The Opelousas courier., 1889-02-02
Ruth Byrne's Experience
BY MISS ANNE AYERS.

ing, is a sweet Iaceu lrlsn girl OF elgnI-
cen. She and her mother have been all
in all to each other. Her father, an old
man of exacting temper, is not a com.
fort. The dear mother has been long
ailing and to-day has lain without
speaking or stirring for hours. Ruth j:
alone in her distress. A heavy storm
shuts in the cottage.
Towards evening the rain ceased and
suddenly, from a rift in the clouds west
ward, a flood of sunshine broke, gem
ming th@ dripping trees with myriad
diamonds. One golden ray streamed
through the narrow easement and illu-
mined the face of the sufferer. Then,
either from the atmospheric change OF
some subtlcr influence, she stirred,
opened her eyes, and murmured, "The
presence O His glory"
At the sound of her mothers voice
Ruth sprang to the bed, trying to win
attention. At length, exhausted by the
strain of the day, the poor girl flung her
self passionately upon her knees, and
wept aloud.
The daughters grief recalled the
mother to earth. Rousing, as from sleep,
she said: "Pve been forgettin' meself;
I thought / was in heaven! Ruth,
! daughter. don't freto Heavens nearer
earth than We think. Put your dear
arm roun' me, sweetheart, and lift me q
little-so. Be a good daughter to old
father when Pm gone, dear, and when
God takes father be a good wife te
Peter"
"Mother" interrupted Ruth, drop
ping her face into her mothers neck.
It was the first time such a thought had
been put into words. The mother con.
tigqed: do what's pleasin' to God.
Use your privilege o prayer. It's past
tellin' the power God allows to pleadin'
prayer. Trust God-trust.n Her eyes
closed. It was the end.
Peter Moors was the young coachman
Of the Ballymore stage-coach. He and
! Ruth had been schoolfellows. The
boy was three years older than the girl.
Orphaned at fourteen, Peter left his
native village and became stable 10y at
the IMP from which the stage started.
He loved horses and was early pro-
nounced a s'master ham with them,
and this repute increasing, procured
him, at eighteen, his present position.
His holidays were usually spent near
Ruth.
Two years have passed. Il is Sunday
afternoon in the fall of 1s47. s.Old
fathern is sunlng himself on the door.
step. Ruth and her bachelor, Peter, no
longer undeclared Il vers, are talking
earnestly within.
There is great distress in the land. A
widespread famine is destroying the
people. Except for aid from England
and ship-loads Of food material, gen
efously sent yer by the United States,
many more must have persisted.
Whole districts, at the best, were but
half-fed, and the change in Ruth's ap-
pearance, from Sunday to Sunday, tore
Peters heart. He Is determined to re-
main passive no longer. ruth, me
hearts jewel he urged, sslet Us wed
at once, and then I'll have d mans right
to carry you and fatlsar where we can all
eat our FILL
The color mounted to her brow. Her
heart throbbed unanimously. It was a
great temptation. She covered her face
with her hSnds for d minute, then said,
calmly: 6Imust do what mother said,
Peter, 'twould vex father, past bearin',
for me to give any man but himself first
right to me. I
Peters face flushed angrily: aH that's
your will, Ruth, I'll take me passage
alone for the States this week, and send
ron, month about, What'n keep you and
father comfortable,
Ruth swooned and would have fallen
but that Peter caught her. Lifting her
III his arms, he strained her TO his breast
in agony Of self-reproach
sBeyant the sea- : she moaned, begin
ming To rovive. Peter hastened TO re-
assure her: mo, me darlin', I'll stay.
Well starye and die together Ruth
was herself now: Tint would not be
pleasin' to God, / doubt. We must trust
one another wi him.
The next Sunday Peter was gone. AT
the moment Of parting be slipped ) little
package into Ruth's hand, saying: "a
true-love token for me dear
II was 3 roll Of money the saVings Of
the past two years, boarded for the set
tib9 Zip of their nome.
SIX weeks after Psters departure old
John Byrne died q apopIexy. Ruth's
faith staggered for d moment. II
Peter had waited little, orif father bad
only she checked herself ssWhat
am = sayingsa God forgive me. His
tines the right tiEae.n
On Tie day of Tie funeral came Peters
dest letter, written from Castle Garden