The Newtown bee., 1900-11-02
THE BEE.
The Home Circle
THE UNKNOWN ALTERNATIVE AS BETWEEN ENOs WRIGHT AND RUTH ALDEN.-( ELIZABETH ROBBINS IN SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN,.

ALDEN. ROBBINS IN SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN.
 "Now, Cynthy, you just sit still and let me see to 9ettin' the supper; my chores are all done, aLd I'll tend to it soon's get this milk strained"
 There was in Enos's voice little note of command that his sister was used to obey, and she sank back again into the old chin,z covered rocking chair, from which she had started up when he en- tered the kitchen. She watched him wlstfully as he went back and forth, do- ing the work she felt that she ought to be doing. He was in his shirtslseves, 8 well-bulls man of 40 or less, with eyes that were keen and yet kindly, and full darK beard that nearly hid a fresh c0m- plexion.
 When the table was set, Enos pushed it across the floor and tQrned it around till Cynthia's plate came opposite where she was sitting, and 90 saved her the trouble and pain of moving. He looked at hel solicitonsly as he took his own place, and she made pretense of cheerfulness.
 s'Mrs Jameton has been spending the afternoon with me-" she said.
 ''Has she?"
 "Yes, and she gave me quite history of the Miss Alden we bought the place of. It most broke her heart to sell it, Mrs Jameson said, and such pretty farm don't wonder
 "WelI, I thought she seemed to be feel ing pretty bad that day che signed the deed, though she wa'n't in the room but a minute.''
 "Oh, I'd forgotten ycu had seen her. Then you can tell me how she looks. l don't know when I've been so interested h any body as am in her."
 "Well, she's ruther pretty woman, bout 36 or 37, I should say; kinder slen- der and little taller'n you be, but not what you would call tall woman, and she has got brown hair that's little crinkly, and she locks as ii she'd had 8 good deal to trouble her first and lass."
 "She has had," said Cynthia, lever since she was 14. Her mother died then, and she left school and took the whole care of the housekeeping. Her brother Sam and sister Annette were younger, and they went to the academy and had advantages and married, and went away. Then their father had 8 shock and was helpless for a good many years, and the care of him and the running of the farm all came on Ruth-that's Miss Alden's name. When he died the property wal settled, and there not being much but the farm they put heavy mortgage or 1t, and the brother and sister took the
 
 1arm."
 ''She ought to have had the whole every cent!" Enos's voice was indig nant, and his keen eyes flashed.
 "So everybody thought, except the brother and sister they couldn't see any reason why they shouldn't have thei1 share."
 .sAnd of course, bein' kind of run dow1 herself, and no capital, and big interes and taxes to pay, she couldn't make gt of it," Enos concluded.
 ssNo,s and now she hasn't anything, ant is dependent on her brother Sam, and h' has lot of children, and Mrs Jameson thinks she has to work harder than ever.
 "Why couldn't you-er-have hel come here once in while, and make wis n?" Enos asked, a little d If lently.
 'I'd like to and I spoke to Mrs Jame son about it, but she says Ruth feels st bad about losing the place that she cam bear ever to zee it again; she wants tt remember it just as it was."
 Enos sighed unhappily. "Kinde: makes me feels if was to blame for thu whole business," he said with an uneas! lsugh.
 Sam Alden "traveled" for firm tha manufactured farm machinery. h tn latter part of November it happene' that his route lay in an out-of-the.wa' farming zion, and it was arranged tha his sister Ruth should meet him on hi return at & certain railroad station in tn woods. There had been indications of storm when she started, and now, as San Rprane in beside her and took the reins it vas ful upon them. Faster and fast CT came the big drops, driven by tn wind against the back of the covere' buggy.
 ''I'm sorry, Ruth,' Sam said, as the, approached four corners, "but don' see but what we shall have to go by tn old pls ce this time. The road ia smooth or and if sauea fa a miles. YQu can ahu