The Press., 1898-06-02

held himself aloof. He was of pecul- iarly sensitive nature, and he had come to believe that Ruth looked with espe- cial 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. l Good stuff in him" remarked Ma rie. @
 Mot 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. | "I chanced 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 delightfulr' exclaimed Elsie, "How-and when?'
 "He stopped, in passing, one evening just at early twilight, to speak to me as stood in our old fashioned garden en. toying the spring bloom. I spoke at once of the current rumors that he was about to enlist for the war.
 "It was quite true, he said, he was to enroll his name with the recruits.
 "Then I said outright, Have yon told Ruth about it?'
 | 'tHe started and I saw his hand tremble.
 l I could not f1atter myself, he said, that it would concern her. l "I 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. Go to her at once.' l "He looked at me a moment with all his soul in his face, but only said: l "'She must speak for herself,' and then, all in a moment, he was gone." l "You blessed matchmaker, said Marie. Have you outgrown those ad- mirable proclivities?"
 Don't interrupt Roger" said Elsie Ibid he tell her then and thereP'' l "I had it from the best authority that he did. Ruth confided it all to me afterward, when she scolded and thank ed me for my intervention. He came upon her like a ghost she being also in the garden. It was so long ago that it can hardly be proclamation to repeat her confidence.
 Repeat it by all means" cried the girls. Verbatim, added Marie.
 'I 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 embowered house is @ little more old fashioned, and the trees are grown. but it is as | idyllic now as then.'
 "But the romance" urged Marie. "He found her in the garden.''
 "I m wandering among old memories. Yes, she was in the garden, and they walked to the place in the rear of the great yard, where a pair of twin maple trees still grow from a single root.
 "Then, without the least preliminary, Roger said:
 "'You know I love you, Ruth, with my whole heart. Is there the slightest hope for me?'
 "Of course Ruth was completely overwhelmed. but there could be but one answer, and he read it in her eyes.
 "1t was nearly dark, and the discreet old naples never told 8 word about the scene of the betrothal.
 But it was 8 bittersweet hour. Roger told her at once of his determina tion to enlist, so the shadow of parting was over their first rapture. Ruth did not so much as suggest that he stay for her sake. She was every inch patriot, and she was proud to bear the pain of parting from her hero.
 "So they vowed eternal constancy there by the twin naples Roger finger. ed in town as long as possible without interfering with his purpose. and one day he carved their initials in the trunk of one of the trees, with the date of their betrothal, May 3, 1882"
 "I'd give anything to see themr' cried Marie.
 "Bide your time," said her enter tainer. "They are still legible. Time has been allowed to efface nothing re- lating to those golden days. All through the years that spot has been 8 shrine to Ruth"
 "I wish it had all turned out happi- 1y," sighed Elsie. 'This half of your story must be much the happier"
 ''It is," said her Aunt Louise, "fo, Roger went all too soon, and, according to Shakespeare test, he need not be 'recreant' in war, for he was certainly in love heart and soul.
 "Ruth's only comfort lay in their correspondence, which was carried on most faithfully. They came fully to know the richness of each others na. , lures and their individual capacity fo, affection and to grow closer and close, into each others hearts,"
 "Where in the meantime was Harvey Chaser
 "I should have told you that he en. listed when Roger did. I always be. lieved that he had waited, dreading tc leave Roger in the home field. But the engagement was currently reported, and he thought best to keep an eye on the victor.
 Affairs went as wartime affairs did go until Roger had been away year. He had had no furlough, and the lovers had enjoyed only the letters and what we should term telepathic communica. tion.
 "Then came the terrible battle o1 Charlottesville, which took place or the 2d of May, 1868, exactly one year from the date carved on the maple tree.
 "The Union army lost the day, and as the enemy held possession of the field it was impossible for them to recover all the Union dead.
 Roger Morgan's s name came out in that dreadful list of the killed. Harvey Chase was taken prisoner, and "a deadly havoc was made among our troops"
 "Oh, say that Roger wasn't really killedr' said Elsie dolefully.
 "Unhappily the report was but toe true. Ruth was so deathly still when she heard the news that no one could fathom her grief. We were all puzzled and alarmed. But after time she said to me, with her eyes at their deepest: