Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-12-29


mill. the ht-presaging voice of the
whippoorwill in the adjacent copse,
and the merry song of the hoatman as
il camo floating across the water,
blerded harmoniouSly with the whole,
and gave an enlivening air 70 the
otherwise tranquil scene.
AS she thus stood leaning in pensive
attitude, small skiff containing one
person shot out FROM behind little
promontory of rocks and shruhbey
about half mile off. and propelled by
the vigorous strokes of the oarsman
advanced rapidly towards where she
was standing. She knew that figure,
though so far away. Charles Edge
worth was coming over TO visit her.
After stepping TO the house and telling
her employer she would be gone but a
few moments, Ruth FASTENED down to
the water.
Edgeworth soon reached the shore,
when he briefly told Miss Wilson he
had little business To see TO over at
the mills, and then he would come
back and pass the evening witt her /;
saying which he again pushed off, and
continued on his way to the place
designated.
Ruth Como here, Ruth y spoke
Mr.. Belmont, as his housekeeper, hav-
ing finished her work in the kitchen.
entered the room where the old gem
tleman was sitting.
Well p said she, inquiringly.
Take chair. please, and be seated
by nay side for | have something of
special Importance to say to you.
She complied, at the same time
wondering what the something
could be.
Ruth he continued. in low,
slightly tremulouS voice, "you we'll
know am ON the verge Of eternity. A
few short months and | shall be gone,
and then Thomas and George will
seize all of my property and squander
it in riotous dissipation unless other
wise dispose of it. You have been
very. very kind to me, Ruth-an own
child, If ever so dutiful, could not have
been moro so. But you shall be re-
warded, that you shall, indeed. You
are to marry Charles Edgeworth-may
God bless you both But it is truly
hard for a young couple just setting
out in life to struggle on in poverty, as
you two must necessarily do for some
wears. il not for life. Now | have a
proposition to make Should you ac-
cept its terms il would crafty my
earnest wish reward You for your
kindness to an iniirm old man, and
Justly lisappoint my wicked children
of their expected patrimony-in short,
render justice to all concerned. 1t is
this Ruth Wilson, | want you to
marry me.n
Marry you?'' and Ruth fairly
sprang to her feet. Marry you
Mr.. Belmont, tell me what you mean
Surely you cannot mean what you say"
Z" Yes. | do mean it. Pm not sur
prised that you are astonished; but
listen. By marriage | mean merely
legal transaction. ! ask you to be-
come my nominal wife, so that You
can attend me in my last days. and
then become the owner of all my
property. OF course | might will it to
charitable institutions, or otherwise
dispose of it, but You see I've taken a
notion for you to have it, and | also
want YOU to bear my name when you
come into possession. This is all. L
shall soon be gone, you can then, when
a proper time shall have elapsed, marry
the man OF your choice, and become,
by will, legal possessor of this estate
and my other property. l will see to
il that my will be made so strong that
nothing can break it. What say you
will YOU not accept nv proposition 20
Ruth mused awhile; there was
strange look in her eyes.
You are very kind,v she said;
"but what will Charles say to such an
arrangement / must be guided by
his decision. He will be here before
long. and / will submit the questions
to him. And so saying she left the
room.
In less than an hour her lover came.
Ushered into the presence of their
would-be benefactoF, the case was
laid before him-the proposition re-
peated. At first he felt like resenting
what he was pleased to term Ruths
perfdy: but soon he calmed down and
seemed disposed to view the matter in
a new light, making his beloved the
one who was really the unselfish party,
willing TO become the target of sensa-
tional tattle for the community for the
financial advantage Of both. he
Observation-Disclosures.
And so Mr.. Belmont and Ruth VIII
son were wed. As matter of course
the event was the sensation of the
town, and there was no end to gossip
and small talk.
His sons heard the news, and didn't
they storm, and curse and howl with
rage? But they were impotent to
change the irrevocable.
Mr.. Belmont continued to decline.
Never was wife more loyal and de-
voted than Ruth. During his last
days she was ever by his side, attend
ing to his wants, and striving to an
ticipate his every wish. The end soon
came, and one day large assemblage
Of neighbors and t0wnspeOple gathered
at the Belmont mansion to pay their
last tribute of respect to the man they
had known so long and admired so
much.
The viii was duly probated, and
Ruth Wilson Belmont found herself
in full possession Of all her husbands
wealth except one dollar willed to each
of the migrate sons.
One year from the day Of Mr.. Bel
monts death the house had a new
master His name was Charles Edge
worth. who was welded to the woman
he loved.
And in the elegant, richly furnished
dwelling Of their late benefactor they
were " at home'' to all their friends.
thereabout or afar; and where. for
aught we know to the contrary, they
are vet living. in the full enjoyment of
the ample wealth they so curiously OBJ