The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-01-23
A STRONG SOUL and A Weak One.


invalid began to improve. One even.
ing she had fallen into a quiet sleep
Ruth softly left the room and stole
down stairs. She had heard Morti
mer's voice with Minis in the gar
den, and she thought she would joir
them for a while.
But where had they gone? She
still could hear the murmur of thei1
voices and she followed the. sound
until 1t led her toward the rustic seat
by the rose arbor-where Mortimer
and she had sat that happy, happy
night.
All, here they were
She saw Mortimer bend forward
and take Minis 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 Mimi raised her droopins
head, and there was no misunder.
standing the love-light in the young
girls eyes.
Ruth crushed her hands 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 Ruthie!" said the girl.
You have worn yourself out nursing
mamma! You ought to let me help
in some way Is there nothing, real
ly, that l can do?"
Ruth looked at her with grave,
sweet tenderness.
Il am tired, dear" she confessed;
Il did not sleep last night And,
Mimi, if you will stay with mamma
for a while this morning, 1 would be
glad to get walk in the fresh air. :"
She saw the cloud Of disappoint-
ment that overshadowed the girls
face, though Mimi consented readily.
And after 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 shoul-
der with smile. Mimi, dear, you
are late to-day" he cried.
Then seeing it was Ruth he jumped
up and advanced to meet her with
half-embarrassed air.
Mimi and l have changed places
this morning" Ruth said with fleet
ing smile. "She is reading to man.
ma, while II came because-I
wanted to speak to you"
She drew quick breath as he took
her hand and led her to her old seat
among the rocks.
you have had a hard, anxious
time of it lately" Mortimer said to
break the silence.
Yes" she answered slowly, "and
now when it is over many things
seem-changed Mortimer-I think
there has been-a mistake-nas
there not? Indeed, / am sure of it!
And so l have come to ask for-my
release"
Ruth"
AS she raised her eyes to his, his
glance fell, and his bronze cheek
flushed.
If a mistake was made, it is sure
ly better to have found it out-in
time" she said. "You will-set me
free?"
Ruth, you mean--you do not love
me?"
Her eyes dropped then and her
color rose.
Spare me all further confession" :"
she said. 1--WE are not suited to one
another. l see that now. Let us
forget this-dream, of which none
but ourselves need know. But be
generous, Mortimer; let me still call
you-friend
He took her hand and kissed it..
Always, Ruth" he said, tenderly.
And of course, dear, it must be Just
as you think best.
Then, when she had left him, he
put up his painting traps-for he
could not work any more that day
and he sat there thinking-and half
unconsciously wondering the while,
if Mimi would not yet come.
And though he honestly tried to
regard himself as a man whose dear
est hopes had just been blighted by
tickle woman's whim, he could not
altogether succeed, for Minis sweet
and fowerlike face, so full of love
and admiration for him, rose ever be-
fore his eyes.
So it came to pass that before Nor
timer turned his face townward in
the autumn he had asked Mimi to be
his wife. And then, as we'll as in the
early springtime when they were
married, Ruth seemed as glad of their
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