Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-12-26


be willing to have a daughter marry"
''Why, Mrs. Wing!" the young man
rather taken aback. GA 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 |
81 am very sorry" she said, tremu-
lousy, "but 1 know am doing it for
Ruth's good. wish you would just let
it go-for quite while, anyway" This
last reIenting 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:
IL am both grieved and surprised,
Mrs. Wing. l hardly think | deserve
it. Still, feeling as you do, and know
ing Ruth as l do, there is nothing to do,
1 suppose, but obey you. 1 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 us all,
quite while ago. Think of me as a
friend, if you will, and grant me that
much"
IF Ruth wants to, Mr.. Willard,
guess we can," Mrs. Wing responded, a
tride family. Her sudden triumph was
rather dazing, even if it did fill her
with delight.
Although LenOX was so near the city,
it had been years since Mrs. Wing was
there and she began to feel a good
deal of surreptitiOus pleasures in the
idea of the trip. AS a friend, Mr. Will
lard was entirely acceptable. For the
other part Ruth's silence helped settle
the small prickings Of her conscience
Like a good many old people who have
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;
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 a 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 a general air Of smiling
freshness pervaded everything.
,vI-
turned an instant from the window to
Ruth:
Il didn't know things could be so
pretty so near to Lenox," she said; then
turned eagerly again to her contempla-
tions.
Mr.. Willard took them to one of the
great hotels of the city. Their room
was respondent in all the luxuries of
soft carpeting, giistening brass bed
stead, Turkish couch and easy chairs;
opening fronpit was the tiled bathrooms
with all its marble and porcelain appur-
tenances.
Mrs. Wing viewed it with beaming
face.
Ruth" she said, 81 am going to take
a bath. 1 have sort of felt all my life
as if I'd had to battle in soap dish
I'd like to stretch out once"
Later, when she emerged, moist and
rosy, her soft gray hair in damp little
curls on her forehead, she sank down
in an easy chair with a deep sigh Of
satisfaction.
"Well, dear, for once in my life fec
as ii l had been in the lap Of luxury
she remarked gently.
In the great dining room that night
the polished floor reflected back the
myriads of cOlored electric lights Cor
geous panels of the seasons emblazoned
the side walls. An army of walters in
full dress moved noiselessly among the
glittering tables.
Mrs. Wing studied her dainty menu
with pleased appreciation.
"Of course, l shouldn't like this sort
Of thing all the while, but, it's real stir
ring" she whispered to Ruth.
Sunday evening after dinner, they
wandered through the long series Of
artistic reception rooms.
In the Moorish room, in the shadow
Of a great group Of palms, stood divan
piled high with cushions. The room
was empty and the lights dim.
Il think l will sit here awhile; you
two may go on, if you want to- she
said
Somewhere in the distance she could
hear family a piano and a voice sing
ing She closed her eyes and leaned
back against the cushions in dreamy
content She could see again the great
dim church fragrant with flowers, and
hear the joyful waves of Easter music
1t had echoed in her soul all day. Then
the park that afternoon, in all its
young green beauty and freshness She
knew just how it would look in June,
when the fountains played and the
flowers bloOmed.
Her heart had always gone out with
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