The Forrest City times., 1911-07-28
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ready engaged. She looked upon p,'.. as an old maid. You'll neyor ,.s-e u now" she said. No, she never n."'',! 'y The girls would go. but she won's stay. Her father and she wonId ha old together. For her it would h, case of "crusts and left-oyers" ,o ,sa end. u tue Hark! The man next door v,os Ing and singing. She knew who, t. was singing. It was The Monoto,a ~ what a strange man he was-or =. least, Helen said he was strange ana she knew him better than snv = them, unless. indeed it was her ,o ther. Ever since ne had come u,ts his old sister to live in the beautiful mousse next door he had been kind to them all. sharing his fruit and Aow CTS With them and lending the girl. books and music. They were aIWav. going to his house on some ni.sio. or other. and they were always we,. come. Ruth had gone once decor. ously to call. as befitted her posit,on as nominal head of her fathers houaa. hold. She had been little awed bv what she had seen. It must be ca nice to have rugs that had no worn ! places and chairs whose interior mechanism of springs was successful " concealed by abundant stufing Mrs. Fleet had been very sweet to her, but Ruth had felt somehow that she preferred the society of the girls And so she had not gone again
 The piano next door ceased. Mir. Marr evidently did not intend to sing again. Ruth wished he would. When. ever she heard him playing she felt an impulse to fly to the old piano in the parlor and practice with might and main. It was pity that her music had cost so much and had come to nothing.
 Miss Ruth," A man stood bare headed on the grass before her look ing at her. kindly smile under his grayfsh mustache.
 She brought her eyes down from the moon to him with a start 50 the youngsters have gone and left you?' he said. 'I heard a commo- uon here little while ago and sus- pected that the river had called them. It has called me, too I've got a new boat down there under the bank-the paint is just dry on it-ob. a beautiful boat-and as my sister is as afraid of water as hen I've come to see if you won't go with me for little row.
 "Oh. Mir. Marrt" Ruth gasped in de- light and her face bloomed in shy radiance. Why, I've just been dying to go-and now l can. It's so good of you to ask me"
 Oh, the wonder of the river and the moon and the boats motion and the man at the oars. whose face looked young enough ana handsome enough in the generous light, He sung to her softly in his rich voice; he talked to her; he told her amusing stories. And Ruth forgot that she was timid and forlorn and laughed and confided in him until it seemed that she had told him every secret of her poor lit- tie life.
 Tt is pity that you have had to- neglect your music when you love 1t so" he said. but am sure that with a few good lessons you could pick 1t up again easily"
 'I suppose so." Ruth sighed. but you see l haven't the time
 Take time. Give your housekeep' ing over to your sisters" As she stared at him in surprise he leaned forward resting upon the oars. Ruth. tell me. If you could, wouldn't you emancipate yourself by marrying somebody who had money and would be good to you. Wouldn't you. dear!
 'But-nobody-would-"
 Yes. somebody would-does. l. Ruth 1 must seem like pretty ola fellow to you. but I believe l couid make you happy. l want you. dear And my sister is willing We nave talked 1t over together. If you VIII marry me I can promise that you shall rever regret"
 An hour later Ruth, somewhat re- covered from the excitement oi re ceiving and accepting her first pfo posal. stole upstairs As she opehea the door of her room an unsual sign' greeted her The girls were tneie squatting on the floor about the open window.
 We couldn't see the moon any where else," Louise said. "ne'e have you been, Ruth?"
 I've been on the river, Ruth a"- swered. trying to keep her happ' voice steady 'I went with MT. Mai, in his new boat And-and. oh' sh,s. may as well tell you. fm-he-i ~ going to marry him,"
 There was an aghast silence. ine1 Louise spoke. III.
 Well" she said. "of course II A'' right if you love him."
 Love him," Ruth repeatec' "n her voice rang "I adore him. eiiis' she cried
 The Details Lacking.