The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-11

O "a q facing tin front, a stretc
4 "A of firm, gray sands, upo
ICE which the waves kept u
an eternal whspering-b'
hind. a grove Of orange trees, ia
subtle fragrance Of whose blossOmin
filled the summer air with a drOws
content
In the front piazza Of this hou1
stood, one summer morning, yer
beautiful woman, calm-brOwed, wit
great pensive eyes and face and forr
almost faulty faultless. Her drcs
was of some thin texture, OF a pale vic
let color, and the great crimson flower
of tropical vine, which trailed owe
and under and round every inch o
support the piazza could yield, threw
its rosy shadow over her.
Beautiful, exceedingly, she was, yc
passionate and proud, and utterly ig
norant Of "the blessings Of cOnstraint;' >
for her will had always been TO al
within her home the yea and nay from
which there was no appeal All who
knew her gave the homage Of implicit
obedience-all save one; and for this
rebelIious subject she now waited anG
watched.
Soon she saw him coming; his power
fui black horse devourinG the distance
with eager steps until they stood un
der the locust trees, white with droop
ing sweetness, that shadowed the gates
OF the main avenue. Here John Here
ford stopped and tied his horse in then
shadow, and then looked lovingly, long
ingly towards the woman watchlnl
him from under the green piazza. II,
was worth the watching, this JobI
Hereford; handsome enough TO mattel
even Ruby Rae's beauty; n wise young
gentleman, IN whose character there
was no seanf.
They had loved each other long, but
the course Of their love had not rul
snooh First, Ruby's father died
then the war intcriered, and now pov
crty lay like n cold. dark shadow be
tween them. Both had been rich, and
both were now poor, and between that
had ana now lay miseres and sorrows
and disappOintments enough TO have
tanned less confident spirits.
For some time il had been hard fol
either TO realize the change that had
fallen on their lives. John had come
back from the camp with n firm trust
in his own particular section, and lis
ability somehow TO find n living for
him. Ruby had never believed IL pos
sible that any of her requests would bC
denied by the tradcsmCn Of the little
town which had for SO many years
seemed only TO exist in order TO serve
the Rae plantation Both were de
ccivcd. and il did not take John long &c
decide on his future course.
He determined TO go bravcly to work
nt whatever he could find TO do, and
nothing better Offering, he accepted the
position of ovcrsccr 20 the stranger
who had bought his fathers estate.
Ruby was outraged, indignant. no,
80 be either reasoned with or cntrcatcd
She declared their engagement broken
and passionatcly threw at his feet tn,
opal ring john had given her.
This was full year ago and since
then they had not spoken. John had
toiled hard in the fields and over In,
books Of the old family estate. and
Ruby shut herself up with her prid,
and the two old negro women who re
NAMED faithful TO her. Both had suf
fcred. There were anxious lines or
Johns face, and Suby's eyes told tale
OF sacrifice. But Johns suffering hat
brought its reward; his conscientious
careful toll had won the respect o
his employer and he had offered him {
fine position which he commanded il
New York Tho salary was larg,
enough, John thought, to marry on
hence he had written 10 Ruby TO asl
her for this interview John forcsav
that il was not destined 30 bc n happy
one when she did not come walkin;
down the avenue TO meet him. rs ha,
been her custom in happier days II,
could not tell how much this sacrifice
70 her pride cost her. and so he said
rather bitterly. as he held out hi
hand:
"a cold greeting Ruby
such as You haze StintCd nc e
John. 1t is not my fault that | canuo
meet you rs an equal"
81 have left the old Hereford plac
forever Ruby, SO that question is TO
worth discussing now. \ very fine SIT
uation, with an excellent salary. Ia
been offered me in Now York; / cam
TO ask you TO share it"
Eat the bread OF seryicel No. than
you. John. Ny little property in th
village buys Inc bread ana musli
dresses. Nanny Bavn ana Aun
Sally raise me chickens and vegetable,
and this poor roof still shelters me.
prefer poverty and rcspcctability
"Say pgide. Ruby-a poor. miserabl
pride. which offers on its cruel alta
not only your youth and beauty, bt
also the happiness Of one who ha
loved you ever since he can remembe
We have hardly borne this yeay's eel
nration. broken as Il has been with a
occasional sight OF each other. ] al
going away tomorrow. II we meet 4
more, bow are you going 20 comfo
sour heart for my loss. RubyT'