Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-08-31
Cbe Candle CeSf
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By F. A. MITCHELL.

tCopyright, 1909 by American Press Asso- ciationl
 Josh and I were fellow laborers working for Farmer Bathgate. We went to him when the crops were
 ready to be taken in. and he liked us so well that when the harvest was over he concluded to keep us for every day work during the winter In the summer Ruth Bathgate. his daughter. used to bring us out cool drinks. and we two young men soon became anx- lous for some sign of prefercnce--not that either of us had any intentions toward her: it was just an ordinary rivhlry. But Ruth was mighty particu- lar not to make the slightest differ ence between us.
 When the autumn came on the fod- der was In shock. the weather getting cold. and the logs were blazing on the hearth, the farmer and his family and Josh and I used to sit around the blaze, talking and telling yarns. That was happy winter for both Josh and me. We didn't either of us suspect that we were both dead gone on Ruth. nor did we foresee what was to hap pen to break up our pleasant circle. That's the trouble with pleasant times there's always something that makes them pleasant. and. ten to one. it's the very thing to break up the pleasure. Since 1t Is all over l know that what | In t.,u D,,t and It was Ruth that spoiled 1t ail-- not Intentionally. for, as said. she fa- vored neither of us. She couldn't have kept us two fellows from gradually falling in love with her If she had wanted to. | At first Josh and used to speak about little occurrences concerning her with perfect freedom. Then we ceased to say anything to each other that in- volved any relation with her. and final ly we never mentioned her. A year passed. the pleasantest 1 have ever known, and when we'd filled the barns and there was little to do one day Josh said to me:
 There's something l want to say to you, Ben. The harvest is ended, and it doesn't seem just right for two strap ping fellows like us to put Farmer Bathgate to the expense of keeping us all winter. There's enough for one to do. but not enough for two. It's my opinion he'd let one of us go. but doesn't like to decide between us. What do you say to playing a game of seven up to settle which shall get outY'
 '"I reckon there's something in what you say, Josh." replied in as melan- choly tone as his. Hes treated us mighty well. and we ought to relieve him of the responsibility of sending off one of as. And you and I, too, have been square to each other. l don't ex- actly like your plan of playing game to fird out which shall go, for one might have more skill than the other. think we'd better let something else than cards decide between us. Mrs. Bathgate was making candles this morning Now. what do you say to your choosing a candle and l choosing one out of the same mold and lighting them at the same time? The one whose candle goes out first is to go."
 q think that would be good way to settle it."
 We were in our room at the tinH- we occupied a room together-and was going out to get the candles when met Ruth at the door.
 i've heard what you two have been saying" she said. through the parti- tion, and you're right. Father doesn't need but one extra hand this winter but he won't send away either of you I'll go down and get the candles and light them for you"
 We were both nightly pleased to have her do this and waited patiently ttll she came back with the candles.
 Would you choose for us?' we both said at the same moment.
 If you wish me to-"
 Placing a candle before each of us, she scratched a match in each hand and lighted them at the same moment Then she left the room without a glance at either of us. The candles were short and would burn out Tn De- tween one and two hours. Josh and played good many games of seven up, occasionally glancing at the can dies with apparent unconcern, but real ly with suppressed suspense. It was not till they had burned down to with in an inch of the socket that noticed a difference. Then saw that my can dle was burning the slower. When Josh's began to flicker there was still three-eighths of an inch of mine left. He blew it out and turned away to conceal his feelings. I expected Ruth to show enough interest in which of us was to remain, to ask before going to sleep. but she didn't. "Well," l said to myself, 'it doesn't make any differ ence, after all. which goes first. We'll both go soon enough. She doesn't want |