The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-05-28
Obe
Candle OeSf
By r. A. mitchell.


Josh and were fellow lahorcrs /
working FOR Farmer Eathgate. We
went to him when the crops were
ready TO be- aiken in. ard he liked IL
so well that when ne harvest w.e
over he cO.lc udcd tO Keep Us Tor every
day work during the winter Ia the
summer Ruth Rathgate. his daughter.
used 10 bring us ont cool drinks, and
We two young rcm soon Lecaiac anx-
ious for some sign of preference
that either Of u had any Intentions
toward her. II was Just an ordinary
rivalry. But Ruth was mighty particu
lar not To make the slightest differ
ence between us.
when the autumn came on. the fod
der was I'm shock. the weather getting
cold. and the logs We're blazing on the
hea III the farmer and his family and
Josh and | used to sit around the
blaze. talking and telling yarns Tha'
was happy winter for both Josh and
me. We didn't either OF Us suspect
that we We're both dead gone on Ruth.
nor did we forcsee what was 10 hap
pen TO break up cur pleasant circle.
That's the trouble wiki pleasant times
there's always something that makes
them pleasant. and. ten To one. it's the
very thing 10 break m the pleasure
Since II is MI over know that what
made our enjoyment So keen was Ruth.
and II was Ruth thai spoiled II NIL
not inicnti nally. fer. ~ ! said. she In
vored neither - rs She couldn't have
kept MS two fellows from gr ldually
falling I'm love with her II she had
wanted to-
At first Josb and ! used 10 speak
about little occurrences concerning her
with perfect freedom. Then We ceased
TO say anything 10 each other that in
volvcd any relation with her. and final
Iy we never mentioned her. A year
Tassed. the p'easantest I have ever
known. and when we'd filled the barns
and there was little TO do one day Josh
said tc me:
1 There's something | want TO say To
YOU. Ben The harvest Is ended. and II
doesn't seem just right fer two strap
ping fellows like us TO put Farmer
Bathgatc 10 the expense II keeping us
all winter There's enou.h for one 10
do. but not enough for two. It's my
opinion he'd let one Of US go. but
doesn't Ike TO decide between Us.
What do you say TO playing a game of
seven up 10 settle which shall get
outy''
Il reckon there's something in what
you say. JOSH" ] replied In ms mclan-
cholv a tone as his. Hes treated Us
mighty well. and we ought 10 relieve
him OF the responsibility Of sending of
one ~ rs And you ard !. too. have
been square 90 each other don't ex-
actlv like your plan Of playing game
10 frd out which shall 90. 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 choosing
one out " the same mold and lighting
them nj the same time; The one whose
candle gocs cut first is TO go"
4 Il think that would be good way
TO settle IT,"
u We were I'm our room at the time
we occupied room together-and ]
was going out TO get the candles when
I met Ruth NJ the door.
u I've heard what you two have been
saving" she said. Through the parti-
iion. and you're right Father doesn't
need but one extra hand this winter.
hut he won't send away either Of you.
n I'll go down and get the candles and
light them for you"
q We were both nightly pleased to
have her do this and waited patiently
till she came back with the candles.
h would you choose for usY' we both
said at thr same moment.
"If YOU wish me to-"
Placing candle before each OF US,
she scratched match In each hand
and LIGHTED them az the same moment.
Then she left the room without
glance nj either Of us. The candles
were short ana would burn out I'm bo-
tween one and two hours. Josh and
played good many games Of seven
lup occa slonally glancing at the can
dies \ "pparent unconcern, but real
lly VII Impressed suspense. IL was
not II hey had burned down to with
In an inch ~ the socket that noticed
n dlr ance Then | saw that my can
die y the slower W men
Josh's ticker there was still
thrce-cf nn inch Of mine left.
lie bl a and turned Sway TO
.concea ings ! expected Ruth
70 sh Is enough interest la which OF
Ms was TO remain. to ask before going
TO sleep. but she didn't. well" said
to myself 1T doesn't make any differ
ence. n fter all. which goes first Wen
both go soon enough She doesn't want
either OF us"
The next day Josh told the farmer
that he thought he'd look for work IN
the city and left us lie had no sooner
gone than Ruth began to bestow upon