The morning call., 1890-07-20

" My darling, how would anything make a diff
| ference 10 me? DO not love you once for ali
for all this world and all the next ?'
He bent over her-he was a tall and gallant
young fellow-and she raised her face to meet his
lips.
He fell down." she went on "while John
was putting up the shutters lie was standing
at his desk. and lie Il down on his face. He
never spoke again or knew anybody or felt any
thing. Aud next morning about noon he died"
" He died" echoed the lover. Poor dear
Ruth You told me OF this in your letter. 1t
was a terrible blow TO you"
" / wrote TO you about IL. But said nothing
OF what was discovered afterwaTd."
=" " hat WAS diseOyered?"
'Wr always thought lie was so we'll of Every
body thought so. There was never any want OF
money. When lie died the people said we must
remember how well of we should be lett and
that ought 10 console us?"
'Well, dearY'
There is nothing. The business had been
falling off Tor years. There is not enough now
10 pay rent and taxes. And as for what is left 1t
must all go TO Gay debts"
Poor ehlldl This is terrible. What VIII you
do ?"
'.When people have got no money they mBst
keep themselves. The Dean came TO see us this
morning. You know there was no one who re-
speeted father more Than the Dean. He says
that we must be brave and make the best OF
things"
"Yes-but, my child, l cannot bear to think of
your having to work. These pretty hands should
do nothing but play with pretty things"
"As for Naomi" said the owner OF the pretty
hands, ''sbe Is so clever with lie needle that she
d z.
She says That sue could not take a situation IN
the town to be reminded all day long how We
have come down. so she will go TO London aud 1
must go with her. Then | shall be you,
Harry aud pei haps- perhaps"
Perhaps what dear?'
"Perhaps, before long, You will be able to
take me away for good, and then | VIII work ar
nothing harder than TO please you, dear"
Dear Ruth, ask for nothing better. There
could be nothing better. But -
g You have NOT yet told your people about me {?
Why rot tell Them aud have done2 They can
but refuse 10 call upon NE, | suppose"
You don't understand dear Child. They are
ambitious. They want to get into society, you
see and they expect me TO help them Well. we
are rich enough, suppose, and we've got a big
house III Palace Gardens, bur my grandfather
kepI shop. We are only III trade, as 1t is,
although we have our Offices and our clerks In
stead Of our counter and our shopmen. See
now. Ruin, my father viii give me partner
ship when am five and twenty. That Is in six
months; then / shall be Independent. Let us
get along somehow unlIl then. | cannot have
my darling ordered about by some scoundrel
sbop-waiKer, or working her fingers TO the bone"
Tie girl shook her head.
" Naomi would not hear OF such a thing" she
said, = unless II was properly understood aud
was acknowledged. No, Harry; must be indie
pendent of you until
not?'' VIZ
" No. not even If l have TO 20 lower down the
ladder. Harry. Can't you see that 1t is impos-
Sible? l can walt fOr you. And don't suppose
that shah drag you down with me, shall | P''
She said this with laugh. but like many light
words they were prophetic she was, although
she knew II not, TO drag him lower lower-low-
er; her hand was TO be upoa his head pushing
him down, down. down.
:. Let us go home" she said. ALAS, Naomi is
going through The things. They all belong to
the erediIors-eyen the old books OIL the shelves !;
even Tie swing 10 the garden-all except our own
clothes; even The seat under the mulberry tree.
In Il day or two We shall 90 out OF the old home
we two together. What will become OF us !?
What SHALL we do?"
sYou are not without friends" said the young
man, :. YOU have me-"
The wind freshened and the rain beat upon
their faces.
" am full OF terrors," said the girl. So Ii
seems as II somtbing dreadful w0Hld happen TO
me-"
:. You have me 10 protect you, Ruth"
Her lovers words brave, but somehow
they lacked that subtle quality which insures
confidence.
Yes, Harry, have you and you have your
own people as well; and they are not likely to
welcome The daughter OF the country book seller.
| Let me 20 home"