Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-08-09
TheLOve of Ruth and Ezra

TheLOve of Ruth and Ezra
Soma years ago, in a certain New
England town of few pretensions and
Willard and asked her to be his wife.
The circumstances under which the
marriage proposal actually came to be
spoken were as follows: Ruth s
mother, who was an invalid, expressed
wish that she might have steamed
custard for her supper. She knew
that there was not an egg in the house;
indeed, that there were none in the
immediate neighborhood, fact which
doubtless made the very thought of
custard most enticing to Lucinda
Wizards capricious appetite.
81 will go to Abby Preston's for
them" said Ruth. ABBY always con-
trives to have eggs when they are
scarce, so as to get a good price for
them
Without waiting to, hear the
answer, Ruth ran across the
fields to the brown farmhouse that
stood half-hidden in a clump of
beeches.
Her prediction that Abby Preston
would have what she required was
fulfilled: but 10 get away from the
speech of Abby herself was not an easy
matter, for the thrifty woman dearly
loved to hear about all the neighbor-
hood doings and to give in return
many crumbs of gossip which had
come to her knowledge. AS a result
Ruth stayed full hour, during which
she said little and heard much.
So 1t happened that she was return
ing homeward along the road when
Ezra Hager came out of the black
smiths shop with a newly-mended
chain strung over his shoulder 1t
would be hard to repeat the exact
words of their exchanged greetings for
neither Ruth nor Ezra could have told
what they were five minutes after they
were spoken. Ezra slackened his
swinging stride to match Ruth's pace.
and in a moment, almost, he found
himself saying
I've been thinking lately that
would go away from this town for a
year or two and see what the outside
world was like"
He cast sidelong glance at Ruth as
he spoke; and, heartless as it may
appear, he was delighted to observe the
blank misery that whitened and sad
dened her sweet face. In another mo-
ment they had stopped there among
the cool leaf shadows, and, with her
hands held in is, he told her how long
querulous protest from her mother.
and how well he had loved her. and
that with her love in return he would
gladly stay in that town, or in any
other that she might choose, as long
as he lived.
Ruth had a girls natural liking for
dissemblance toward a lover, but she
was likewise scrupulously truthful.
So when Ezra spoke so plainly and
with such impassioned pleading she
frankly confessed that his words
brought her the brightest happiness
that she had ever known.
Before | saw you this morning |
had quite resolved never TO tell you of
my love-" said Ezra, as they walked
slowly along the road.
And why should you have been so
foolish to run away from me?" she
asked.
Because was certain that | was
the last man in your thoughts. Ruth.
At the singing school you would
always choose TO sing the duets with
Joe Anderson instead of with me"
II could never keep my voice from
Quivering a little when sang alone
with you, Ezra,-that was why"
Then you would always look into
Joe's eyes so straight, letting him see
the laughter in your own" Ezra COM
planned. The shadows OF the uncon-
fessed lovers passed grievances crowd,
ing upon his memory. when YOU
spoke to me you never looked at me In
that way"
How could look at you, Ezra. with.
ont letting my eyes tell my seeret!'
said Ruth.
Sometimes you would hardly speak
to me when you were gay enough with
others"
as that scP" Well, love makes on,
silent until 1t is confessed. And ever