Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-06-01
A Tale Of Love
84 JI 5JADd Loyalty.

100000
Though it was Memorial day and
Mrs. Knowlton was distinotively pa
triotio woman she was not celebrating
the occasion. M ai7
1t was her invariable custom to par
ticipate in one form or another and in
fervent spirit always in every recogni-
tion Of her oountry's red letter days.
Today she was debating how she
could best bring the Memorial day
spirit into her own home Her favorite
niece, Elsie Kilburn, was her guest, and
BY especial invitation Elsie's best friend
and college chum, Marie Gay, had ao-
companied her.
81 will first tell them the story Of
Ruth Bryant's memorial days, !" she re-
solved. 1T will be good for them to
know such an ideal tale of love and
loyalty in these times of half hearted
patriotism and fimsy summer engage
ments. p
just then the girl guests fluttered
into their hostess boudoir.
have plan for your appreciation,
girls" she said. Presently l would
like to take you to private memorial
ground, though can't surely promise
you view Of the decorations.
."Cui bono, then?" laughed Marie. 81
never did care much for Hamlet with
Hamlet left out. -
"In this case it is something to see
the environments 1t forms the shrine
for one of Cambridge's quaint, fadeless
romanoes.
"How lovely!" exclaimed Elsie. 81
dote upon fadeless romances. There's
an aroma about the very term"
"You would appreciate the sweetness
of this one all the more" said Mrs.
Knowlton, eff you knew-as you pres
emily shall-the woman whom it con-
GERMS"
"I'll sketch her here and now," said
Marie, "if you'll give the points"
"Take her, then, as knew her in
our school days, when we two were in
separable. Ruth Bryant was taller than
you-a graceful, stately girl, with a
sweetly winning face, yet with a GER
tain well defined f1rmness and pride in
its lines. The eyes were the feature that
held and treasured one against the de-
termination Of the mouth and chin.
They were dark, unfathomable eyes,
wistful and tender Many a man has
gained his first real conception Of what
soul is from chance look into the
depths of Ruth Bryant's eyes.
cit is the story of wartime wooing
and parting, continued Mrs. Knowlton,
with the air Of Scheherezade. "Its
hero, Roger Morgan, had loved this fair
Ruth all her life, but as she grew up in
her beauty and maiden stateliness he
held himself aloof. He was of pecul-
iarly sensitive nature, and he had come
to believe that Ruth looked with espe-
oial favor upon one Harvey Chase, his
fellow townsman.
Harvey was entirely responsible for
this delusion, for he haunted Ruth like
her shadow, but she had no sentiment
whatever toward him. She had given
him plainly to understand as much, but
he would not be rebuffed."
"Good stuff in him., remarked Ma.
RE.
"Not SO very good, or at least it was
neutralized by baser elements. He had
given Roger to understand that Ruth
encouraged his attentions, and had
made matters by SO much the worse.
II CHANGED to know who really was
the hero Of her dreams, and I finally
had the satisfaction of removing the de-
fusion from Roger Morgan's mind"
"How delightfull' exclaimed Elsie
"How-and when?'
"He stopped, in passing, one evening
just at early twilight, to speak to me as
I stood in our old fashioned garden en-
joying the spring bloom. spoke at
once Of the current rumors shat he was
about to enlist for the war.
"It was quite true, he ssid, he wai
to enroll his name with the recruits
"Then I said outright, Have you
told Ruth about it?'
"He started and ! saw his hand
tremble.
i could not flatter myself, he said,
that it would concern her.
81 didn't want to betray Ruth, but
was persuaded that he loved her, and
that gave me courage.
"'Don't do another thing until you
have told Ruth that, and anything else
that you have to tell her, said des-
perately. 60 to her at once
"He looked at me moment with all
his soul in his face but I only said:
"'She must speak for herself, and
then, all in moment, he was gone."
"You blessed matchmaker, said
Marie. "Have you outgrown those ad-
mirable proclivitiesF''
"Don't interrupt Roger" said Elsie.
Ibid he tell her then and therer'
II had it from the best authority
that he did. Ruth confded it all to me
afterward, when she scolded and thank.
ed me for my intervention. He came
upon her like ghost. she being also In
the garden. 1t was 80 long ago that it
can hardly be proclamation to repeat
her confidence"
Repeat it by all MEANS" cried the
girls. Verbatim, added Marie.
81 wasn't there, remember. Ruth
lived then where she does now-near
my early home, half hours walk from
here. Thirty years have now greatly
changed the place. The tree uncovered
house is little more old fashioned.
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