Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-01-27

few weeks Ruth seemed much the same
as ever. The only time when she ap.
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 month the sisters went home
to spend the Sabbath, aud 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, and 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 moment they stood
there together and 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 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, and 1 am
afraid the old man deserved them all.
One thing Darif was determined on.
He had been pat Mt, hoping for some
change of feelipk to come over Stephen
and his wife, but patience
had ceased to be 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 return ing to her
school Ruth received letter addressed
in 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 letter to father. Dare must
have written to both father and me, and
inclosed the letters in the wrong envel.
opes. What will happen to us now7"
Marion took the letter from her sis
ter's unresisting haua 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, aud 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-l have never had an opportunity to
tell you of my attachment for your daugh-
ter Ruth, but you have known 1t, and also
cannot fail to know that she in turn loves
me. l have hoped that you would see how
necessary it is to her happiness, as well as
my owp, that we be allowed to become en-
gagged, cut you appear to be as greatly
nnpOca1 H0NaVar
can stand this no longer. l love Ruth,
and even il you cannot see it, realize
that unless there is 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 l propose to- am able to support
her. and in few weeks she will be legally OF
age. II you still withhold your consent
shall use every argument and all the in
fiuence in my power to gain her consent to
q marriage without your sanction.
Yours. very respectfully,
DARIUS HARLEY.
"What shall we do2 / never shall
dare to go home again." cried Ruth,
Historically, when Marion had finished
reading the letter.
"Then go 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 "good cry" in all the femin-
inc meaning of the term.
Before the week was over Ruth was
fairly i'll with apprehension, and it was
only because of Marion's stronger will
power that she decided to 20 home on
Saturday. The older girl plainly saw
that the best way would be to have it
over at once. Nothing less than ter.
ribly severe lecture, and 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,
rothing OF the kind occurred.
Stephen bad received the letter intend
ed for Ruth, as they had supposed, and
had had ample time to think over the
whole matter. In the lettcr Darius had
written very much as he had in the other
epistle. The 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 whic h
she had fearfully expected.
ssThee has q letter for me, has thee
not, Rutha'' asked Stephen gravely.
With trembling hand the girl handed
him the epistle.