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

got to sit up all night"
Ruth Allen. with the meekness born Of
long submission to stronger will, gave up
as she always did. That morning at 9
o'clock she went upstairs to bed. For
long time she lay looking out on the green
hillside, listening to the BIRDS IT'S almost
wicked to go to bed in the daytime she
thought, land l can't sleep. l know 1
can't" But even she made this mental
protest she drifted into dreamland where
she was once more girl while the song Of
the birds was transformed into voice she
had known and loved. She slept till after
5 o'clock When she went downstairs
Thankful was pouring hot water into the
teapot. plate of toast and dish of
baked potatoes lay the hearth.
I'm just putting the tea to draw" she
said LAS soon as it's done your breakfast
will be ready"
When they sat down to the table Thank
full drank a cup Of tea and ate a piece Of
bread. ITS not my breakfast time" she
said, when her sister asked her why she
did not eat some of the toast. Ruth Allen
felt as if her world was turning round the
wrong way.
AT o'clock Thankful went to bed, and
left Ruth Allen to her watch The next
morning she said she had slept like a top"
In few days the excitement of the robbery
subsidized, but Thankful would not consent
to any change in their sleeping arrange
ments. There was no knowing when that
TOUUoT might TAKE d uOtlOIl 10 come Dack,
and she felt safe as a bank with Ruth
Allen keeping watch she said. Thankful
had another reason for keeping Ruth Allen
in bed daytimes. Jasper Chadwick had
been to the house and asked to see her;
but though Thankful told him that her sis
ter would have nothing to say to him, she
had caught a glimpse Of him two or three
times strolling in the field below the house.
He shan't see Ruth Allen if can help it,"
she said, fiercely, and the best way to avoid
a meeting between the two seemed to be to
keep Ruth Allen in bed during the day time
till Jasper should leave the village.
Ruth Allen really enjoyed her nightly
vigils. For the first time in her life she
had taste of freedom Thankful slept
soundly, as was attested by her cheerful
snore, and as 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
to caress the blossoms to pass her
hands softly over the dewy leaves. Thank
full always reproved her for touching the
plants. You'll spoil them handling
Them" she always said.
One evening Ruth Allen came downstairs
dressed in her lilac muslin.
What have you got that on for?" de-
manded Thankful.
Because it's so hot with the doors and
windows shut" said Ruth Allen. Nobody
will see me. l don't have many callers"
The night warm. Just as the sky
began to grow light in the east Ruth Allen
| blew out her candle and went down the
| walk to the garden gate.
I've a 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 up the
kill AS she went she pulled two three
! late hedge flowers and stuck them in her
| dress. The alder spring-so- called because
great clump of alders grew close by it
| was near the top of the hill. There was
| trough where horses might drink, but
| in order to reach it one must make a
| slight detour from the main road Ruth
| Allen had not been to the spring for a
| long time. 1t was here she had parted
| from Jasper. and the voice of the gurglinG
| spring spoke only sad words to her She
! leaned over and looked 1T Ter dim refec-
| ton, then started back quickly, for she
| thought She saw two faces in the liquid
| mirror.
All at once she heard the faint sound OF
| hoofbeats us probably old Mr. Purdy
| on his way to the village she thought
| Il hope he won't see me He won t unless
he turns off to water. and that isn't likely
| Yes, he's coming What shall | do
She shrank back behind the clump OF
alder bushes. The horseman drew rein al
into the water
He can't see me unless he turns clear
| around thought Ruth Allen.
She was standing on little ciump of
| grass that grew in the side of the hill. All
| at once she felt it giving way. She made q
/ frantic effort to save herself, but the
| branch to which she chung cracked with
her weight. She slipped from her hiding
| place and stood before the horseman. He
| looked around 1t not Mr.. Purdy--it
| Stra 1on,. w
| Window Filkins' gate on the day OF the
! robbery.
Ruth, Ruth Allen"' cried familiar
| voice
She gazed bewildcred. Who was this
| bearded stranger?
| Ruth. don't YOU know me?'
| "Is tits Jasper
| Eyes, it's Jasper, Ruth Allen. I've been
| in CASTOR Abbey almost a month trying to
get glimpse of you. I've been back twice
since | left you, and both times Thankful
has told me you wouldn't so much as look
at me- Ruth Allen I've come back once
more after you. Can you forgive, and
Ruth Allen! Ruth Allen Barber! come
here to me this minute!' Ruth Allen stop
ped, with her hand half-extended toward
her lover. Thankful was coming swiftly uI
the hill.
rs it to be me or Thankful?' demanded
Jasper, reaching down and clasping heI
hand. Ruth Allen gave one frightened
glance over her shoulder, but her nights OF
freedom had had their effect.
| You Jasper she said family.
| Jasper leaned from his saddle and lifted
the light form of Ruth Allen and set hel
| before him on the horse. Then he turned
back the road whence he had come.
I'D rather it had been fathers silver
watch" said Thankful as she saw them
| disappear over the top of the hill.