Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-14

nfure. when saw her slide 10 the two sfefs
that were aioyc the well walls end fall She
hsd slipped, AID .iss lay doubled up besw.,,n
ths. two WOODEN steps and tbs rough 81 = II
tbs, vf.fI rs il she could not rise. IsS er
three times her hands eiutehed the bsFer
ssxsp. anil she RAISED herself half way IN, aaiy
% fan back again, Is il her limbs uoGsi not
support bar
And could orsy look on, poweriess n move
to all her, Oh, the idea Of III To know she
was burt, unable TO rise, and hespi=-- as .
log. screamed and called for help Silas
was somewhere, could not tell WHERE. and |
called loudly for him / could see, after a
time. that Ruth. after ben frantic stra7ssfss
7-as growing drowsy with the death si3o Of
odd. The scaIet hood drooped NOR ahd
more, till it rested against the well sit3e asd
the hlne veined lids closed over her s-yss.
The sight called from me such a cry Il i .5ny
Is I thought must be heard for miles
Il was heard moment later John Iiayes,
pantins ard eager eyed, burt open the dec-.
What is its7 be cried Il beard yo,. cali
ing on the road
Ruth, Ruth.' screamed -Shs is irrf1-
ing to death By the we'll
He stopped to heaJ no more. Out upon The
hard, slippery ground down the stsIS va
swift rapid strides, and then saw Elm stoo,
and lift the little scarlet cleaksd figure ia his
strong arps, and cone swiftly back, bedding
his face down over the senseless ore ~ his
arm, whilc bot tears rained down his b-owu
cheeks. He put her on lounge nesr my
chair, and then dashed out fof snow.
Rub her. rub bert" be said. Il am going
for a doctor and tor my mother
Before i, seemed possible be could have
81. - I Il tt.sf
with me and lifted Ruth ava, from the tire
TO the bed The doctqr came, and the two
worked till my heart sans with urtsr J.. pe-
lessness BEFORE The blue sves opened again or
the breath huttered through The rale lIs
But 1t dill at last, ard John joined MT IT u
| ferveut Thank GodW
Blu: Ruth had broker her leg. and we knew
| she must lie helpless for many weeks teIore
| she could BE- our active. bright gin ags-n. II
was an appalling truth for ne te face tut
| she was not dead, not lying frozen against the
| rough well curb, and ! could noi tu' feel
| thankfuness far far above the pain ei know-
| ing her suffering was trying % settle it
| all in my mind. 10 understand the doriors
| words, while Mrs HAYES and the doetor lifted
| Ruth to her own room that opened int niiile
They were away long time. AMI join sat
beside me, holding my hand in his, and COIN
forting me as il had not taken the very hope
| OF his life from him.
Don't grieve So" he said gently. "She will
live"
Thanks to you," said 20. John. if she
gets well she is yours Give her your strong
arm for life, John instead Of my helplessness.
Isse to-day where my ,elfish love has nearly
cost her her life"
"Do you mean that" John asked, With a
little trembling In his voice; do you really
mean thatF
Il do, indeed Let he stay he. John
will not be a burden IN your purse. for the
house arI farm AM oil l have saved are
Ruth's; but let her give me what time and
love she can spare from you"
| aGlatlly - he answs ed; "brt will not
wait till she is well, Nj. Martin. Let me
have Ruth for my wife now, to-day"
with broken leg sick, helpless!'
docs she not need me the more. Give her
to me now"
But he had to wait until the bans Were
called in church three times, though he came
to us that day, caring for mo with the tender
ness of a son, while his mother nuf'sed Ruth
They were alone together, we were, and
they had .'ut up their house, and come to
live with u, never to leave again. For one
n.oininG. propped up with pillows, Ruth was
dressed in white by Mrs. Hayes and We had
a wedding in the littl. locn. Ny chair was
moved in, and the ghbors came from fan
and near to hear the solemn words that made
John aud Ruth niali and wife
And happiness has shed its true light upon
our home ever since.