'll as for me-"
II Ruth had noticed him just thel
very carefully, she might have seen
twinkle in his eye that would hav'
! made her suspicious rs to this ''busi
i ness trip" to San Diego; but like
dutiful wife she packed up and askc,
J no foolish questions.
j., When they reached San Diego, niue
to her surprise her husband did not g
l to a hotel. He gave the coachma
I some directions, and they were drive
y to an elegant looking house in tn
u suburbs.
;, "Why, didn't know you had friend
y herem Ruth exclaimed in surprise.
i, 'Oh, yes" said John. "a have
II number OF them. This is the home
" the best friend | have in the world"
"Why!n John nearly took her breat
/. away. She thought OF her shabb
travelling dress and Ruthie's shabbic
>. cloak with dismay, but she made u
her mind to make the best Of it fl
Johns sake, anyway. A lady cou'
+, always be a lady, no matter how 81
was dressed.
A neat Chinaman opened the doc
- and ushercd them into a handson
~ reception-room. The house was bea
tiful inside, and every thing was ne
and of the latest fashion. Ruth sar
into a finely upholstered easy-cha
with a feeling of m%omentary conten
For a moment she almost wished 81
might be the posscsSor Of such a HON
!, and then she put aside the envio'
wish.
a, make yourself at home, dear
John said, "while seek the mast
,o of the house. He is probably in
20 study. | will return when ! ha
spoken with him privately. | knC
" he will be delighted to know you a
here and welcome you.'
~ "IIow strange John never told I
of this friend Of his Ruth said
ho herself, as she amused herself loo
ing at the handsome cngravings
the table near her.
H. Presently he returned, but not
he she expected with the master OF t
house, whom she was feeling a lit
he in awe Of.
IT. "Where is hep" she asked.
I'm "llere."
"IIere? Why, John, have you Il
oh your mind? There is no one wi
you. You and | are alone" She |
Mt gan 10 look frightened. What II 10
had really lost his senses. He h
no certainly acted queer about this S
IN Diego trip.
TO her further amazement, he bul
Mt into a loud laugh. and taking a sta
his in the middle OF the floor, said with
tic polite bow:
I Dear Mrs. Delano, allow me to
of troduce to you the master of Il
,u- house, John ,Dclano. Esq, your hu
Bile servant. | am monarch of al
IN survey"
,er John, you are surely going m
DIS. and | with you. For Heavens SAX
ost she entreated, tell me what y
meant"
ow "Tll tell you what | mean, lit
we wife," he said. ii mean that | ca
ear to San Diego last year during the Ia
boom, went into the real-estate bu
Fad ness and cleared a small fortune. T
rid is your home and all that is in it
be longs to Ruth and John Delano. ]
err. ranch and the log cabin was simpl,