The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-02

and you can rip it up 1 want to make a
new tick and that'll do for the cover
"Oh, dear!' cried Ruth Allen, you
aren't going to cut that up. 1 want to
keep it."
What for, I'd like to know? You're too
old to wear such a dress and it might
be doing some good if twas made into a
tick
Il wanted to keep it because it was the
last dress mother bought me-"
Now, if Thankful had a soft spot in her
heart it was for the memory of her mother
and with short Keep it. then" she
turned to her work. The two sewed dill
gently and talked little. Thankful's
thoughts were on her work but Ruth AL
lens were straying back into her girlhood
days, lured there by the sight of the
stranger who had been the last she saw
enter Widow F'ilkins gate. He had some
how reminded her of her one lover Jasper
Chadwick; indeed, in every gathering of
men she was sure to see someone who re-
minded her of him-and she was living over
again the days which had ended so sud-
denly. When Jasper Chadwick had won
her promise to be his wife she had added
to her softly whispered yes" IF Provi-
dcnce is willing" If Providence was will
ing Thankful was not, and while Ruth
Allen wavered between her love for Jasper
and her fear of disObeying Thankful Jas
per grew angry and left CASTOR Abbey.
He had never returned, and Thankful was
sire that the fire of love that had burned
so tiercely in Ruth Aliens heart had long
ago turned to ashes. She was mistaken.
The Goals We're there and the slightest
breath from the olden days sufficient
to kindle them into fame, but Thankful
never saw their glow.
When Thankful was watering her garden
after supper Mrs. Burden came through
the gate.
Have you heard what's happened down
in the village?' We're the first words she
said.
No said Ruth Allen. coming to the
door; is anybody dead?"
Worse than that" said Mrs. Burdon
Folks has got to die bnt they amt got
to be robbed. Somebody broke into Widow
Filkns' house last night and stole her sill
Yer spoons and her mothers old silver can
dlesticks and two pounds il money
Goodness mel cried Thankful, setting
down her watering pot. You don't mean
to say that robbers have been in CASTOR
Abbey! There won't be any safety sleep
ing Of nights after this Have they caught
the robbers?" -.
No; they got clean away. You'll have
to keep everything locked up pretty tight,
living up here alone you do. And what
do you think? Jasper Chadwicks come
back. and
Ruth Allen" said Thankful quickly,
you so down into the cellar and fetch up
bottle of that currant wine TOR Mrs.
Burdon." q
Don't say anything about him before
Ruth Allen said Thankful as soon as her
sister out of hearing.
You don't mean to say she thinks any
thing about him after all this time?'
Il don't mean anything" said Thankful
with dignity, but | don't want Ruth Allen
to go thinking of those old times. dldn
mean her to know he was here. Yes she
said, Ruth Allen came in with the cur
rant wine. 4 must confess that If there's
one thing I'm afraid of more than tire it $
burglars. When I've read of folks beng
robbed and murdered in their beds in the
city I've always been thankful that | lived
where there was nothing to modest or make
me afraid. but now | shan't rest until that
robbers caught and shut up.
I'm not afraid of their coming here
said Ruth Allen. I'VE have nothing wotth
stealing"
''Humph, Ruth Allen-they're just as Ike
ly to come here as anywhere, and more too,
seeing that we're alone. IL they didn't
find any thing to steal they'd murder us in
our beds and then how would you feel, I'd
| like to know"
Not having had any experience in that
! line Ruth Allen was not able to describe
| her possible sensations.
AS soon as Mrs. Burden went away
Thankful closed the windows and drew the
| curtains.
What makes you shut up so early?' said
Ruth Allen. ana L never hIleW SOu ~
draw the curtains till we went to bed
"Well I'm not going to have any blood
! thirsty Williams peeping in the windows at
! us, and I'm going to lock the doors now,
| too
I'D just as soon sleep with the doors and
windows both open
| ..Them that know nothing fear nothing.
I've always heard say returned Thankful,
pushing the bolt of the kitchen door into
| it's socket.
The kitchen was hot and close, and Ruth
! Allen was glad when the clock struck
| Thankful took the candle and went up
stairs.
Il declare, Ruth Allen" she cried, stop
| ping short at the top IF didn't forget al
| about shutting the bedroom windows
| There may be 40 robbers in here for all we
| know" and she Deered timdly into the
| dark room, where the Hckerlng candle cas-
| strange shadows
Let me come" said Ruth Allen. TN
not afraid Nobody would carry off an Ole
woman like me.
I'm not worrying about your being car
| ried off, said Thankful, but there:
| fathers silver watch and mothers cameo
| brooch they'd take them in minute"
| A diligent search failed to unearth any in
| truder. and Thankful turned to shut thu
| windows.
| We'll smother if you shut the windows,
| said Ruth Allen.
| rather SlllOtHci IMAM oS ",
| said Thankful as she pushed the nails int
| the little holes of the lower sash.
| 1t was a very warm night, and Rutl
| Allen. never a good sleeper. tossed ant
| turned in her bed. If she fell into a lig'h
| slumber it was only to be aroused b.
| Thankful's whisper, whats that, Rutl
| Allen? I'm sure l heard something
| A few nights of this wakefulness began
| to tell on Ruth Allen, and robust Thankful
| confessed that she felt trifle fatigued her
| self.
| Il tell YOU what 1t is said she. Wei
| both be down i'll if we don't get our sleep.
Il know it," said Ruth Allen. Il dom
! rest much any night, but l could if you't
| have the windows open and not keel
| waking me up
| WELL l can't sleep said Thankful, "a!
| long as that robber is roaming free, blu
! I've thought of way so we can both ge
| our sleep One OF US can sleep in the day
| time and sit up at nights. 1t can't be me
| for I've got the garden to attend to, 81
| it'll have to be you. When it comes
| O'Clock you can go to bed and sleep al
! day, and get up about supper time. Thel
! I'll go to bed at night. and you can 81
| and sew and keep watch If burglars SCI
| a light burning they won't come near thu
| house."
| "Why not leave a light burning and boil
| go to bed:"
| YES and waste candles, and may be Sc
! the house on fire. Ruth Allen, there's M
knowing what you'd do If l didn't lool