Middletown transcript., 1907-01-26

seq her for more than a moment
a time. He felt it was very
bard upon him but he tried to-
be magnanimous and to comfort
poor distracted little Mimi-for
his loves sweet sake
AT last the crisis was over
and the invalid began to improve
One evening she bad fallen into
a quiet sleep Ruth softly left
the room and stole downstairs,
She had heard Mortimer's voice
with Minis in the garden, and
she thought she would join them
for a Wtli.e.
But where had they gone |?
She Still could hear tile murmuli
of their voices and she followed
the sound until tiled her toward
the rustic seal by the rose arbor
where Mortimer and she had
sat that happy, happy night,
Alb. here they we're !
She saw Mortimer bend for
ward ard take Mimi hand. What
he was saying she did not hear,
but his tones were as low and
tender as they had been on that
other night when he had told
her of his love.
What could it mean
Slowly Minli raised her droop.
ing head. and there was no mis-
understanding the love-light in
the young girls eyes.
Ruth crushed herhandsag against
her heart. She waited no longer.
she looked no more. Silently,
swiftly she retraced her steps
until she found herself again by.
the sleeper's side.
There was nothing unusual to
Mimi that night IN her sisters
kiss. But in the morning she
noticed that Ruth was pale and
silent.
My poor Rnthie said the girl.
You have worn yourself out nurs-
ing mamma You ought to let.
me help in some way Is there
nothing, really, that I can do /?
Ruth looked at her with grave.
sweet tenderness.
am tired. dear, she confessed;
I did not sleep last night. And,
Mimi if you will stay with nam
ma for a while This morning, I
would be glad to get a walk il
the fresh air.
She saw the cloud of disap-
pointment that overshadowed the
girls face, though Mimi con-.
sented readily.
And after a while. when every
household call upon her had been
attended to, Ruth went out She
knew well where to go
There was a knoll IN the field,
not far away, where a clump Of
stunted pines stood boldly out
against the blue background of.
sea and sky.
1t was this place that she had
chosen for his picture, and it was
here that she found Mortimer at.
work
He heard her approaching foot
steps and glanced up over his.
shoulder with a smile. Mimi,
dear, you are late today ! be.
cried.
Then seeing it was Ruth be
jumped up and advanced to meet
her with a half embarrassed air.
Mimi and | have changed
places this morning, Ruth said
with heeting smile. She is.
reading 10 mamma, while 1T
came because wanted 60 speak
to you.
She drew d quick breath as he
took her hand and led her to her
old seat am ong the rocks
You have had i hard anxious
time Of it lately, Mortimer said.
to break the silence
Yes, she answered slowly and
now when it is over many things
seemed changed Mortimer
4 think there has been-a mis-
take-has there not Indeed, i
am sure Of IL And So have.
come to ask formy release.
Ruth
AS she raised her eyes 10 bis.
his glance fell, and his bronze
cheek flushed
II q mistake was made. II is
surely better t9 have found it.
QUIT time, she said. you will
set me free
Ruth, son mean you do not
1--we me
Her eyes dropped then and her
color rose.
Spare me an further c9nfes.
sion, She said Weare moi suited
'to one another 4 see that now
Let Us forget this dream, of
which none but onrsel6pe need