The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-05-06
Cbe
Candle OeSf
o++o'soI.o's '-oi-o--oi''
BY r. A. Mitchell.

ready 10 be .aken In. and he liked us
SO well thar when the harvest YVES
over he concluded t0 keep us for every
day work during the winter In the
summer Ruth Bathgate. his daughter.
used 10 brin- us OUT cool drinks. and
we two young men soon became anx-
ious for sone sign Of prefercnce-not
that either OF US 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 fCd-
der was in shock, the weather getting
cold. and the logs were blazing on the
hea TIL. the farmer and his family and
Josh and used TO sU around the
blaze. talking and telling yarns. That
was n 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 10 hap
pen 10 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 II Is MI over | know that what
made our enjoyment SO keen was Ruth.
and II was Ruth that spoiled IL all
not Intentionally. for. rs said. she IA
vorcd neither II us. She couldn't have
kept us two fellows from gradually
falling in love with her IL she had
wanted 10.
At first Josh and I 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 I have ever
known. and when we'd filed the barns
and there was little 10 do one day Josh
said 10 me:
There's something | want 10 say TO
you. Ben. The harvest Is ended, and IL
doesn't seem Just right for two strap
ping fellows like us 10 put Farmer
I Bathgatc to the expense OF keeping US
1 all winter. There's enough for one 10
/ do. but not enough for two. It's my
I opinion he'd lot one Of us go. but
/ doesn't ike 10 decide between US.
What do you say TO playing game OF
seven up to settle which shall get
| outT'
Il reckon there's something In what
you say, Josh" ! replied IN as melan-
choly a tone as his. Hes treated rs
mighty we'll. and We ought TO relieve
him OF the responsibility Of Seeding on
one Of US And yru ard |. too. have
been square 70 en- Il othrr don't ex-
actly like your plan ~ plly ins 4 game
10 ind out which shall 20. for enc
might have mere skill than the ether
think we'd heitcr ga something else
than cards decide lrtwcen US. Mrs.
Bathgate was making candles this
morning Now. What 20 you say 10
your choosing n candle aud | choosing
one out OF the same mold and Lighting
them at the same timer The one whose
candle goes out first Is 10 go
IL think that would be a good way
10 settle It."
We were IN our room at the time
we occupied n room together-and
was going out to get The candles when
I met Ruth ut the door.
1--WE heard what you two have been
SAYING" she said. through the parti-
ton. 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 20 down and get the candles and
light them for you"
We were both nightly pleased to
have her do this and waited patiently
TN she came back with the candles.
would you choose for usT we both
said at the same moment.
"If YOU wish me to-"
Placing a candle before each OF us
she scratched a match I'm each hand
and lighted them at the same moment
Then she left the room without 9
glance at either OF us. The candles
were short and would burn out In be
tween one and two hours. Josh and
played good many games OF seven
up. occasionally giancing at the can
dies with apparent unconcern, but real
ly with suppressed suspense. Ii was
not tin'they had burned down to with
IN an inch Of the socket that noticed
difference Then l saw that my can
die was burning the slower Whei
Josh's began to flicker there was still
tAree-elghths Of an inch OF mine left
Tie blew IT out and turned away tC
conceal his feelings. expected Ruti
to show enough interest In which OF
US was to remain. to ask before goinf
to sleep but she didn't. "Woll," / SAID
10 myself, 1T doesn't make any differ
ence, after all. which goes first. Wei
both 90 soon enough. She doesn't wan
either OF us"
The next day Josh told the farmcl
that he thought he'd look for work II
the city and left US. lie had no soone
gone than Ruth began to bestow upoI
me little attentions. This was quit
enough To induce me TO show my feel
lngs, and I met with every enrv,r as-
nent. In less than a month afte
Josh's departure | was engaged.
After our engagement | told Rutl