The Republican journal., 1902-12-04

Il fear you will think it foolish
She looked up at him, and although
she did not speak he no longer hest
tated.
"Way back in my freshman year at
college," he began meditatively. 81 had
chum. This chum, Ned, as we will
call him, had friend by the name of
Miss Ruth Creighton. Ned used to
mention me in his letters to Ruth, and
!, half in fun, used to give him mes
sages for her. In this way we gradually
drifted into a correspondence. l had
never seen her, not even her picture,
but we used to write each other our
tastes, ambitions and trials, until at
length l formed in my mind an ideal,
and called it Ruth Creighton. She used
to spur me on to study more than she
dreamed. She doesn't know that she
won the Intercollegiate debate, but she
did
suddenly, and without giving me
any reason whatever, she ceased to
write. l don't know to this day what
her reasons were. | had faith enough
in her to believe she did have some
good reason, and so, after vainly trying
to find out, | ceased to trouble her.
''She is still my ideal, and somehow
when | get blue and homesick or any
thing. | always think of her. | was
thinking of her last night when l met
you. Perhaps that is the reason her
name sprang unconsciously to my lips,
for in some indistinct way you remind
ed me of her"
She had followed his story closely
very closely, and when he had finished
said nothing.
81 fear it is not Christmas story.
Let us forget it, he said, noticing her
silence.
Cant you think what her reason for
stopping so abruptly was?"
NO." he replied simply.
she should have told you. She
thought she had very good reason, |
am sure, but | think she was foolish"
Jack hardly heard her.
''Do you think she did wrong in not
telling you?''
NO"
81 do she replied earnestly, "but it
was because she did not know you"
The thoughts of both seemed to have
wandered from the dinner. Jack was
startled as though he had been wakeneu
from a dream by hearing her say,
''It is time for me to go now
''Is it possible our Christmas dinner
is at an end, and also our friendship"
He looked at her a few minutes, and
without taking his eyes from her said :
81 wish you might give me your card.
Do you think it would be very wrong?
She hesitated.
con one condition. that you promise
not to look at it until you reach your
ROOM"
at is for you to make the conditions?"
he replied smiling. 81 would thank you
for it under any conditions. | promise
YOU
She took card from her purse and
handed it to him. He took it, and they
descended to the carriage AS she seat
ed herself he held out his hand, and
held hers for second.
'Believe me-" he said, you have done
me a deal of good, and l hope this is
not to be good-by.'
"Who can tell?" she answered with a
smile, 'That was your bargain, at any
rate"
The door closed, and Jack stood alone
in the flying snow. He turned quickly
and started for his room. He was half
angry with himself now that he felt so
lonesome as he did AS he neared the
house he grew impatient, and ended his
walk in almost run. fastening up
the stairs he entered the dark room,
and lighting the gas drew the card from
his pocket.
Standing beneath the yellow glare of
the Pickering light he read:
Miss Ruth Creighton,
FRED o. BARTLETT.
Camhridpe Mass