The Meeker herald., 1892-10-22
id WntercniIrse


o. fast bee ming a rap
id watercourse.
81 call this the dullest place in exist
ence, says Miss Jocelyn, half aloud
"the very dullest."
She does not finish her sentence, but
turns to the massive pier-glass to
look at the reelection OF herself-a
handsome girl in smart frock. After
one glance she turns back to the win
dow with sigh.
whats the use? One might as well
wear sackcloth trimmed with ashes in
this place, for all the people there are
to see ones gowns. 1t was much more
Fun at school after all.
"Why"-suddenly craning forward
-''if that isn't that frumpy little Miss
Blake with Mr. Stanford; and he is hold
ing his umbrella over herl She has got
his arm, too! wonder how he likes it!
Poor man! l wonder ii te notices
whether woman is old end plain or
young and prettyV'
Now he's gone splash into a pud-
die; and she is actually looking up at
him, and blushing and laughing. Oh,
what a iokel Fancy her blushing!
Why, she must be 40 if she's day
quite 40 And those little curls bob
bling about as she goesl
81 wonder if her sister makes her
wear her hair like that. i wonder ii
she is in love with him. Poor old
soulrr
Mr.. Stanford is n curate; but he is a
man first and afterward cleric.
Strong manly, gentle, he plays cricket
with the village boys, is ready to
gossip for few moments with the old
CATERS, and is member OF the de-
batting society as well ms the rowing
club.
But Miss Jocelyn is young, and is
not yet able to grasp more than the
fact that she is better looking and
better dressed than most OF the girls
whom she knows.
SO to her Ruth Blake is ridiculous
sight, and Mr.. Stanford's quiet
courtesy, which he would extend just
us readily and pleasantly to his
washerwoman, is n good joke"
She watches them part Mt tn,
Misses Blakes' little green gate, and
thinks she can see Miss Ruth's up
ward glance and smile at the fine face
above her before Mr.. Stanford turns
and comes stridins and splashing back
through the puddles.
Then, having nothing else to do,
Miss Jocelyn plans pretty little
piece OF mischief, which she promptly
sets about carrying out. She has one
gift, this handsome Miss Jocelyn; she
is very sklliul with her pen. and after
n little practice can initiate almost
any handwriting.
And now she remembers there is n
letter in the study q letter OF Mr..
Stanford's to her father, and her eyes
sparkle with delight.
what fun to send poor old Miss
Blake love letter! Perhaps she
never had one. 1t will be a kindness,
positively How she will blush and
simper-silly old thing? Well, serve
young men in a place what business
have old maids strolling about with
them under umbrellas"
Miss Cornelia's a-lying down, Miss
Ruth. She had one OF her bad head-
aches, and she says as how no one is
to disturb her. And your tea is
ready and waiting. miss"
Ruth Blake turns into the prim lit
tie dinng-room, seats her selfup one
of the straight-backe chairs and be-
gins to draw off her brown cotton
gloves.
She is an odd little figure, small and
slim. and dressed in hideous anti
ouated plaid, with shades OF glaring
blue and green; yet her fair hair
which the wind and rain have rutf1ed
md made to look like hallow about
her meek, small face-the patient
curve OF her lips, and her slightly flush
ed cheeks, render her appearance not
altogether unpleasing.
She eats her simple tea quickly.
glancipg from time to time at a book
which she has propped up against the
milk jlg-a book Mr.. Stanford NEIL
toned incidently one day and which
she has obtained from the village IL
brary.
The next morning Miss Ruth gets a
letter. She knows the handwriting
upon the envelope before she opens it.
"Parish matters, OF course she
saws to herself. perhaps it's about
the school treat"
She opens the envelope, unfolds the
note within, and is reading it slowly,
when she utters low cry, her breath
comes fast, and the familiar world
about her grows in q moment strange
and unreal.
For it is loye.letter. She is SO,
and this is her very first.
And from such man-the man
whom she had looked up to and rev.
erenced and followed so humbly and
modestly ever since she first saw him!
She goes down to breakfast with a
flushed face, quivering lips and radi-
ant eyes.
.'Nfiss Cornelia's just on the ramp
this morning, miss" says the little
maid, warningly. as she meets Ruth
in the narrow passaget that does duty
for hall.
Miss Ruth mods and smiles as if this
was the pleasantest intelligence pos
sible. Cornelia's diatribss this morn
ing foil upon hesdless ears.
Ruth answers at intervals, Eyes,
dear" and mo, dear" an4 II will ~
to it, sister," a In duty Bound; but