Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-30
A NOTE OF WARNING.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
There had never been a beginning, at
least that We could remember Since we
had known ourselves Ruth and / had
known and loved each other. Together We
had played on the sands when we were SO
little that each one was a care to the other.
Together we had toddled. hand in hand, to
the primary school. and sauntered arm in
arm TO the Foundation. Together we had
sailed within the retreat of the harbor and
then over the rolling bar into the rock
bound bay. until we dared venture on the
mighty surges of the Atlantic and had
tested and proved our blood by circumnavi-
eating the island.
ana when left for the university there
mad been no coquetry, no doubt. God
bring you back to me. Ralph" said Ruth,
as she stood within arms reach Of me on
the point or the pier. I'm not leaving you
GEAR I'm simply preparing our home" said
1 as leaned over the rail from the deck.
Each day of the four years, varying as
1t did In storm. sunshine, heat and cold. was
constant in this single joy: A letter from
Ruth to me and a letter from me to Ruth.
ana When returned with my degree and
we sailed again over the rolling bar, be-
yond the dark. shadowy waters Of the bay,
ana out On the broad ocean until our island
nome was but a smudge like scud on
the horizon, every wave which embraced us
ana lifted US up seemed to say: 1T was
yesterday that we greeted you and tomor-
row We shall greet you again."
All through that summer we sailed over
the trackless waters whose paths were well
denned to us. We were both expert, but
Ruth was the better sailor, as she was my
superior in all respects. 1 was apt to be
lndinerent, unmindful. enwrapped with
dreams. but there was an instinct of Ruth's
whose every impulse was timely and COM
plete. Often when 1 was far away within
the Temple of Fame, at work at that niche
hand on the sheet had saved US from cap
sizing. Perhaps 1 was the more careless
since felt that wherever Ruth was there
also were peace and security.
How We talked over our future for there
never had been a time when that future
hadn't been ours. / was to go to the city
In the autumn and enter the law school.
How faithfully I would work and how
learned L would become! And then, when
had established myself in my profession,
We were to be married and buy a cottage,
with surrounding grounds. in the suburban
university town whose shades I loved so
well. and Ruth did, too, because I did, and
ever after we were to be happy, as We ever
had been-together!
We each had a little money, small enough
In aggregate, yet We believed that 1t would
keep us until my success came. My sue
cess! What brilliant-hued likeness Of 1t We
drew! l was to be a great advocate, OF
course, dread to all designing men, but a
tower of strength, especially to the weak
and the unfortunate. Besides-though this
besides was generally my own-there
was my divine gift, my poesy. What golden
showers might 1t not conjure for us! 1 had
indeed won quite a name for occasional.
verse, for which had facility, but this was
nothing to what that Utopian some day
should bring when the great poem of which
l was always dreaming was published and
the bay leaves were bound about my brows
by admiring thrOngSi
But never neglect the real for the IDEAL"
Ruth would say gravely. I'VE car get
along without the pinnacle, but not with
out the foundation. Future fancy is pleas
anter than present duty; but I prefer our
cottage to your temple with its niche don't
you, dear?"
She should have her cottage surely. VOW
ed: but as We sat on its verauda at even
tide we would see the sunlight gliding the
minarets of that temple also
The autumn came and brought the day
of my departure. Again Ruth stood On the
point of the pier; again l leaned over the
rail; again we talked as II never before We
had talked. until the captain shouted, the
loosed. Then, as the paddles churned. Ruth
stretched on tip of toe. Here, Ralph.
dearI' she cried. and she reached me a
note.
Rather puzzled-for this was not like Ruth
L went into the cabin and read it. 1t was
but line:
Ralph: I ask you to be suspicious of
Frank Dunbar. Ruth.
How surprising, how incompcehensible! /
might almost as we'll be suspicious of Ruth.
Yet that almost was long word. believe
me. But Frank Dunbar, my friend! My
roommate at the university. and now again
to be at the law school, How could I be
suspicious of one who was constant in kind
ness to me, whom 1 respected for his char
acter, and honored for his ability? Surely,
something which l had said in r1y blunder-
m q have n1iSled
had / said, except praiseworthy things? or
the first time almost doubted Raths judg-
ment But. again, that almost was a
long word, believe me.
Frank Dunbar! How spotless, how noble
he appeared as / considered him. His
nickname revealed his character. as nick
names always do. Perfection" Dunbar!
Never had he varied a hairbreadth from the
line of duty. Never had he taken part in
frolics-rarely in pleasures. Work was his
preference-work that told lie had led
his class; but this had not aufficed. His
exuberant energy had mastered the modern
languages and the theory of music. Yet
he was never a prig. He sympathized with
the weaknesses of others, though he had
heartily over scrapes, nor picture revelry
more enticingly. But when others, after
such a conversation. rushed headlong and
needless into trouble. Frank returned tran
GULLY to his books. He never preached,
never sought to inculcate his principles.
That is what we all liked in aim. Often he
would say to me: go ahead, old boy
What's the difference? Enjoy your YOUTH"
Yet he was a year younger than !.
He was such prudent fellow, too, was
Frank. He lived like the rest of us. hut he
Disseminated between comfort and ex-
travagance. So, while we were generally
in debt, and sometimes in distress. he al
ways had plenty of money. 1 used to be so
sorry for him. He couldn't lend. for he
had promised his father. and he would
grieve lest his inability should be miscon-
strued
Frank was ambitious, truly. No young
squire, emulous of his spurs. could have
been more so. Yet he was dist-ustful of
his powers. Il can't do what you fellows
do" he would say, humbly. Il must stick
to my treadmill.'' And, while We all real
lied his mental as we'll as moral superior
fty, We liked him the better for yelling it.
We respected his honest scruples and never
sought to tempt him from his course.
How heart-single, too, was Frank.
Though not a handsome man, for he had
small eyes, red hair. and a short squat
figure, he was fascinating in manner and
speech. He attracted and retained interest.
There were many sides to his nature. and
that side which would be most consonant
and agreeable to a companion he intuitive-
ly revealed. We all concurred in the opin-
ion that he would prove irresistible to any
woman if he should ever care to exert him
self. But he had no time for romance. SO
he said. And yet what a cOnfidant he was;
never prying, never curious; but learning
ones secret thoughts as IL in spite Of him
self. Why, he knew all about Ruth; had
talked of her for hours at a 1ime and he