The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-02-03

vas passed, because soc seemed as stead
fast and unchzngeable as they did
There bad been some family trouble
just what, Ruth never knew. But Aunt
Martha, who had something of the old
Puritan stubbornness Of her ancestors in
her veins, backed up BY the Fielding
pride, had very little to do with any Of
her relatives; therefore it was not at all
to be wondered at that Ruth and her
mother were somewhat surprised when
Aunt Marthzs letter came.
want you 10 come and make me 8
visit she wrote, come and stay a month
If you can stand it as long as that with
me- I am a lonely old woman in a lone
! iy old house and l presume YOU viii get
hOmesick before you have been here two
days; but if you do, Why you can take
the first train for home, you know, and
there will be no compulsion about your
staying. I viii try to make j. pleasant
for you, but presume l have forgotten
how to do it. shall expect you to come
If you do not stsv, so do not disappoint
NE. Spend no time in getting ready
We don't care much about what you call
style here. and fine clothes would be
wasted"
a wonder if she thinks have money
far TO waste on fine clothes? - laugh
ed Ruth. Ifshe does, it shows how lit
tie she knows about her relatives. Shall
I 90, mother ~
think you had better answered
Nlrs. Gerrish. " She must be very lone
Iy, and visit from you will brighten her
life little
can't see what she wants nse to come
for" said Ruth. Al haven't seen her
since was wee child of a girl. won
der why she didn't send for one Of Aunt
Lucy's daughters The twisted her last
summer, you know"
l presume she had some plan in her
head, answered Mrs. Gerrish. She gen
orally has when she invites any of her
relatives to visit her. She did not invite
Lucy's girls TO come and see her last sum
mer, and | presume she was offended be-
cause they came uninvited. But since
she has seen fit to ask you to come, l
think you had better 20 and do all you
can to make it pleasant for her while you
stay. always liked her. although she
has such a grim way about her, but then
1 never could help being rathe, afraid Of
her, and am glad she did not see fit to
include me in the invitation"
So Ruth went 10 visit Aunt Msstha and
was welcomed to the old Fielding home
stead in a grimly hospitabie fashion, and
when aunt Martha kissed her it made
her think Of one Of the old mountains de,
parting from its usual dignity and salut-
ing one ofthe little hills.
I'm glad you thought it worth while
to humor the whim Of an old woman"
she said. " I c0uld have had one of
Luey's girls-Or all of them, for that mat
ter" she added with grim smile if l
had wanted them, but didn't. They
were too good when they were here last
summer-to my face, that i. / know that
they called me horrid old thing behind
my back, but l didn't care much about
that but don't think you are ike them
you don't look like them, anyway, and
your mother never seemed at all like
Lucy. Ii always seems to me, when see
Lucy, that she's making kind of caleu-
lation about how many years I'm good
for yet don't know" with = chuckle
=" as it viii make much diffeIence with
her whether l live one year or fifty for
all | know your mother hiaks Just as
much about what may tome out of my
dying as Lucy does, but the never seems
TO-"
Ny mother does not expect to be
benefited in any way by your death,
answered Ruth proudly. You do her a
great injustice. indeed, if you think 9TH
erwise.'
Very likely said Aunt Martha, and
then conversation diverted into another
channel.
Ruth soon f0uni why Aunt Martha
had sent for her. A nephew was coming
TO visit her also, and she had planned
marriage for them.
Il always liked you Aunt Martha
said, in one of her confidential moods,
"a and though l haven't seen much Of
you, I've heard a good deal about you.
You've been coed to your mother, and
Luey's girls are willing that their mother
should slave herself to death to get them
inery and fol-de-rols; They want to wear
nice dresses and have good time, and
that's all they care about you're too sen
sible for that, and you'll suit John, I'm
sure"
Ruth dreaded to tell her aunt the truth
but she felt as if she ought to do so, at
once.
Aunt Martha" she said, with little
catch of her breath, for she was afraid
the old lady would be terribly offended
al the failure of her plans. Pm engaged
to be married"
Then, the worst being over. she went
on to tell Der aunt all about it, and sue
ceeded in making her lover great hero
in her own estimation, if not in Aunt
Martha's.
50 you're going to marry a man with
one arm, and as poor as poverty ~ she
srid, grimly.
"fes, if nothing happens to prevent il"
answered Ruth. We love each other,
and we'll get along in some way" said
Ruth, bravely. Loves better than all
the wealth in the world, 1 think, and so
does Rodney"
Humph :" said Aunt Martha; and
there the conversation ended.
John came. He and Ruth we're the
best offriends at once.
Aunt Ruth saw il, and hoped that her
plans might yet be made to work.
She waited two or three weeks before
telling John what she had set her heart
upon bringing to pass.
When she told him, ne listened in 81
lence, with very peculiar twinkle in
his blue eyes. and she felt quite sure his
silence meant consent.
Tlen she went to Ruth. But the girl
WIS infiaxihfa II, her de&sr,r;y,,t,,,,, q, i,e.