The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-04-19

ShoAutfs = NhHttA HtpA ttfAt-
wanted 10 work with father in the hay
field. and to eat my dinner without a
coat. IL | Felt like ii. wanted 10 cat
pie between meals sometimes. ard 20
60 20 sleep afternoons on the lounge.
! think Ill spend most Of my time in
the barn: take my meals on the back
porch; baked apples and milk. beans.
any thing you may have TO spare. ]
cant face "A young lady who prefers
caye-dwellers 70 ordinary people. and
who will look a whole Glacial Period
al me across the table"
Ralph. you ought to have more
sense than to talk so. Folks might
think you were afraid her learnin'
would put yours in the shade" sug-
gcsted R.lpE's mother. wickedly.
Then size reminded him that il was
two hours yet till tea-time. and that
there was "A berry pie cut in the pam
try. along with some nice root-bcer
made BY Ruth's own hands.
"Root-becr! All. Sanscrit roots.
suppose.
Try it. You'll taste dandelion
and burdock plain enough. I'll war
rant" They went downstairs to-
gethcr.
And then--and then. in the cham
Der they had left. little dressing
closet softly opened. and a neatly
combcd head was thrust out
"Oh. how small it makes you feel
to overhear people talking. even when
you can't help il! II had only been
dressed. and could have walked right
out! And TO think he never once
looked at the upper shelf whore the
poetry Is. How ignorant OF him 70
suppose ! can not enjoy these precious
books without being a stiff. angular.
'strong-mindcd' old thing, wanted
to like dear Aun tie Wakcfield's only
son, but now ! can not Such a mar
row. conceitcd fellow. I've half a
mind to fool him BY acting the part Of
a frivolous. fashionable girL without
an idea in her head. l could do II.
But he isn't worth the trouble. Bet
ter leave his majesty entirely to him
self"
Nevertheless. II was very cour-
teous and agreeable young man whom
Ruth found when. two hours later.
she descended TO the tea table and was
formally introduced 10 Mr.. Ralph
Wakefield.
For several days their acquaintance
made little progress. When not en-
gagged in household duties the young
lady wandered in the woods and
fields. as had been her won't. or sat
in her little room holding sweet COM
partnership with the slandered books
When she talked with Ralph. II was
usually about the dressing OF salad.
the relative merits OF currant Jelly and
raspberry jam. or the kind OF gerani-
ums that always prospered best under
her care. Once when she asked his
opinion as TO the trimming most APP
propriate for the caps she was making
for his mother-whether he preferred
pulled ribbon or muslin frills-and be
answered that he knew not one from
the other. she was moved 10 tell him
in the most innocent manner that she
had some books upstairs which he
needed to read for instruction. All the
young man ; attempts TO draw out any
opinions she might have ended in
failure. He received but the shortest
and drycst of answers Yet there was
at such times something in her
eyes and in her manner that puzzled
him. She could not school her tcll-tals
features into proper immobility. and
after time Ralph's wondcrment be.
gan 70 border on enlightenment
Finding himself growing more In
terested ia her every day. in spite 81
her reserve. he changed his tactic.
and entertained her with common
place topics his life in the city. hi.
law studies. his ideas Of Jurisprudence
the acquaintanccs he had made. hi.
outlook for the future. Gradually tho
amiability Of each found full play: in
tcrest and confidence grew up on both
sides. and. in spite OF her grim re.
solves. Ruth found herself almost I'M
consciously acting once more some.
thing like her real self. Still. she
fought against the change. and NIGH
have continued TO fight. until
October, with her In anamr.
| Flushed brow and purple finger tina
| Across The Southern orchards came.
| And touched the apple with her lips
had not an accident. veritable acct
dent. happened to her sewing-ma
chine
Strangely enough. Ruth began scold
ing. not the machine. but the work.
'.Oh. the supreme folly Of moderr
dress-making' l am so tired Of hem
and tucks. bands and rufiies. putting
and iiutings' And now that the hem
mcr will not hem. and the gathers
will not gather, what can do will
this mass OF trimming? Auntie.
| hope that If ! ever come into thi
world second time a great wave o
reform will have swept away all sucl
flummery as muslin puifs and RULES
/" Same OF potato-bugs." murmures