The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-17


turns back to the window with sigh.
whats the use? One might as well wear
esckcloth trimmed with ashes in this place, LOT
sll the people there are to see ones gowns. III
gGs mnch more fun at school, after all
"Why suddenly craning forward
that isn't that frumpy little Miss Blake with
Mr.. Stanford and he is holding his umbrella
over her! She has got his arm, too! wonder
how be likes it? Poor mani wonder II lie
ever notices whether woman is old and pam
or young and pretty?
"Now he's gone splash in TO pudole' anu
she is actually looking up at him and biushlng
and laughing. Oh, what Joke 2fancy nor
blushingi Why, she must be 40 ii she Gay
quite 40! And those little curis boDolng
about as she goes!
81 wonder il her sister makes her wear her
hair like that? l wonder if she is in love Will
him? Poor old soul z"
Mr.. Stanford is a curate. but he is man
first and afterward cleric. Strong. manly
gentle he plays cricket with the village boys
Is ready to gossip for a few moments with the
old CATERS. is member of the debating society,
as well as 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
Il
his washerwoman, is good joke"
She watches them part at the Misses Blakes'
little green gate and thinks she can see Miss
Ruth's upward glance and smile at the fine face
above her before Mr.. Stanford turns and comes
stridiBg and splashing back through the pud-
dies.
Then. having nothing else to do, Miss Joce-
lyn plans pretty little piece of mischief,
which she promptly sets about carrying out.
She has one gift this handsome Miss JOcelyn;
she is very skiliful with her pen, and after
little practice can initiate almost any hand
writing.
And now she remembers that there is in the
study letter Of M Stanford's to her father,
and her eyes sparkle with delight.
"What fun TO send poor old Miss Blake
love letter. Perhaps she has never had one.
It will be kindness positively! How she
will blush and simper-silly old thing Well.
serve her right! When there are SO few young
men in place, what business have old maids
strolling about with them under umbrellas J"
"Miss Cornelia's a-lying down, Miss Ruth.
She have one Of her lad headaches and she
saws as how no one is to disturb her. Aud your
tea is ready and waiting, Miss"
Ruth Blake turns into the prim little dining
room, seats herself upon one of the straight
backed chairs ard begins to draw off her
brown cotton gloves.
She is an odd little figure, small and slim,
and dressed in hideous antiquated plaid, with
shades of glaring blue and green yet her fair
hair-which the wind and rain have rufled
and made TO look like q halo about her meek,
small face-the patient curve Of her lips, and
her slightly flushed cheeks. render her appear
ance not altogether unpleasing.
She eats her simple tea quickly, glancing
from time to time at a book which she has
propped up against the milk jug-a book Mr..
Stanford mentioned incidentally one day, and
which she has obtained from the village IL
brary.
TIE next morning Miss Ruth gets letter
She knows the handwriting upon the envelope
before she opens it.
Parish matters, Of course" she says to her
SELF Perhaps it's about the school treat"
She opens the envelope, unfolds the note
within aud is reading il slowly, when suddenly
che utters low cry, her breath comes fast and
the familiar world about her grows in mo-
ment strange and unreal.
For il is a love letter. She is 80, and this is
her very first.
And from such a mantle man whom she
has looked up TO and reyerenced and followed
SO humbly and modestly ever since she first
saw him! She goes down to breakfast with a
flushed face quivering lips and radiant eyes.
Miss Cornelia's just on the ramp this morn
ing, Miss" says the little maid warningly, as
she meets hutn IN the narrow passage lDdL does
duty for hall.
Miss Ruth mods and smiles as If this were
the pleasantest intelligence possible. Corne-
las diatribes this morning fall upon needless
ears.
Ruth answers at intervals "Yes, DEAR" and
No, DEAR" and i will see to it, sister," rs in
duty bound but her heart and sonl are filled
with one thought-that wonderful letter.
After breakfast, Miss Cornelia goes out to
visit her district. Then Miss Ruth takes III
her pen and writes tremblingly out of the full.
ness of her heart:
DEAR Mr. STAFFORD: Your letter has surprised
me very much. ] scarcely know what TO say ex.
cept that am most grateful TO you. II is SO good
Of you 10 love me you say you do, and love la.
always seemed such beautiful thing TO me-
though never thought that il was likely to come
to either my sister or me- Bs am very very GLAD
to have had your letter and shall always be so
even II you change your mind, for, indeed, j an
not worthy OF all the kind things you say of me
SIN Whatever happens, shall always feel happy
90 know thai you once thought you have writ
And / beg you will think the matter oyei
well. Though Il seems imPertinent OF me TO ad
wise you yet think only Of your good. and an
always your faithful friend, RUTH BLAKE.
She reads the letter over several times and
then shakes her head.
How poorly have said IT," she thinks
But he is so kind; he will understand that
mean we'll"
The curate, when he receives the gentle
humble epl6tle, is h!leo with olsmay. lie pace
wildlyeup and down his small sitting room.
Somebody has played cruel, heartless tricl
upon that poor little woman, and have to fac,
her and tell her so. i would rather be shot"
He drinks his scalding tea in great gulps anG
is glad of the pain it causes him.
But what am ! to do? Go and tell WON
ana kind, gentle little lady-coarsely ant
brutally 70 her face that she has been nlayet
with and insnlted; that i never dreamed o
loving her; that it is impossible for me to d,
sOY Oh, cruel and cowardly! How can / s.rik,
q gentlewoman, or indeed any woman, such
blow thRt?"
He rests his head upon his hands and groans
Alter while lac reads the letter over again
slowly. lie reads between tie lines and seem
90 see soul laid bare before him. She love
him, and he realizes how much that means L
her. Mhata new food Of light had been poure,
suddenly upon that sad, unselfish life!
And there is no help for either of them, II
must do it. Well, then. let it be done at once
Mechanically lie takes his hat down from il
peg and goes into the street. walking with hi
head bent down, seeing nothing, hearing moth
ing until he is close To the little green gate
Then ehild's clear, high voice reaches his cal
My g'annie made it," she says "Ain't
pittyf"
It's very beautiful doll" a gentle voic
answers. +" is it good bsby?"
"Welly dood," tho child ssrs, tucking I'll
reg doll under one chubby arm. Dive me
sOse, please"
Miss Ruth plucks enc of the few remainin
Children Cry 80