Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-05

to break her heart. She is going about the
house again this morning, but that white
and still that it is cruel to look at her. So
thought after breakfast that I would put
on my hat and come and have talk with
you, seeing that you were good enough to
be interested In ner. You will say it's a
rum thing for a father to come and talk
about his daughter to a man ne hasn't
known more than two months. / feel that
myself, but there is no one in the village
should like to open my mind to about Ruth,
and seeing that you are father of q girl
about the same age, and that feel you are
a true sort of man, / come to you. 1t ism t
as if l thought that my Ruth could have
done any wrong. If did, would cut my
tongue out before would speak a word,
But know nv Ruth. She has always been
a good girl; not one of your light sort. but
earnest and steady. Whatever is wrong, it's
not wrong with her. 1 believe she has got
some secret or other that is just wearing her
out, and if we can't get to the bottom of it
don't believe Ruth will see Christmas" and
Hiram Powlett wiped his ewes violently.
"Believe me will do my best to find it
out if there is such secret, Mr.. Powlett. 1
feel sure what Ihave seen of your daughter
that if wrong has been done of any kind
it is not by her. agree with you that she
has secret and that that secret is wearing
her out. ] may say that my daughter is of
the same opinion. / believe that there is
struggle going on in her mind on the sub
ject, and that If she is to have peace, and as
you say, health, she must unburden her
mind. However, Mr.. Powlett, my advice
in the matter is, leave her alone. Do not
press her in any way. 1 think that what
you said to me before is likely to be verified,
and that if she unburdens herself it will be
to May; and you may be sure whatever is
the nature OF the secret my daughter will
keep it inviolate. unless it is Ruth's own
will thatit should be told to others"
''Thankee, Mr.. Armstrong, thankee
kindly; feel more hopeful now. 1 have
been worrying and fretting over this for
months, till 1 can scarce look after nv work,
and catch myself going on drawing at my
pipe when it's gone out and got cold. But I
think it's coming on; think that crying
last night meant something, one way or the
other. Well, we shall see; we shall see. I
will be off back again to my work now;
feel all the better for having had this talk
with you. Hes6a's good woman and she
is fond of the child; but she is what she
calls practlca1-she looks at things hard and
straight and sensible, and naturally she
don't quite enter into my feelings about
Ruth, though she is fond OF her too. Well,
good morning, Mr.. Armstrong; you have
done me good, and do hope it will turn
out as you say, and that we shall get to
know what is Ruth's trouble"
An hour later. Mary Armstrong went
down to the mill to inquire after Ruth. She
found her quiet and pale.
81 am glad you have come in, Miss Arm
strong" Hesba said "our Ruth wants
cheering up bit. She had faint yester-
day when she got back from your place, and
she is never fit for anything after that ex-
cept TO just sit in her chair and look in the
fire. l tell her she would be better if she
would rouse herself"
"But one cannot always rouse oneself,
Mrs. Powlett," Mary said; land am sure |
Ruth does not look equal to talking now.
However, she shall sit still. and will tell |
her a story. 1 have never told you yet that |
1 was once carried off by the Kaffirs, and !
that worse than death would have befallen |
me, and that should have been afterward |
tortured and killed, if / had not been res |
cued by brave man..
"Lawk-a-mussy, Miss Armstrong, why
you make my flesh creep at the thought of
such thing. And you say it all happened |
to you? Why, now, to look at you, / should |
have thought you would hardly have known |
what trouble meant you always seem so
bright and happy; that's what Ruth has
said again and again.
"YOu shall judge for yourself, Mrs, Pow !