The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-09-11
at is for Mrs. Delano to do with

and thought to have it fixed up be-
fore you came, but concluded, on
second thought, that you could do
better than I; so there's the money.
Buy what you please and fix up the
place to suit yourself. Z
well. if you amt the best John
lin the whole country, Ruth said,
almost laughing and crying in the
same breath. How could she ever
be homesick again2p
And that night, instead of crying
Eherself to sleep, as she had thought
that afternoon to do, she lay awake
from very joy, thinking of the pretty
things she could buy and make for
the cabin, and imagining how pic
turesque it would look covered with
Lady Banks roses, and how sweet.
the violet beds would be in the.
spring time.
Andlso the very next day she set
the hired man to work laying off
garden, and all that week and the
next she spent her spare time in
digging and hoeing 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 comfortably, and under her
dett fingers all things began to bear
a homelike air. The place lost its
barren and shiftless look, and even
the dog Harold seemed to feel the
change. He no longer walked aim
lessly about, las though seeking a
comfortable spot, but went to sleep
la picture of contentment on one of
the soft rugs in the sitting-room,
keeping one Jealous eye always half
open upon his playmate, Rut HE.
The months sped by, in spite of all
the hardships she had to endure
for life is hard for woman in new
country-on light wings for Ruth.
She made the best of all her trials,
and was as sweet and contented as if
she had been in the fair home they
had owned and lost. Though often
her limbs ached and her head was
wearywith the weight of work which
fell to her share never complain
ed. Not once did she grow fretful
or reproach her husband for taking
her so far from all that she loved.
"He is doing the best he can, she
always said to herself, "and what
would palace be without his love?
Besides, how much 1 have to be
grateful for And somehow the re-
membrance 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 thought
fulness for her.
When the next spring lengthened
Into the summer and her sweet face
began to wear tired look that he
did not like to see, he came to her
one evening, saying grayely:
"Ruth, pack your trunk tonight.
Tomorrow 1 want to take you with
me to San Diego. Important busi-
ness calls me there, and you and
Ruthie both need change"
"But how can you leave the
ranch2" Ruth asked, "just now when
you are most needed?"
"oh, Redly will take charge of
the, place, and the men will work
for him as we'll as for me-
If Ruth had noticed him just then
very carefully she might have seen
a twinkle in his eye that would have
made her suspicious as to this "bu-
siness trip" to San Diego; but like
a dutiful wife she packed up and
asked no foolish questions.
When they reached San Diego
much to her surprise her husband
did not go to hotel. He gave the
coachman some directions and they
were driven to an elegant looking
house in the suburbs.
"Why, 1 didn't know you had
friends herel" exclaimed Ruth in
surprise.
"ob, yes" said John, II have a
number of them This is the home
of the best friend l have in the
world"
eWhyl'' John nearly took her
breath away. She thought of her
shabby travelling dress and Rutbie's
shabbier cloak with dismay, but she
made up her mind to make the best
of it for Johns sake, anyway. a
lady could always be lady, no mat
ter how she was dressed.
A neat chinaman opened the door
and ushered them into handsome
reception room. The house was
beautiful inside, and everything was
; ,,axxy ord /Sf Az, Iatasf fasl,iou Ruth