Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-03

reply John Baker became at once abb
/ sorbed in the evenings news The coach
/ jolted on over hills and holows.
" Pears 10 me-" remarked Old Far
rington, putting his head in the window,
"ye amt got so much 10 say TO each as
usual. Your folks goin' to meet yer at
/ the village. Miss Ruth?"
They don't expect me tonight" Ruth
answered, brightly. But Jerry always
comes down about this time for the mail
and l shall ride back with him"
John goin' with yer?'
If he likes" she said, stifiiy
II 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 here
abouts, Miss Ruth he ventured 20 re-
mark as he handed down her suit case
at the END of the route.
1T will be right along, and Pm in no
. hurry" And she sat down on the post
Office steps 10 wait John Baker strobe
of without a word.
The minuSes passed. but no wagon
came. After a time the postmistress
came 20 the door. You amt waiting
for your jerry, ! hope, Miss Kenyon"
she said. for he said this morning he
wasn't coming down again to-day"
Thank you" replied the girl, with
rather a vexed 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 90 think resentfully OF
al she had crammed into # nj the last
moment. particularly of seventeen differ
ent 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 Boxer
Ruth! he said angriy. they told me
you had started. SO l followed. This is
no place for girl TO be alone" He
glanced about at the gathering darkness.
Let me carry that suit case; it's too
heavy for you"
Ruth Kenyon suddenly Strengthened
like a ramrod and her eyes flashed. but
she made no answer. John Bakers
wrath blaZed higher Miss Kenyon, l
must find out what all this outrageous
treatment OF me means. l Will not stand
it any longer!"
81 will not discuss that matter now
Mr. Baker" she broke in. Baker wiped
a persplring brow and gave up in de-
spalr
The walk seemed endless but az last
tho Kenyon house appeared at the end
of a long pasture, which was separated
from the road by high stone wall. Be
fore John Baker noticed what she was
going 10 do, Ruth had turned placed her
suit case on top Of the wall and climbed
up herself
How IL happened. neither OF them ever
clearly knew. Instantly there was a
rolling sound, n crash. and a moment
later John was over the wall lifting the
girls PROSTATE figure from the ground.
Ia his excitement he forgot everything
except that the girl he loved lay notion
less before him.
Ruth" he cried brokenly, "are You
hurt badly2 Speak. dear" At his words
she staggered 20 her feet. I'm not hurt
much. That case made me slip" she
said but her lips Were pale and trem-
bling. "Thank you" she added, as he
handed her a letter which lay on the
ground where she had fallen. L. the
bright moonlight she read the address