Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-08-30

TO buy your parlor furniture, he
replied, laughing at her amazement.
Honesty" She looked at him, her
brown eyes sparkling.
ut is for Mrs. Delano TO do with as
she pleases, he said, Il saved the
money to furnish the cabin with, and
thought to have it fixed up before you
come but concluded on second thought
that you could do better than l; so
there's the money. Buy what you
please, and fix up the place to suit
Yourself
well, if you amt the best John in
the whole country" Ruth said, almost
laughing and crying in the same
breath. How could she ever be home
sick again?
And that night, instead of crying
herself to sleep, as she had thought
| that afternoon TO do, she lay awake
from very JOY, thinking of che pretty
things she could buy and make for the
cabin, and imagining how picturesque
it would look covered with lady banks
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 of a
garden, and all that week and the
next she spent her spare time in dig
ging 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 left
| fingers all thing began to bear
homelike air. The place lost its bar
rem and shiftless look, and even the
dog Harold seemed to feel the change.
He no longer wandered aimlessly
about, as though seeking a comfor-
table spot, but went to sleep, pic
| ture of contentment on one OF the
soft rugs in the sitting-room, keeping
his playmate, Ruthie.
The months sped by, in spite of all
the hard ships she had TO endure-for
life is hard for 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 if
she had been in the fair home they
had 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 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 a palace be without his love?
Besides. how much have to be CRATE
full for And somehow the remem-
brance of their first evening in the
log cabin would always bring the
tears to her eyes, 1t was such
real proof of his love and Thoughtful
ness for her.
When the next spring lenghened
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 with
me to San Diego. Important business
calls me there, and you and Ruthie
both need change
But how can you leave the ranchY
Ruth asked, just now when you are
most neededF
"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, l didn't know you had
friends herer' exclaimed Ruth in sur
prise.
"Oh, yes" said John, II have
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
travelirg g-dress and Ruthie'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 matter how she
dressed
a neat Chlnaman opened the uooT
and ushered them into handsome
reception room. The house was beau
tiful inside, and everything was new
and of the latest fashion. Ruth sank
into finely upholstered easy chair
with a feeling of momentary content.
For a moment she almost wished she
might be the possessor OF such home,
and then she put aside the envious
wish.
Make yourself at home, dear
John said. while / see the master OF
the house. He is probably in bis
duty. / will return when l have
spoken with him privately. l know
he will be delighted to know you are
pnrt