The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-02-17
By ]. POLK RACINE.

serene as a summer lake. She crosses the
highway, and goes to the large gate which
/ opens to the road. She unhooks the chain
which fastens the gate to the huge post,
and tugs at the barrier, but it being a
| draggy old thing, it refuses to submit to
her frail strength, and she set her milk Jug
through between the two lower rails, and
proceeded to Chamber over the cranky old
barrier. When she was over on the wood g
side she arranged her dress, singing softly
all the while Just as the Sun Went
Down. Up the gloomy cart-road on the
lett, about twenty PAGES from where the
beautiful girl stands, is large pile of rail
road cross-ties, which have been hauled
there preparatory to taking them to market.
Crouched back Of the cross-ties and watch
ing pretty Ruby Ward from between the
ties, Is an uncouth youth OF about twenty
five years of age. He is OF light complex
ion, with yellow hair and light m0ustache,
while his upper front teeth protrude over
his under lip and his sinister ewes which
were fixed on pretty Ruby, were terrible in
the extreme. All ! poor doomed Ruby
Ward, could you have seen those awful
eyes so !ntently watching you, you would
have turned and fled to your humble home
IN the valley below. She picked up her
milk Jug, and still humming the tune of
Just as the Sun Went Down." tripped
on up the dismal cart-road.
Now we will turn aside to explain to cur
readers why Tom Hayes was thus watching
pretty Ruby Ward from behind this pile of
cross-ties. Thomas Hayes up to this even
ing, had borne good reputation, but had
persisted in forcing his attentions on lovely
Ruhy Tor many months past, but she had
very mildly rejected all of his overtures.
telling him that her parents said that she
was too young by several years to keep
company. And she being their only child,
they were loath to part with her. But the
Sunday night previous to that fatal day,
Tom had begged Ruby to 90 carriage rid
ing with him, but Ruby kindly declined
the invitation. This did not seem to anger
Tom, but when he had driven out to the
highway, and had turned homeward, he
caught glimpse of magnificent horse
and buggy coming up the Perryville road
and oh, ye pangs of jealousy. Is pulls
into the lane, and still while poor love. sick
Tom watches, pretty Ruby runs swiftly
out, and is helped into the grand equipage,
and was hled of to the church at the ham
let below. When they came out to the
highway in front Of the old white washed
gate, Tom s buggy was only short dist
ance up the road, and at some witty re-
mark from her gallant lover, Ruby burst
forth with such peal of real mirthful
laughter that the hilarity resounded
throughout the gloomy forest beyond. All /!
pretty Ruby, that outburst sealed your
fate. Tom drove on up the dreary road to
his home, which was hut a little way up
from the weird gate Of the forest.
The next day Tom loitered near the
white gate until toward evening, when he
sauntered down to the farmhouse, Ruby's
home. He was invited in by Mr.. Ward,
and remained about two hours talking TO
kuby's parents, but he did not mention
that young lady's name Throughout the con-
versatlon. Ruby was in some other part
OF the house attending to her household
duties. At about half past four o'clock
that beautiful evening just when the after
glow of the November sunset was about to
be banished to the background, Tom HAYES
took his departure from the home of sweet
Ruby Ward. He had not as yet caught
glimpse OF that beauty, but when he was
passing out from under the shade trees
which emhOwer the old farmhouse, he
heard the raising of window, and on
turning to note the cause, he saw pretty
Ruby waving him goodbye that must have
undecided Tom, for when he reached the
highway in front of the old white gate he
fingered long, and finally started toward
his home above, but had not gone many
steps when he suddenly turned and re-.
traced them back to the Ward lane, and
kept on toward Perryvile. When he
reached that town he went direct to hard
ware store and purchased box of car
tridges He put five of the little messen-
gers of death in the chambers of a small
revolver which he already had in his
possession. Then he left the village, and
walked hastily to his home, and we see
him no more until the next evening at
about sunset, when we find him orouched
back of the cross-ties near the white gate
Of the forest, watching pretty Ruby Ward
as she trips mimbly up the cart-road on her
mission of love.
Now we are back to the white gate where
we left Tom Hayes when Ruby passed up
the cart road with the jug Of milk for Aunt
Sallie, who lived at the far side of the
woods and close up to the craggy precipice
that overhangs the Susquehanna and the
railroad. He has changed his position
since we last saw him, and is standing bolt