Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-26
A BIT OF DIPLOMACY.


ss=cS--s-S1zs -
note of decided anxiety in Ruth's in.
terrogations.
why, yes, l like him. 1 guess he's
real nice, as men go, but wouldn't nh
dear, no! Ruth, 1 wouldn't want Won
to marry him."
But why, mother?"
Haven't just you and I got along
together for twenty years, no trouble
to speak of, or anythlng?" Mrs. Wings
voice was quite piteous. "If a man
comes In, you just can't tell how things
are going to go. Anything is liable TO
happen. know clerking in the store is
hafd' trying work, but it isn't clrcum
stance TO what some married women
have to put up with"
Mother, dear, you married"
Mrs. Wings fingers twisted nervous.
~.
1T was such little while. though
Ruthie, and SO long ago, that | don't
rightly consider by experience / know
anything about 1t. Only a year and
a-half; but l have seen SO much since
Don't talk about 1t, dear; l just can't
think of 1t, even"
Ruth sat and thought with a trou-
bled face. This tender, timId LITTLE
mother had been her charge ever since
her sturdy babyhood. 1t was so sell
dom she ever expressed a wish, or oh.
jected to anything, and now, to object
to this, the one great light that had
come into her barren, monotonous girl.
hood! He had asked her In that letter
to marry him, and tonight he was com
ing for his answer.
Looking at 1t just from worldly
standpoint, how it would life them from
their pinching life!
Every one knew Arthur Willard and
how he had prospered from the time he
first came to Lenox, beardless, OPEN
faced boy, soliciting his first orders for
Belfast & Mayhem, paper manufacture
ers, until now he was head salesman of
the firm.
She did not especially love clerking
in the general merchandise store of
Spencer & Spencer; but the Goldfish and
calico had been glorified n good many
times, when the big yellow grip, mark.
ed A. w. on the ends, entered the store
door.
She knew very well what her answer
would be; 1t had sung itself in her
heart all day; but If her mother OBJ.
jected SO much, that settled it, for the
time, anyway.
When she told Arthur that night, she
was indiscreet enough to give her opIn-
ion first
my dear little. girl" he said, with
generous. masculine superiority, "she
will get over that and enjoy the city i'm
mensely; possibly your servant, too.
Mistress Ruth. when she knows how
nice am. Let me talk with her."
The embarrassed, nervous little lady
in the next room certainly did not seem
very formidable; but she did look so
appealing that he said, very gently and
quite deprecatingly:
You must have known my feelings
toward Ruth for some time, Mrs. Wing.
hope you are willing that should
marry her."
NO." Mrs. Wing answered desper.
ately. II am not willing. How dare l
be willing? don't know how 1t is 60
ing to turn out. Anybody is wicked to
be willing to have daughter marry"
why, Mrs. Wing!" the young man
answered, rather taken aback. "a great
many people have been willing. 1t Is
natural that people should marry"
Mrs. Wing was not arguing the alb
stract question, SO she ignored the last
remark.
Il am very sorry" she said, tremu-
lousy, "but l know l am doing 1t for
Ruth's good. l wish you would just let
1t go-for quite while, anyway" This
last relenting in response to the distress
in Ruth's face.
The silence that followed seemed to
Ruth and Mrs. Wing interminable.
Then Mr.. Willard spoke slowly:
81 am both grieved and surprised.
Mrs. Wing. l hardly think l deserve
1t. Still, feeling as you do, and know
Ing Ruth as l do. there is nothing to do.
l suppose, but obey you. would like
to ask just one favor of you, though,
and that is, that you and Ruth will
spend Easter in the city with me.
planned that little recreation for lis all
quite a while ago. Think of me as n
friend, If you will, and grant me that
much"
III Ruth wants to. Mr.. Willard. /
guess we cam" Mrs. Wing responded, a
trifie family. Her sudden triumph was
rather dazzling, even if it did fill her
with delight.
Although Lenox was SO near the city.
1t had been years since Mrs. Wing was
there; and she began to feel good
deal of surreptitious pleasures in the
idea of the trip. AS friend, Mr.. Will
lard was entirely acceptable For the
other part, Ruth's silence helped settle
the small prickings of her conscience.
---AAS q t7oOsA manly Oiu pSoplS WIZ nave
forgotten their own love affairs, she
had very little faith in that sort of
thing, anyway, and an overweening
fear Of the terrible risk in marriage; a
risk, In her mind, much greater than its
possible benefits.
Easter was late that year and the
spring rather advanced, SO that the
short ride to the city was pageant
of young, vivid green. The country
broke into smooth, rolling little hills !;
through them they caught frequent
glimpses of fanciful country homes and
substantial brick farm houses. The
pretty toy stations had all been freshly
painted, and general air of smiling
freshness peryaded everything,