The herald., 1894-01-01
REDEEMED BY LOVE.

There had never been 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,
and sauntered arm in arm to the Found
ation. 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.
And when l lett 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.
Ppm not leaving you, dear; I'm simply
preparing our home," said l, as leaned
over the rail from the deck.
Each day of the four years, VARYING
as it did IN storm, sunshine, heat and
cold, was constant in this single Joy a
letter 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 leland home was but smudge like
sea ecud on the horizon, every wave
which embraced US and lifted us up
seemed to say: sit was yesterday that
we greeted you, snd tomorrow we shall
greet you again.
All through that summer we sailed
over the trackless waters whose paths
were well defined to us. We were both
expert, but Ruth was the better sailor,
as she was my superior in all respects
[ was apt to be Indifferent, unmindful,
enrapt with dreams; but there WAS an
instinct of Ruth's whose every impulse
was timely and complete. Often when
was far sway 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 capsiz-
ing. Perhaps l was the more careless
since l felt that wherever Ruth was
there also were peace and security.
How we talked over our future, for
there never had been time when that
future hadn't been ours. l was to 90 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 my
self in my profession, we were to be
married and buy cottage, with sui
rounding grounds, in the suburban
university town whose shades loved 30
well, and Ruth did, too, because / did,
and ever after we were to be happy, az
We ever had been-togetherl
We each had little money, small
enough in aggregate, yet We believed
that it would keep ue until nv succeEs
came. My euccessl What brilliant.
hued likeness of it we drew l was to
be great advocate, of course. dread
to all designing men, but tower OF
strength, especially to the weak and the
unfortunate. Besides-though this ''be
sidee" was generally my own-there was
my divine gift, my poesy. What golden
showers might it not conjure for US
had indeed won quite name for occa
sional verse, for which had facility
but this was nothing to what thai
Utopian "some day" should bring wher
the great poem of which l was always
dreaming was published and the bay
leaves were bound about my brows by
admiring throngs
"But never neglect the real for the
IDEAL" Ruth would say gravely. "We
can get along without the pinnacle, bui
not without the foundation. Future
fancy is plessanter than present duty
but | prefer our cottage to your temple
witt its niche, don't you ?''
Sweet little Ruth, 40 prudent, go wise
She should have her cottage surely !
vowed, but as we sat ON its veranda a,
eventide We could see the scnlight 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 ifnevei
before we had talked until the captain
shouted, the gangway was drawn, and
The bawsers loosed. Then, as the pad
dies ehurned, Ruth stretched on tip O.
toe, "Here, Ralph, dear" she cried anC
she reached me a note
Rather puzzled for this was not like
Ruth-I went into the cabin and read it,
1t was bnt line:
RALPH: ! ask you to he suspicious o
Frank Dunbar. Rurn.
How surprising, how ncomprenensl-
BILE ! might almost as well be eusp:
sious OF Ruth Yet that 'aImostv was
long word, believe me. But Frank Dun
bar. my friend Ny roommate at tn,
university, and now again 10 be at tn,
law SCHOOL, How could be euspicioui
of one who was Constant in kindness I,
me. whom l respected Tor his character