Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-22

in time; it would do If he isn't fool, but
all young men are fools where the women
are concerned. / will say for him that he
has more sense than most, but I would give
q good deal if this had not happened"
Lieutenant Gulston was, indeed, hard hit;
he had been much struck with the momen-
tary glance he had obtained of Margaret
Carne as he stood on the steps of the Carne
Arms, and the effect had been greatly
heightened on the previous day. Lieuten-
ant Gulston had, since the days when he
was a MILDLY, INDUCED in many Irritation,
but he had never before felt serious. He
had often laughed at the impressibility of
his comrades, and had scofed at the idea of
love at first sight, but now that he had be-
gun to think matters seriously over, the
pain that the doctors remarks had given
him opened his eyes to the fact that it was q
good deal more than passing fancy.
Thinking it over in every light, he
acknowledged the prudent course would be
to send some excuse to her brother, with an
expression OF regret that he found that
matter of duty would prevent his coming
over, as he had promised, for the shooting.
Then he told himself that alter all the doc
tor might be mistaken, and that 1t would be
only right that he should judge for himself.
Ii there was anything in it, of course he
harm would be done. Margaret was cer-
tainly very charming; she was more than
charming, she was the most lovable woman
he had ever met. Still, of course, if there
was any chance of her inheriting this dread
full thing, he would see her no more. After
all, no more harm could be done in a couple
of days than had been done already, and he
was not such fool but that he could draw
back in time. And so after changing his
mind half dozen times, he resolved to go
over for the shooting.
Ruth, l want to speak to you serious
ly," Margaret Carne said to her maid two
days after the ball. Ruth Powlett was the
miller's daughter, and the village gossips
had been greatly surprised when, year be-
fore, they heard that she was going up to
The Hold to be Miss Carne's own maid; for
although the old mill was small one, and
did no more than a local business, Hiram
was accounted to have laid by snug penny,
and as Ruth was his only child she was gen.
orally regarded as the richest heiress in
Carnesford. That Hiram should let her 60
into service, even as maid to Miss Carne at
The Hold, struck everyone with surprise.
1t was generally assumed that the step had
been taken because Hiram Powlett wanted
peace in the house. He had, after the death
of his first wife. Ruth's mother, married
again, and the general verdict was that he
had made a mistake. In the first place,
Hiram was a stanch Churchman, and one
of the church wardens at Carnesford; but
his wife, who was Dareport woman-and
that alone was in the opinion of Carnesford
greatly against her-was Dissenter, and
attended the little chapel at Dareport, and
entertained the strongest views as to the
prospects and chances OF her neighbors in a
future state; and in the second place, per-
haps in consequence of their religious
opinions, she was generally on bad terms
with all her neighbors.
But when Hiram married her she had a
good figure, the lines of her face had not
hardened as they afterward did, and he had
persuaded himself that she would make an
excellent mother for Ruth. Indeed she had
not been Intentionally unkind, and al
though she had brought her up strictly, she
believed that she had thoroughly done her
duty; lamenting only that her efforts had
been thwarted by the obstinacy and perverse-
ness of her husband in insisting that the
little maid should trot to church by his side
instead of gong with her to the chapel at
Dareport.
Ruth had grown up quiet and somewhat
serious girl; she had blossomed out into
prettiness in the old mill, and folks In the
village were divided as whether she or Lucy
Carey, the smiths daughter, was the pref
tiest girl in Carnesford. Not that there was
any other matter in comparison between
them, for Lucy was somewhat gay and hirty,
and had dozen avowed admirers; while
Ruth had from her childhood made no secret
OF her preference for George Forester, the
son of the little farmer whose land came
down to the Dare just where Hiram Pow
let's mill stood.
He was some five years oldert than she was,
and had fshed her out of the mill-stream
when she fell into it when she was
years old. From that time he had been her
hero. She had been content to follow him
about like dog, to sit by his side for hours
while he fshed in the deep pool above the
mill, under the shadow of the trees, quite
content with an occasional word or notice.
IShe took his part heartily when her STEP
mother denounced him as the idlest and
most impertinent boy in the parish; and
when, soon after she was fifteen, he one day
mentioned that as a matter of course, she
would some day be his wife, she accepted it
as thing OF which she had never enter
tained any doubt whatever.
But Hiram now took the alarm, and one
day told her that she was to give up consort-
ing with young Forester.
You are no longer child, Ruth, and if
you 60 on meeting young Forester down at
the pool people will be beginning to talk.
Of course, know that you are good girl
and would never for a moment think of
taking up with George Forester. Everyone
knows what sort Of young fellow he is; he
never does a days work or the farm, and
he is in and out Of the Carne Arms at all
hours. He associates with the worst lot in
the village, and it was only the other day
that when the parson tried to speak to him
seriously he answered him in q way that
was enough to make ones hair stand on
end"
Ruth obeyed her father, and was no more
seen about with George Forester, but she
believed no tale to his disadvantage, and
when at times she met with him accidental
ly she told him frankly enough that though
her father didn't like her going about with
him, she loved him and meant to love him
always, whatever they might say. Upon
all other points her fathers will was law to
her, but upon this she was firm, and two
years aiterward, when some words young
Forester had spoken at public house
about his daughter came 10 his ears, Hiram
renewed the subject TO her, she answered
stanchly that unless he gave his consent
she would not marry George Forester, but
that nothing would make her give him up
or go back from her word.
For once Hiram Powlett and his wife were
thoroughly in accord. The former seldom
spoke upon the subject, but the latter was
not so reticent. and every misdeed of young
Forester was severely. commented upon by
her in Ruth's hearing. Ruth seldom an
swered, but her lather saw that she suffered,
and more than once demonstrated with his
wife on what he called her cruelty, but
found that as usual Hesba was not to be
turned from her course.
"No, Hiram Powlett," she said, shutting
her lips tightly together; Il must do my
duty whether YOU like it or not. and it is