The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-02-01

40 Sfohs Auc Oui1 blmO WhCu buc dp-
peared brighter was when she received a
letter from Darius. He wrote regularly,
and although Ruth's promise prevented
her from answering his letters, Marion
failed not to keep the young man fully
informed as to her sisters health and
their life in the country town where
they were teaching.
Once a month the sisters went home
to spend the Sabbath, and more plainly
than ever did Stephen Carew and his
wife see the change that had come over
Ruth. But their supposed duty was
still master, aud a hard one it proved.
They blamed themselves now for ever
letting their children mingle at all with
the worlds people.
One Of these Sabbaths Darius was at
home, too, and attended the Friends
meeting. All through the long service
he watched the figure of Ruth in her
modest gown, but not until they met
face to face on the meeting house porch
did he realize how terribly she had
changed. Only a moment they stood
there together aud clasped hands, for
Stephen, with his hard, stern eyes glar-
ing at them, was close by.
Darius went home in a daze. Could
that be Ruth Carew, that pale, quiet girl,
whose mouth had such a sorrowful droop
when in repose9 Why, she had been
the life of all their school day merry
makingsl He thought some very bitter
thoughts Of Stephen Carew, aud l am
afraid the old man deserved them all.
One thing Darius was determined on.
He had been patient, hoping for some
change of feeling to come over Stephen
and his wife, but patience
had ceased to be a virtue. He
would stand idly by no longer and see
Ruth die by inches under her parents
cruelty. With this determination he
went back to the city the following day
and wrote two letters, one to Ruth and
the other to Stephen Carew.
Several days after returning to her
school Ruth received a letter addressed
in a handwriting she knew at once. She
waited until she was alone in her room
with Marion before opening the missive.
She had hardly glanced at its contents,
however, when Marion was startled by
hearing her sister shrek, and turned to
see her gazing, pale and Mortified, at the
open lette.
"What is iti" demanded the practical
Marion, grasping the bottle Of smelling
salts and hurrying to her sisters side.
"Oh, read thatl" cried Ruth, begin
ming to weep. "What has he done2
That is a letter to father. Dare must
have written to both father and me, aud
inclosed the letters in the wrong envel.
opes. What will happen to us now7"
Marion took the letter from her sis
ter's unresisting hand and read it. She
fully realized what an effect it would
probably have upon her father if Darius
had made the blunder Ruth suggested.
Stephen Carew had been totally ignor-
ant of the one-sided correspondence the
young man had kept up, and if Darius
had written to Ruth in his usual strain,
in all probability their father would be
furiously angry upon reading the letter.
Marion read the letter intended for
her father in surprise, though not with
out satisfaction. 1t was as follows:
STEPHEN CAREw, ESQUIRE:
Sir-I have never had an opportunity To
tell you of my attachment for your daugh-
ter Ruth, but you nave Known it, and also
cannot fail to know that she in turn loves
me. have hoped that you would see how
necessary it is to her happiness, as well as
my OVID, hat we be allowed to become en-
gagged, but you appear to be as greatly
opposed to me now as ever. However, !
can stand this no longer. l love Ruth,
n W. il you cannot see il, l realize
that unless there is a change some
where her life will be greatly shortened
You may, perhaps, be able to stand calmly
by and see her die by inches, but l cannot,
nor do / propose to. l am able to support
her, and In a few weeks she will be legally OF
age. IL you still withhold your consent l
shall use every argument aud all the in
1uence in my power to gain her consent to
a marriage without your sanction.
Yours, very respectfully,
DARIUS HARLEY.
"What shall we doG l never shall
dare to go home again." cried Ruth,
Historically, when Marion had finished
reading the letter.
ssThen 90 and marry Dare aud stay
away for good" exclaimed Marion, des.
perately.
Then she threw her arms around her
younger sister, and together the two
girls had q "good cry" in all the femin-
inc meaning Of the term.
Before the week was over Ruth was
fairly i'll with apprehension, aud it was
only because of Marion's stronger will
power that she decided to go home on
Saturday. The older girl plainly saw
that the best way would be to have it
over at once. Nothing less than a ter.
ribly severe lecture, and a stern refusal
to listen for a moment to Darius Harley's
plea, was what both expected on Stephen
Carew's part. But, strange to relate,
nothing Of the kind occurred.
Stephen bad received the letter intend
ed for Ruth, as they had supposed, and
had had ample time to think oSsr the
whole matter. In the letter Darius had
written very much as he had in the other
epistle. Tho old Quaker could not help
seeing the sincerity Of the young mans
attachment. Something beside duty to
his religious belief softened his heart
toward Ruth, and his greeting to her
was very different from the one which
she had fearfully expected.
"Thee has a letter for me, has thee
not, Ruthf' asked Stephen gravely.
With tremblin0 hand the Girl handed