Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-04-08


flushed cheeks. render her appearance
not altogether unpleasing.
She cats her simple tea quickly, glanc-
ing from time 10 time at book which
she has proppcd up against the milk jug
"a book Mr.. Stanford mentioned Incl
dentally one day, and which she has OBJ
tanned from the village library.
The next morning Miss Ruth gets
letter. She knows the handwriting upon
the envelope before she opens it.
Parish matters, of course" she says
to herself. perhaps it's about the
school treat"
She opens the envelope, unfolds the
note within and is reading it slowly,
when suddenly she utters low cry, her
breath comes fast and the familiar world
about her grows il, moment strange and
unreal.
For it is a love letter. She is thirty
three, and this is her very first.
And from such a man-the man whom
she has looked up to and reverenced and
followed SO humblY aud modestly ever
since she first saw him! She goes down
| to breakfast with flushed face, CULVER
ing Ii ps and radiant eyes.
''Miss Cornelia's just on the ramp
this morning, miss" says the little maid
warningly, as she meets Ruth in the mar
row passage that does duty for hall.
Miss Ruth mods and smiles as if this
were the pleasantest intelligent possible.
Cornelia's diatribes this morning fall up
on needless ears.
Ruth answers at intervals, eyes,
DEAR" and <'No, DEAR" and 81 will see
to it, sister," as in duty bound; but her
heart and soul are filled with one thought
thar wonderful letter.
After breakfast, Miss Cornelia goes out
to visit her district. Then Miss Ruth
takes up her pen and writes trcmbLngly
out of the fulness of her heart:
DEAR Mr. STANFoRD-Your letter has
surprised me very much. L scarcely know
what to say. except that am most grateful
to you. It is SO good of you TO love me as
you say you do, and love has always seemed
such beautiful thing to me, though l never
thought that it was likely to come to either
my sister or me. But | am very, very glad
to have had your letter, and shall always be
so, even if you change your mind, for, in
deed, am not worthy OF all the good things
you say of me. Still, whatever happens, L
shall always feel happy to know that you
beg you will think the matter over we'll.
Though it seems impertinent of me to advise
you, yet think only of your good. And [
am always your faithful friend,
RUTH BLAKE.
She reads the letter over several times,
and then shakes her head.
''How poorly l have said It'll" she
thinks. 'But he is so kind; he will I'M
derstand that I mean WE'LL"
The curate, when he receives the gen
tie, humble epistle, is filed with dismay.
He PAGES wildly up and down his small
sitting room.
''Somebody has played cruel, heart
less trick upon that poor little woman,
and I have to face her and tell her so.
would rather be shot,"
He drinks his sealding tea in great
gulps, and is glad of the pain it causes
him.
''But what am to do? Go and tell
woman-a kind, gentle, little lady
coarsely and brutaIly to her face, that
she has been played with and insulted;
that never dreamed of loving her;
that it is impossible for me to do so?
Oh, cruel and cowardly! How can I
strike a gentlewoman, or indeed any
woman, such blow as that?"
He rests his head upon his hands and
groans.
After while he reads the letter over
again slowly. He reads between the
lines and seems to see soul laid bare
before him, and he realizes how much
that means to her. What new food of
light has been poured suddenly upon
that sad, unselfsh life!
And there is no help for either of
them. He must do it? Well, then, let
it be done at once.
Mechanically he takes his hat down
from its peg and goes out into the street,
walking with his head bent down, see
ing nothing, hearing nothing until he is
close to the little green gate; then a
child's clear, high voice reaches his ear.
"My g'annie made it," she says.
CANT it pitty?'
'Tt's beautiful DOLL" gentle voice
answers. ''Is it good baby?"
"Welly dood," the child says, tucking
the rag doll under one chubby arm.
"Dive me wose, please"
Miss Ruth plucks one of the few re-
naming June roses, one of the prettiest,
and puts it into the little outstretched
hand.
AS she turns to look after the child
Miss Ruth sees him and pauses shyly.
Something has to be said, SO he comes
forward.
''What lovely EVENING"" he exclaims,
though he scarcely knows whether it
or w c,Jp chipoS