Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02

structed, having the river on one side and Q
row OF trees on the other.
When the evenings are cold and dark the
place il deserted. No one walks there after
| sunset This was the reason why a certain
couple chose the place on one evening in Octo-
Der. It was little after z; the night had fallen
upon gloomy day. fresh breeze blew up the
river, tearing the leaves of the trees, whirling
them about in the air and making drifting
heaps Of them; the branches overhead creaked
| the meadows were dark; the river WAS black
| drops of rain fell upon the faces of the pair
| who walked side by side, the young mans arm
| around the girls waist.
| Tell me ALL" he said s.Let me know tho
| worst and then we can face it. My darling, is
there anything that We cannot face together
! hand in hand?"
| "Oh" she murmured. at puts new strength
| in me-only to hear you speak and to feel your
presence. Naomi is anxious and troubles her
self about the future morning, noon and night.
Harry, will it make no difference to your
MY darling. how would ANYTHING make a
| difference to me? Do not love you once for
all-for all this world aud 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. "vhile John
was putting up the shutters. He was standing
at his desk and he fell down on his face. He
never spoke again or knew anybody or felt any
thing: And 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"
II wrote to you about it. But said nothing
OF what was discovered afterward."
What was discovered?'
I'VE always thought he was so well off.
Everybody thought so. There was never any
want of money. When he died the people said
we must remember how well off we should be
left and that ought to console US"
We'll, dear?"
There is nothing. The business had been
to pay rent and taxes. And as for what is left.
1t must all go to pay debts"
Poor child This ia terrible What will Won
| do?"
When people have got no money they must
| Keep themselves. The dean came to see us this
morning. You know there was no one who re-
spected father more than the dean. He says
that we must be brave and make the best of
things"
''Yes-but, my child, 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, ''she is SO clever with her needle that
she Is quite sure to geta good place somewhere.
She says that she could not take a situation in
the towns to be reminded all day long how we
nave come down. So she will go TO London,
and must go with her. Then shall be near
you. Harry; and perhaps-perhaps-"
Perhaps what, dear?"
Perhaps, before long, you will be able to
take me away for good, and then / will work at
nothing harder than to please you dear"
Dear Rush, / ask for nothing better. There
could be nothing better. But -"
lou nave not yet told your people about
me. Why not tell them and have done? They
can but refuse to call upon me, 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. WE'LL
we are rich enough. l suppose, and we've got a
big house in Palace Gardens, but nv grand
father kept shop. We only in trade as it
Is, although We have our offices and our clerks
instead Of our counter and our shopmen See
now, kuth, my father will give me partner
ship when l am fve-and-twenty. That is in
SIX months; then shall be independent. Let
US get along. somehow, till then. 1 cannot
have my darling ordered about by some
scoundrel shop walker, or working her fingers
to the bone"
The girl shook her head
Naomi would not hear Of such a thing"
she said, unless it was properly understood
and was acknowledged. No, Harry; must be
independent Of you until"
III / can afford to maintain you dear why
not?"
mo; not even il have to 60 lower down the
ladder, Harry. Can't you see that it is impos-
slbleS l can wait for You. And l don't sup
pose that l shall drag you down with me, shall
She said this with a laugh, but, like many
light words, they were prophetic. She was.
although she knew it not, to drag him lower
iower-Iower; her hand was to be upon his
head pushing him down, down, down.
Let US go home," she said Alas Naomi
is going through the things They ali belong
to the creditors-even the old books on the
shelves-even the swing in the garden-all ex-
cept our own clothes, even the seat under the
mulberry tree. In a day or two We shall go
out OF the old home-we two together. What
will become OF Us? What shall we do?"
You are not without friends" said the
young man; ''you have me-"
The wind freshened and the rain beat upon
their faces.
Il am full Of terrors," said the girl at
seems as if something dreadful would happen
to me-"
You have me to protect you, Ruth"
Her lovers words were 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 county book
seller. Let me go home"