Middletown transcript., 1907-01-26
bk her hand aud kissed

ways. Ruth he said ten.
And OF course. dear. It'll
list be just as you think best
Then when she had left him, /
he put up his painting traps
for be could not work any more
that day and he sat there think
ing and half .nnconsciously won
dering the while, if Mimi would
not get come.
And though he honestly tried
to regard himself as man whose
dearest hopes had just been
Dig tIteda a tick fe woman 5 5
whin, he could not altogether
succeed. for Mimi S sweet and
fowerlike face, SO full of love
and admiration for him, rose ever
before his eyes.
SOFT came to pass that before
Mortimer turned his face town
ward in the autumn he had asked
Mimi TO be his wife. And then,
as well as in the early spring
time when they were married,
Ruth seemed as glad Of their
happiness as even the invalid
mother appeared to be.
And Mortimer, comparing Ruth
with his adoring bride, secretly
wondered however for a moment
he could have fancied himself in
love with SO stately a woman.
Buthe excused himself by think
ing that at that time he had not
seen Minis lovelier flower. like
face
Then they went away and
made their home in the distant
city.
Two years passed. The fragile
invalid upon whom for 50 long
Ruth had bestowed a daughters
tender care and devotion, was
dead and Ruth was left alone
Mimi had lovingly and urgent
| ly begged her tocome and make.
her home with them, and Morti
mer had urged it, too.
/ will come to you gladly, Ruth
had said in reply, but only for a
short time, for / have made my
arrangements to enter q hospital
and become nurse. You must
not think me selfish If / have de-
cided b live my life in my own.
way.
This announcement was a great
grief to Mimi. But even in the
face of that and Mortimer S strong
remonstrance, Ruth stood firm.
Don't grudge me this, size said
with1a smile that reminded him
strangely of other days. It has
been my desire and intention for.
q long, long time
During the weeks that they
were together Ruth entered
heartily into all Of Minis inter.
ests. and hopes and plans. And
Mortimer, silently watching and
comparing them, saw at last The
difference in stature of their two
souls.
And, strangely enough, he SUD
denly had come to see himself
by another light. He had not
fulfilled the premiseof his youth.
His great picture lad not bee n
painted, and he felt dis satisfied,
though he knew that his young
wife thought him and all his work
perfection. But before Ruth's
clear and unwavering eyes he
quailed. He had not reached the
high standard she hitd sci for
him, and which once had been
his own.
They CHANGED 10 be alone TO-
gsther in lis studio. and Ruth
was standing before the weak,
half finished picture upon his
easel.
Oh, if you had not failed me,
Ruth he groaned miserably.
With youall heights had been
possible
There was a silence, during
which he would have given bis
right hand to have recalled those
|ill-considered words
Then, as If she had not heard
him, Ruth spoke.
There is something wrong,
Mortimer yon must begin
anew There is yet time. You
see, ! want to have the faith in
you that Mimi has.
Then, leaving him. she rel lined
Mimi in another room.
He felt humiliated. He left
1.-The house and walked aimlessly
for hours. When he returned at
dusk Ruth was. gone
She left good By for you, Nor
timer, dear. But isn't it dread.
ful Mimi sobbad. There's no
knowing when we shall ever see