The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-03
A NOTE IF WARNING.

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 n care to the other.
Together we had toddled, hand in hand, to
the private 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 10y circum-
venting the island.
And when l left for the university there
had 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 of the pier "I'm not leaving
you, dear. Pm simply preparing our
home, " said l as l leaned over the rail
from the deck.
Each day of the four years, varying as
it did in storm and sunshine, heat and
cold, was constant in this single iOy-a let
ter from Ruth to me and letter from me
to Ruth
And when l returned with my degree,
and we sailed again over the rolling bar,
beyond the dark, shadowy waters of the
bay and out on the broad ocean, until our
island home was but a smudge like Il sea
scud on the horizon, every wave which
embraced us and lifted us up seemed to
say, "ltwas yesterday that we greeted you,
and tomorrow We shall greet you again, ~
All through that summer we sailed over
the trackleSs water whose paths were we'll
defined to us. We were both expert, but
Ruth was the better sailor, as she was my
superior i'll all respects. was apt to be in,
different, unmindful, euwrapped with
dreams, but there was an instinct of
Ruth's whose every impulse was timely
and complete. Often whea l was far away
within the temple OF fame at work at
that niche which surely was to be mine,
her quick hand ON the sheet had saved US
from capsizing. Perhaps l was the more
careless since l felt that wherever Ruth
was there also We're peace and security
How we talked over our future, for there
never had been time when that future
hadn't been ours was to 20 to the city
in the autumn and enter the law school
How faithfully l would work and how
learned | would become, And then when
had established myself in my profession
we We're to be married and buy cottage,
with surrounding grounds, in the subur-
ban university town whose shades loved
so well, and Ruth did, too, because l did,
and ever after we were to be happy, rs we
ever had been, together,
We eeach had little money, small enough
holt. III
keep US until my success came. My sue
cess! What q brilliant hued likeness Of it
we drew! was to be a great advocate, of
course, q 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 gold
en- showers might iJ not cOujure for us!
had indeed won quite a name for OcCa-
sional verse, for which had facility, bus
this was nothing to what the UJopian
"some day" should bring when the great
poem of which was always dreaming was
published and the bay leaves were bound
about my brows by admirng throngs
But never neglect the real for the
ideal, Ruth would say guyely. "We can
get along without the pinnacle, but not
without the foundation. Future fancy is
pleasanter than present duty, but prefer
our cottage to your temple with its niche,
don't you, dear2'
Sweet little Ruth, so prudent, so wise
~ She should have her cottage surely, |
vowed, but as we sat on its veranda at
eventide we would see the sunlight gild-
ing 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 | leaned over the
rail, again we talked as if never before We
had talked, until the captain shouted, the
-gangway was drawn and the hawsers
loosed. Then rs the paddles chuned Ruth
stretched on tiptoe. Here, Ralph, dear, -
she cried, and she reached me n note.
Rather puzzled-for this was not like
Ruth 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 incomprehensible
might also as well be suspicious of Ruth
Yet that "almost" was q word, believe
me. But Frank Dunbar, my friend My
roommate at the university, and now again
to be at the law school. How could be
suspicious Of one who was constant in kind.
ness to me, whom respected for his char
acter and honored for his ability? Surely
something which ! had said in my blum.
dering way must have misled Ruth. Yet
what had l said except praiseworthy
things9 For the first time almost doubted
Ruth's Judgment. But again that "al
most" was a long word, believe me.
Frank Dunbar! How spotless, how noble
he appeared as I considered HIM Hi,
nickname revealed bis character, as nick.
names always do" Perfection" Dunbar
Never had ne varied n hairbreadth from
the line Of duty. Never had he taken par
in frOlics, rarely in pleasures. Work wa
his preference-work that told He hat
led his class, but this had not sufIiced
His exuberant energy had mastered tn
modern languages and the theory Of music
Yet he was never prig He sympathize,
with the weaknesses of others, though h
had none himself
No one could laugh more heartily owe
scrapes nor picture revery more enticing
ly. But when others, after such q conver
sation, rushed headlong and needless int
trouble Frank returned TRANQUILITY to hi
books. He never preached, never sough
to inculcate his principles That is wha
we all liked in him. Often he would sa
to me: "Go ahead old hoy. What's tn
difference2 Enjoy your youth" Yet h
was year younger than l.
He was such a prudent fellow, too, wa
Frank. He lived like the rest Of us, but h
Disseminated between comfort and ey
travagance. So while we were general
in debt and sometimes in distress he al
ways had plenty Of money. used to b
sorry for him. He couldn't lend, for h
had promised his father, and he woul
grieve lest his inability should be miscor
strued
Frank was ambitious truly No youn
squire, emulous Of his spurs, could hav
been more 50. Yet he was distrustful G
his powers. 81 can't do what you fellow
do, he would say humbly 81 must site