The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-23

settle exactly upon rhe date; for il had
been what the old inhabitants called an
.-open ufnter"-very little snow had fallen
as yet and Thar had quickly disappeared.
and the weather now was mild. and only
cool enough TO be- agreeable.
But tie leadess branches Of the trees
that hung over the little brown cottage
on the hillside gave a lonesome look TO
the lan1scare And the afternoon sun
shining through those gray. bare branches
Seemed to shine with melancholy light
as if saying
IL am trying TO bear UP ana do the best
! can to warm up the world. but winter
is too strong for me-winter and cold.
freezing weather are coming"
But as yet the lowering ice form was
at a distance Folks were enjoying while
they could the mild atmosphere.
The good farmer and his wife had driven
off down the road an hour ago 20 partake
Of a Christmas dinner with Ibis folks
He" scauGalizing his wife by insist
ing on wearing long linen buster over
his best coat for. as she truly said:
''some attention ought TO be given 10
appearances. and the almanac should rule
them TO a certain extent"
lie" insisting as stoutly that com
fort should go before appearances and he
did not care to risk the mud spatters on
his new broadcloth overcoat.'
This speech placated her, but at the
same time. i'm Difference to chronology
she wore "a short and rather shabby fur
boa that wound around her fat neck and
was hid I'm the folds Of her light cloth
Jacket. like an aged muskrat trying 70
hide himself from the eyes Of the nun
ter.
The side door Of the little cottage be
hind them was open. Their daughter Jane
was left to keen house, and the village
school teacher. her close friend, was bear
ing her company.
The latter was sitting on the clean,
brown doorstep. Her eyes were bent to-
ward the clouds that hung in feathery
masses in the west and her eyes were
soft and happy eyes.
II was dreamy. tender. loving face.
not beautiful in feature but most beauti-
full in expression, and framed in a glory OF
golden hair.
Jane. a rather angular girl, some years
older than she. was sitting just inside the
open door. busily engaged in some do
nestle sewing. her face was rather a
sharp one, but the expression Of her keen
gray eyes was honest and true, she is
speaking
"Yes. since Tom has been in your
thoughts so much, some Of your old
friends have been overlooked, friends who
are better truer than he is
There couldn't be any one better and
truer than Tom-bless him; though l well
know how good you are, Jane"
please God, / will never come to the
state when "a man looks better to me than
woman. Men are fools, If they can get
nigh enough 10 them. Foolishness is
catching enough. Heaven knows"
The girl in the doorway leaned back
and laid her hand in James lap in a ca
ressing way Jane looked down on it
half -admiringly, half pettishly.
"You are proud of your hands, Ruth"
said she.
1t was pretty hand, soft. white, and
daintily formed. 1t seemed fashioned
for gracious deeds for the warm kisses
OF love for children's caresses. A little
blue-set ring shone in it, Jane half
pushed it away.
mo doubt Tom says they are lovely
Ruth laughed. "Oh. you jealous old
Jane Just as if my loving Tom ma dc
me love you less, And then she went
7 wish you could like Tom better
Jane He and you are the two dearest
TO me in the world, except little Annie
of course, l love her bless the child But
you and ! have always been such close
true friends; always. as far back as
can remember Don't you know how
always depended upon you-told you ev-
erything-you were all in all to me?''
Yes, till Tom stepped between us"
.You foolish Janet l love you just
as well as / ever did" Here the speaker
held up her pretty, soft hand, and looked
intently at il, and the ring. Maybe Jane
was right; maybe Ruth was proud Of the
pretty, white, dimpled hands; well, if she
was, they were something to be proud
of. So daintily white, so rosy-tippec
with the fresh bloom Of youth and
health"
II always knew you would fan in love
with some man, Ruth; It was in yor
You couldn't carry your soft hear
through life, ] knew, without its metinl
down in the light of some mans eyes
but / never thought it would be such
man as Tom Hughes"
why do you talk so. Jane?"
Because IL is the truth. There Is
nothing true in him. If a man coulC
be true, which heaven knows l don't pre-
tend to know. ne is not one of them. H
is false. He is tickle, he is"
TON loves me-" said Ruth, simply.
Maybe he does to-day, ] don't say h.
does not love YOU today, but what vii
he do Tomorrow"
Ruth held up the ring for Jane to rea,
Under the tiny blue blossoms of the for
get-me-not was engraved True Til
Death"
It'll death. 1t was very appropriate
putting those words under the forget
me-nots He gave you that in June; tn
forget-ne- nots blossom in juno. they ar
dead in December. 1t is December now
winter days.
Ruth looked away in the west with he
happy eyes u is doubtful If she ever
md ia. F.,s- e1