Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-10-02
By GEORGE LINCOLN.
Copyright, 1901, bp George Lincoln.

!
farmer stood watching this particu-
lar couple as they started gayly on
their morning ride. He even shaded
his eyes to watch them till they
were a mere Speck on the horizon.
Then he walked around the lone.
low farmhouses till he came to the
open pantry window where his wife
was cooking.
Mating time is about here, Sa-
rah," he said, with a jerk of his
thumb toward the roadway.
Sarah deity trimmed a pie be-
fore she assented.
What do you suppose her folks
will say ?" continued the man.
The pie came to the pantry shelf
with bang, and the woman faced
her husband fercely.
Don't you think our boy is good
enough for any girl living?" she de-
manded. Besides, Mr.. Upton was
a struggling young lawyer once him
self. 1 don't think he'll interfere
at all, and if my Robert is as good a
husband as my man has been these
30 years they will be very happy"
The old man leaned through the
window and kissed his faded Sa-
rah very tenderly. Hell have a
good wife if she is anything like
YOU" he returned as his wife pushed
him laughingly out and said, ''What
can you expect of young folks if old
ones go on spooning after 80 years
of married life ?"
John and Sarah had given years
of toll toward Robert Aliens educa-
ton. He had now been graduated
from Harvard college and completed
his law school course. and was at
home on a last vacation before 60
ing into Lawyer Upton's Office to
commence practice. BY his side
was Lawyer Upton's youngest
daughter Ruth. She and an older
sister had returned home with Rob
ert under the chaperonage Of a
maiden aunt, who was on her way
farther south.
The mothers of these young peo-
pie had been close friends in their
school days, and even after mar
riage took one to the north to be-
come a rich mans wife and left the
other at home a poor farmers wife
the friendship still kept warm. Mrs.
Upton took Robert into her family
during his school and college DAYS,
and so the children had grown up
intimately.
"Why are you so late every morn
ing, RUTH" Robert was saying as
they ascended the hill. 'FYou never
used to be slow about dressing. We
get started 20 minutes after the
others every day"
''Now, Bob, don't scold," rejoined
Ruth. "YOu know you like this
smart canter with me better than
moping along the road the way
Harry Downs and Mary do. There
they are now poking as usual" And
she indicated a young couple with
her riding whip and then brought it
down sharply on her pony's flank
and tore down the hill at breakneck
speed.
The couple were soon overtaken,
and as Ruth passed the young man
she touched his horse slyly, and
they galloped off together, leaving
Rob to pull up by her sister.
Mary Upton was 25 years old ;
Ruth was %. They were unmis-
takably sisters, yet very different in
many ways. Mary's eyes were quiet,
straightforward eyes, shaded by long
lashes that gave them a dreamy
look; Ruth's very lashes curled, and
her eyes danced and twinkled, flash
ed anger or melted with tenderness,
exactly as her heart dictated. Mary's
nose was straight and a triiie too
sharp; Ruth's was an unmistakable
pug. Their mouths and chins were
alike-small, but firm.
The fourth member of the party
was Harry Downs, a son of wealthy
planter. He was a blond giant, 30
years old and in love-with all wo-
men. Just now he fancied he would
like to marry one of the Upton
girls; he didn't mind which, so he
gave his devotion to either one that
seemed most likely to appreciate it.
As he galloped away with Ruth he
drawled good naturally, "Mah horse
seems to be going rather more rap
idly than | asked him, but | advise
him to respect your wishes, as | try
to mahself."
The whole party now cantered
gayly along, running little i'm
promptu races, laughing, singing
and enjoying themselves as only
healthy young animals can. They
came after awhile to a small wood
and turned off the road at Rob's
suggestion to try a little jumping.
They made convenient pile of