Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-10-12

Good evening, was the equally
chilly reply John Baker became at
once absorbed In the evenings news.
The coach jolted on over hill and hol-
lows.
Pears to me-" remarked old Far
rington, putting his head in the win
dow, Eye amt got so much to say to
each other as usual Your folks goin'
to meet yer at the village, Mass Ruth %
They don't expect me tonight"
Ruth answered brightly. "but Jerry
always comes down about this time for
the mail, and shall ride back with
! him"
John goln' with yer?"
"If he likes" she said stiffly.
81 shall walk tonight. I'm not going
directly home" came decidedly from
John Baker, buried behind his paper.
"Oho!' said old Harrington, softly
He shook his head once or twice. but
said no more. Don't see your
wagon hereabouts, Miss Ruth, >" he ven
tured to remark as he handed down
her suit case at the end OF the route.
at will be right along, and I'm in no
hurry" And she sat down on the
postoffice steps to wait John Baker
strobe off without a word.
The minutes passed, but no wagon
came, After a while the postmistress
came to the door. you amt waiting
for your Jerry, I hope, Miss Kenyon"
she said, 'for he said this morning he
wasn't coming down again today"
"Thnak you" replied the girl with
rather a yexed laugh. "Then I must
walk" She picked up her suit case
and started down the long, dusty road.
The spirits of our college girl dropped
as she plodded on in the hot summer
| twilight, from time to time shifting
from one hand to the other her heavy
dress suit case She began to think
resentfully o. all she had crammed in
TO it at the last moment, particularly
of II different photographs Of the same
Yale senior, all of them dated before
that junior prom.
Then there was a sharp step behind
her Looking quickly back she con-
fronted-John Baker.
RUTH" he said angrily "they told
me you had started, so 7 followed.
This Is no place for girl to oe
alone" He glanced about at the gath
eriag darkness LET me carry that
suit case it's too heavy for you"
Ruth Kenyon suddenly Strengthened
like a ramrod, and her eyes flashed,
Inn To-
Bakers wrath blazed higher. "MIas
Kenyon. ! must find out what all this
outrageous treatment Of me means. !
will not stand It any longerl"
~ viii not discuss that matter now,
Mr. Baker" she broke in Baker
wiped a porspiring brow and gave ND
ia despair
The walk seemed endless, but at last
the Kenyon house appeared at the end
OF a long pasture which was separated
from the road by a high stone wall.
Before John Baker noticed what she
was going to do, Ruth had turned,
placed her suit case on top Of the wall.
and climbed up herself.
How it happened, neither OF them
ever clearly knew. Instantly there
was q rolling sound crash, and
moment later John was over the wall
lifting the girls PROSTATE figure from
the ground. In his excitement he for
got everything except that the girl he
loved ley motionIoss before him.
Ruth he cried brotenly, "are YOU
hurt hodlv9 Speak. dear" At hir
words sire staggered to her feet. I'm
not hurt much. That case made me
slip" she said, but her lips were pale
and trembling Thank Won" she
added as he handed her a letter which
Law on tho ground where she had fall
len. In the bright moonlight she read
the address written I'm her own hand
writing Mr. John Baker. Jr., Yale
University. New Haven Conn,
joint she cried, suddenly facing
him Light a match" And a minute
later. "1ahn Baker she sobhed, 1T
was al my fault I thought you
weren't gentleman for not answering
my invitation To the Junior promenade,
wien I never mailed the letter II
mus. have been in the suit case all this
time can we ever he friends again,
Johno"
NO said he, snrineiug forward
with q cry OF joy "We can't be sim
ply friends, Tts got to be something
more than friends this time Ruth
John Baker paused ON his front door
srep before going I'm that uight to look