El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-12
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! THAT SUIT CASE. ! !
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"No; everything is over between John
Baker and me-" she was saying vehe-
mently. Frances, 1 sent that gentleman
an invitation to the junior prom. two
months ago, and he not only never an
swered the letter, but went to the prom.
with another girl. Such rudeness! I've
sent back all his presents and never want
to see him again. But, for that matter.
1 suppose / shall, as get home He lives
Just next door and always goes home as
soon as college is out"
"Why, Ruth suddenly calculated her
friend. looking out of the window.
~Here's your station. Hurry, dear, or
you'll be late. Goodby, and Wen meet
again at Smith in September"
"Poor John Baker, Jr.i I pity him
when they meet" she added to herself,
as she watched Ruth seize her umbrella
and suit case and hurry off the car
Harrington, the driver of the old yellow
coach that connected the little out of the
way town of Thorndale with the rest Of
the world, was looking up and down the
platform. His old eyes frightened when
he saw Ruth. "Ben hopin yer'd come on
that train" he cried, taking her baggage
checks. Jump right in. There's only one
other passenger, and I reckon you know
him"
He opened the coach door, and the girl
stepped in. With a crack Of the whip
they were off, almost before Ruth had
time to recognize in her fellow passenger
John Baker, Jr.
GOOD evening" she said coldly.
"Good evening" was his equally chilly
reply. John Baker became at once abb
DOrbed in the evenings news. The coach
jolted on over hills and hollows.
"'Pears to me- remarked old Earring
ton, putting his head in the window, we
amt got so much to say to each other 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, stif1y.
Il shall walk tonight. I'm not going di-
rectly home" came decidedly from John
Baker, buried behind his paper.
"Ohor' said old Harrington, softly. He
shook his head once or twice, but said no
more Don't see your wagon hereabouts,
Miss Ruth" he ventured 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 post
office steps to wait. John Baker strobe
of without a word.
The minutes passed, but no wagon
came. After a time the postmistress
came to the door. you amt waiting for
your Jerry, 1 hope, Miss Kenyon" she
said. s'for he said this morning he wasn't
coming again today"
'"Thank you,' replied the girl, with
rather a vexed laugh. "Then l 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 of all sne
had crammed into 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 confront
ed-John Baker.
Ruth he said angrily, ''they told me
you had started, so I 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
bIazed higher. Miss Kenyon, 1 must
find out what all this outrageous treat
any longer"
81 will not discuss that matter now,
Mr.. Baker," she broke in. Baker wiped
4 perspiring brow and gave up in despair.
The walk seemed endless, but at last
the Kenyon house appeared at the end
Of long pasture, which was separated
from the road by a high stone wall. Be-
fore John Baker noticed what she was
going to do, Ruth had turned, placed her
Of no nd eli bod
up herself.
How it happened, neither of them ever
clearly knew. Instantly there was a roll
ing sound, a crash, and moment later
John was over the wall lifting the girls |
PROSTATE figure from the ground. In his |
excitement he forgot everything except |
that the girl he loved lay motionless be- |
tore him.
Ruth" he cried, brokenly, ''are you
aurt badly? Speak, dear"
At his words she staggered to her feet. |
I'm not hurt much. That case made |
ne Slip" she said, but her lips were pale
md trembling Thank YOU" she add
ID, as he handed her a letter which lay
IN the ground where she had fallen. In
he bright moonlight she read the address
xritten in her own handwriting, Mr..
John Baker, Jr., Yale university, New
Haven. Conn.
~Johnr' she cried, suddenly facing him.
Light a match And minute later
John Baker, she sobbed, 1T was all
ny fault. l thought you weren't gen
leman for not answering my invitation
o the junior promenade, when l never
nailed the letter. 1t must have been in
hat suit case all this time. Can we ever
We friends again. John?''
NO said he, springing forward with
cry of joy. I'VE can't be simply
friends. It's got to se something more
han friends this time, Ruth
John Baker paused on his front door
tep before going in that night to look
Up at bright light in the house next
oor. Poor girl, she did hurt HERSELF
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