Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-11-10

day wore away how 1t would seem to
go on and on without him through all
the days to come. She was right to
break with him. He had been wrong
| to show Mabel Harvey so much atten-
1 ton, even if she was his cousin and
here on visit. He had almost forgot
ten one of the dances she had prom
ised him because he had been showing
Mabel the family portraits. BIt how
strange it would seem not to look for
ward to his approval whenever she
donned new dress or learned a new
song or CHANGED on some beautiful
thought or story!
Yes, it would be all very strange
and sad-but doubtless she would be-
come used to the separation. Only
A quick shrek startled her. 1t came
| from below stairs. 1t was such a chok-
| ed cry of horror as she fancied might
be uttered by one suddenly assailed-
stabbed!
| She sprang up, ran to the door and
down the stairs.
The front door stood ajar. Ruth
could see the gray clad form of the
postman crossing the street from their
| house. Lena. CHASTITY white, an open
| letter in her rough hand, was leaning
against the banister. She had received
some terrible shock.
Lena" cried the girl, "tell me what
is wrongv'
| Mutely the peasant woman held out
the letter.
II cannot read it," Ruth cried. "It
| is in your language. Tell me! You
have had bad news?"
"De worst news-de worstw she
painted. Her stricken face was uplift-
ed. Its pathetic hopelessness, it's bit
ter abandonment, went straight to the
heart Of the girl beside her.
''It is my lover, Miss Ruth! BE vas
to be my man, but did get angry and
sail away with mine own people, and
say no, would not marry him. But
he did write to me, and vas sorry,
and 1 did answer and say to him to
come. But now he is dead-he is
dead!' Her voice rose into pitiful
wall. ''He is dead, and he can nefer
come any more at all-not efer any
morev'
Then there was no sound save her
broken, desolate sobbing. Ruth Sci
don put her arms around the broad
| shoulders. She kissed the wet cheeks
and soothed the coarse, yellow hair.
poor Lena!" she whispered. Poor
Lena! Come and lie down. No, never
mind the work! Conner
She shut the door and drew the
maid away up to her own room.
81 said did not lofe him. but did
I vas angry, and say vot vas not
true. Now he will nefer know that
did lofe him always; that l will never
have no other man in all my life, fol
he vas the only vun for mew
When she had quieted the suffering
creature. Ruth left her and went back
to her desk She looked at the pack
age, at the frame from which the pic
ture was absent. 1t seemed as though
} this news that had been sent from
What if the message had been of Der
tram? Would she be angry now, re
sentful? Bit by bit she went owe
their little dissension. Was it wortl
a heartache when all was said? Coult
she ever love any other as she love-
. him? Her heart gave prompt reply.
Mechanically she united the packag,
and replaced the picture in the frame
J the letters in the drawer, the othel
treasures each in its accustomed place
Then she opened the tiny box and tool
out ring that sparkled like star O.
promise and slipped it on her finger.
''For he vas de only vun for me!''
''Poor Lena" said the girl, who, witt
shining eyes and rose red cheeks, Wen
downstairs to the telephone. On tn,
way she paused to open the little DO,
on the hall table and to fasten the pan
sizes over her heart.