Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-10-02

ter's face. Ruth was looking UP at
Harry Downs and blushing brightly.
:io was talking low and earnestly,
and she answered him at some
length. Then he leaned forward
eagerly and took her hand for mo-
ment and then leaned back and APP
parently became absorbed in the
music.
Ruth noticed that Rob appeared
distracted, and she finally told him
he was selecting songs she knew he
particularly disliked.
cam II" he said quietly. ''Well,
to tell you the truth, my mind is not
on what / am doing Mary" after
pause, Il am trying to get up my
courage to ask the dearest little wo-
man in the world TO be my wife. I'm
afraid she doesn't love me, though,
and l can't give her up wholly; so,
like the coward that I am, I Just
hover round her and hesitate I've
had a great many opportunities in
the last few weeks, but something In
her manner repels Tue when I try TO
ask the question"
Mary looked down helplessly, an
swering not a word.
Owe have always been good
friends, l think, Mary" the quiet
/ voice went on.
At this Mary raised her head and
looked full into the honest face
above her. Rob's fine ewes were full
of a soft beseeching and a great love
lurked in their depths. 1t seemed
bitter hard TO the girl that she
should be asked to act as 90 between
in this matter. But she loved him
enough for any sacrifice, and her an
swer was quite steady.
''Nes, Rob, and we always Will be
the best Of friends. I will let YOU
know tomorrow" and she fled pre-
cipitately to a seat between the
/ placid old people by the fire.
At bedtime Mary faced her task
while the two girls were brushing
their hair.
Ruth" she began, care you in
earnest"
eyes, always" Ruth answered
flippantly. "What about"
Mary put down her hairbrush and
took her sister by the shoulders.
"You are trifling with a good mans
affection" she began sternly. TN
the afternoon you have a tete-a-tete
with Rob and talk over love poems
and lean on his arm. In the even
ing YOU lounge on the sofa, and let
Harry Downs hold your hand Now,
tell me what you mean"
'Yes'm," answered Ruth, with
mock weakness, Il was going 10,
anyway, only you hurt my arm"
Mary flung her away, laughing in
spite of herself. 81 don't mean TO
be cross. Only do tell me honestly
if you love Rob. Don't play with
him, dear"
eyes," Ruth said slowly, with a
wicked smile, Il love Robert, and I
know he loves me. Why, he told me
so the first time he came to Boston,
when l was : and he was 10, and my
affection has not diminished a bit.
But if you'd asked me if | loved
| Harry Downs L should have said
eyes" too, and he told me tonight
/ what sort of girl he would like for a
wife, and she has pug nose and
/ freckles and ugly hair like mine. l
did intimate that / wouldn't mind
if he came to Boston next summer.
You see, Rob's a good enough fell
low and all that, but he happens to
like Il girl with q straighter nose
than mine better than he does me.
lie told me so the day We discussed
love"
Ruth had delivered herself Of this
speech so rapidly that Mary could
only stand wild eyed and stare at
her. Before she could frame a suit
able reply Ruth was snoring osten-
tatiouSly.
Meanwhile the same subject was
being discussed by Mr.. and Mrs
Allen. ''Durned if l see what the
young ones are up to" said the old
man as he dressed a chair back III
his coat. Seems 10 be a game OF
love all as they say in tennis. ]
thought one time il was a sure thing
between Ruth and Robert, but they
change round 50 since the accident
that don't know what to think"
"I'm puzzled, too. John" said his
wife, but Rob limited to me tonight
that somebody was going to answer
him mighty question tomorrow, sc
we shall soon know. l hope ii:
Mary"
81 like the curly headed little bag
gage myself" And, having had the
last word, the old farmer left the
argument.
Next morning Mary was up early
and, knowing the habits Rob haC
contracted at college, which usually
made him late to breakfast, she fell
secure in going out for a walk t.
calm herself for the interview whicl