Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-03

There was no answer. Grace's face
was still averted; but Ruth saw a
slight tremor run through her slender
frame. She knew that her words had
probed the depths of her sisters aching
wound, and, thinking that there was
healing power in them, continued:
Herbert would not wish you 10 live
this nuns life forever. l know-we MI
know-that there is no affectation In
this perpetuation Of grief, and that. to
your tender conscience, the life you
lead seems an atonement."
THAT is IT, broke In Grace. eagerly.
"Oh, Ruth, IL you only knew bow wick
ed, how horrible. / felt. AT times. |
was almost glad Of my freedom! And
then 1 remembered the price at which
IT was obtained. Oh, Ruth, do not feel
astcnished hat | am worm, ~listless and
miscrably unfit for the worlds work
and pleasure-wonder, rs l do. that ]
am not mad.'
She clasped both arms around the
young girls neck, and, bowling her
head, sobbed her heart out In q YER.
passion of hystcrical tears. And Ruth,
in her wisdom. let her weep Oh, sooth-
ing and petting her from time TO time,
but making no effort TO check her pas
sionate grief.
1t was something 10 have caused
Grace tG confess her pain, aud so face
the phantom that haunted and pursued
her. They would lose hall their ter.
rors when viewed by the clear light OF
cool reflection.
So, ut least, thought Ruth Ieger, and
she had no cause to doubt the wisdom
of her philosophy. From that day her
sister made a strenuous effort To rouse
herself from the miserable apathy into
which she had fallen. and TO take a
new interest in life.
Ii WAS hard work at first. for she had
many a relapse into the cid morbid
state. But Ruth was always AT hand
TO cheer her with bright, brave words
and warm sympathy. and the old gloom
/ returned no more. Grace even began
To think, ut times, that the darkest
hours of her life were lived through,
and that the light of II fair and peace
full day might even yet dawn and shine
for her.
BY and by the neighbors. who had
from the first interested themselves
warmly in the widowed brides romal,-
tic story. became familiar with h APP
pearance of its heroine. Little by lit
! tic, Grace Santley emerged from her
long seclusion, and. with Ruth always
beside her. made her appearance at
| church and by the river side.
The two girls, in their deep mourning
dresses, became familiar and attractive
figures in the quaint little riverside
town. Many were the efforts made 10
draw them into the little functions and
Iamusements of the place--attempts That
were no wholly unsuccessful. though
they failed in their chief aim.
Ruth had a keen appreciation OF
| pleasure, and Mrs. Leger, who loved
excitement of every kind, accepted all
inyitationS-"for her daughters sake
with a self-denial beautiful 10 wit
ness. Grace, however, even when the
second year OF her mourning had ex.
pired. still shrank from mixing in soci-
ETY.. and pleaded for M least a little fur
Their delay. which Ruth. well satisfied
with the progress her sisser had made.
would willingly have granted, but that
her mother interpoSed.
..For your sisters sake, my darling
Grace she told the young widow. SUI
avely. Ruth will no doubt marry, You
know, and, charming as she undoubt-
edly Is, she is pcnniless; so we must
NOT waste her spring-time; and know
that you will make q sacrifice for her"
So urged. Grace yielded, and prom
ised TO join in the more modest pleas
ures of the place. With this conces-
sion. Mrs. Leger was for the first time,
content. little dreaming that ut no dis
tant date she would regret having ever
cxerted il.