Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-24

| AZ Uoy your pdrlOf furniture, u'
replied, laughing at her amazement.
''Honestl" She looked at him, bel
brown eyes sparkling.
at is for Mrs. Delano to do with al
she pleases," he said. Il saved the
money to furnish the cabin with, and
| thought to have it fixed up before yot
came, but concluded on second thought
that you could do better than l; sc
there's the money. Buy what you
| please and fix up the place to suit your
SELF
well, If you amt the best John il
the whole country" Ruth said, almost
laughing and crying in the same
breath. How could she ever be homo
sick again?
And that night, instead of crying
herself to sleep as she thought tina,
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 picturesque /,
would look covered with Lady Bank
roses, and how sweet the violet-beds
would be in the spring time.
And so 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 COM
fortably, and under her deft fingers all
things began to wear a homelike air.
The place lost its barren and shiftless
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 one
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 endure-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 was as sweet and contented 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 never complained.
Not once did she grow fretful, or re-
prOach her husband for taking her SO
far away from all that she loved.
''He is doing the best he can," she
always said to herself. land what
would a palace be without his loveP
Besides, how much l have got 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 thoughtfulness
for her.
When the next spring heightened
into the summer, and her sweet face
began to wear a tired look that he did
not like to see, he came to her one
evening, saying gravely:
Ruth, pack your trunk tonight.
Tomorrow | want to take you withme
to San Diego. Important business
calls me there, and you and Ruthie
both need change"
But how can you leave the ranch"
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 well as for me-"
If Ruth had noticed him just then
very carefully, she might have seen
twinkle in his eye that would have
made her suspicious as to this "busi-
ness 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 a 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
herein Ruth exclaimed in surprise,
"Oh, yes said John. Il have a
number of them. This is the home of /
the best friend have in the world" /
Why John nearly took her breath |
away. She thought of her shabby .
dress and Ruthless 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 a lady, no matter how she
was dressed.
a neat Chinaman opened the door,
md uShered them into a handsome
'eception-room. The house was beau
iful inside, and every thing was new
md of the latest fashion. Ruth sank
nto finely upholstered easy-chair
With a feeling of momentary content
cor moment she almost wished she
night be the possessor of such a home,
md then she put aside the envious
wish,
MAKE yourself at home, dear"
John said, while | seek the master
f the house. He is probably in his
tudy. l will return when | have
poken with him privately. I know
e will be delighted to know you are
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