Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-15

timidly into the dark room, where the
Pickering candle caststrange shadows.
Let me come said Ruth Allen. I'm
not afraid. Nobody would carry off an
old woman like me-
I'm not worrying about your being
carried of, said Thankful but there
fathers silver watch and mothers
cameo brooch; they'd take them in a
minute"
4 diligent search failed to unearth
any intruder, and Thankful turned to
shut the windows.
Wen smother if you shut the win
dows,' said Ruth Allen.
I'd rather smother than be murder
cd, " said Thankful, as she pushed the
nails into the little holes OF the lower
sash.
Il was very warm night, and Ruth
Allen, never a good sleeper, tossed and
turned in her bed. If she fell into
light slumber it was only to be aroused
by Thankfurs whisper, Whats that,
Ruth Allen? I'm sure | heard some
thing"
A few nights of this wakefulness be-
gan TO tell on Ruth Allen, and robust
Thankful confessed that she felt
trihe fatigUed herself.
Il know it," said Ruth Allen. II
don't rest much any night, but l could
if you'd have the windows open and
not keep waking me up
We'll, I cane sleep" said Thankful,
"as long as that robber is roaming free,
but I've thought of a way so We can
both get our sleep. One Of us can sleep
in the daytime and sit up at nights. 1t
can't be me- for I've got the garden TO
attend to- so it'll have to be YOU. When
it comes 9 o'clock you can go to bed
and sleep all day, and get up about sup
per time. I'll have supper ready, and
thatIl be your breakfast Then I'll go
to bed at night, and you can sit up and
sew and keep watch. If burglars see a
light burning they won't come near the
house"
why not leave a light burning and
both so to bed?"
yes. and waste candles, and may be
set the house on fire. Ruth Allen,
there's no knowing what you'd do if
didn't look after you. ! cant sleep till
that robbers caught, and till they do
catch him you've got to sit up at
night
Ruth Allen. with the meekaess born
of long submission to a stronger viii,
gave up, as she always did. That
morning at 9 o'clock she went upstairs
to bed. For a long time she lay look
ing cut on the green hillside, listening
to the birds. It's almost wicked to 80
to bed in the daytime, she thought,
and I can't sleep | know / can't
but even as ,he made this mental pro-
test she drifted into heamland, where
she was once more a girl, while the
song of the birds was transformed into
q voice she had known and loved. She
slept till after 3 o'clock. When she
went down stairs Thankful was pour
ing hot water into the teapot. a plate
Of toast and a dish OF baked potatoes
lay en- the hearth.
I'm just putting the tea TO draw,
she said "As soon as its done your
breakfast will be ready
When they sat down to the table
Thankful drank a cup Of tea and ate
niece of bread. It's not my breakfast
time" she said, when her sister asked
her why she did not eat some OF the
toast. Ruth Ain felt as if her world
was turning round the wrong way.
Al 9 o'clock Thankful went to bed,
and left Ruth Allen 10 her watch. The
next morning she said she had slept
like q TOP" In a few days the excite
ment of the robbery subsidized, but
Thanful would not consent to any
change in their sleeping arrangements
There was no knowing what that rob
Der might take a notion TO come back
and she felt as safe as a bank with
Ruth Allen keeping watch, she said.
Thankful had another reason for keep
ing Ruth Allen in bed daytimes Jasper
Chadwick had been to the house and
asked to see her; but though Thankful
told him that her sister would have
nothing TO say to him, she had caught
glimpse of him two or three times
strolling in the field below the house.
He shan't see Ruth Allen if l can help
ii. she said fiercely. and the best way
to avoid a meeting between the two
seemed to be 10 keep Ruth Allen in bed
during the daytime till Jasper should
leave the village.
Ruth Allen really enjoyed her nightly
vigils. For the first time in her life
she had a taste of freedom. Thankful
slept soundly. as was attested by her
cheerful snore, and as soon as Ruth
Allen heard it she opened the doors
and windows, and let in the sweet night
air. She hurried through the task
which Thankful always set her, and
spent the rest of her time in whatever
way pleased her fancy. The moon was
at its full, and she wandered through
the garden. stopping now and then 10
caress the blossoms, or to pass her
hands softly over the dewy laws.
Thankful always reproved her for
the plants You'll spoil
them handling them" she always said. |
One evening Ruth Allen came down
stairs dressed in her lilac muslin.
What have YOU got that on for?"
demanded Thankful
Because it's so hot with the doors and
windows shut said Ruth Alien. NO
body will see me. l don't have many
callers"
The night was warm. Just as the
sky began TO grow HSnt IN the east
Ruth Allen blew out her candle and
went down the walk to the garden gate.
I've q good mind to go up to the old
alder spring. Thankful won't be up for
an hour yet.
She opened the gate and went I'D the
hill As she went she pulled TWO or
three late hedge flowers and stuck them |
in her dress. The alder spring-s0- |
called because q great clump of alders
grew close by twas near the TOP OF !
tho hill There was q trough where