Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-09-15
HER SISTERS HONOR.
A Tale of English Life.
By Walter Besant.
CHAPTER n.-Continued.


when people have got no money
they must keep themselves. The Dean
came to see us this morning. You
know there was no one respected father
more than the Dean. He says that we
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 get a
good place somewhere. She says that
she 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, 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 Ruth, ask for nothing better.
There could be nothing better. But"
You have not told your people about
me? Why not tell them and have done.
They can but refuse to call upon me, I
suppose. - ,,s
They are ambitious. They want to get
into society, you see, and they expect
me to help them. Well, we are rich
enough. I suppose, and we've got big
house in Palace Gardens, but my grand
father kept a shop. We are only in
trade as it is, although we have our
Offices and our clerks instead of our
counter and our shopmen. See now,
Ruth, my father will give me a partner
ship when L am five and twenty. That
is in six months; then I shall be indie
pendent. Let US get along, somehow,
till then. I cannot have my darling or
dered about by some scou1drel shop
walker, or working her fingers to the
bone.
The girl shook her head.
Naomi would not hear of such q
thing, she said, unless it was properly
understood and " as acknowledged. No,
Harry, I must be independent of you
until"
If can afford to maintain you dear,
why not?
NO, not even if I have to go lower
down the ladder, Harry. Can't you see
that it is impossible? I can wait for
you. And don't suppose that I shall
drag you down with me, shall p"
She said this with a laugh, but like
many light words they were prophetic.
She was, although she knew it not. to
drag him IOWer-lOWer; her hanQ 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
all belong to the credltors-even the
old books on the shelves-even the
swing in the garden-au except our own
clothes; even the seat under the null
berry 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.
II 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, 1 have you, and you have
your own people as well; and they are
not likely to welcome the daughter OF
the county bookseller. Let me go home.