Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-16

CWritten Specially for The Bulletin.)
 Ruth Rathbun was a most charming sight as she stood at the old toll-gate of which her father had charge. A slender graceful figure ,arrayed in dainty white robe, her abundant tresses neatly arranged with here and there a wee curl showing which the breeze had 1oosened from the tidy braids which encircled her we'll shaped head. A bright smile lit up her always pleasant face, as she greet ed one who stopped to pay the cus- tomary toll. Perhaps she knew that Reginald Hastings might have driven to town by a more direct route than this, and without paying toll, and real ized why he preferred the more round about and more expensive way. Ger tainly he was a long time finding the proper coin to pay the charge, While meantime his eyes feasted on the love- ly girl who stood so coyly demanding the customary fee for her fathers sake. He poor man, was becoming infirm with advancing years and, never very patient, he had now become irritable to most people, but never to Ruth, who was the apple of his eye. Her mother had died many years before and Ruth and her father were all in all to each other. Nothing in his estimation was good enough for his pet lamb, as he often called her, and, as for her, she was as dutiful as any daughter could be, and made happy hAne for her father by her devotion to hi sinter- est and her loving care.
 Many another traveller came that way and often at night the money received amounted to quite a pretty sum, although each gave but little. Ruth's report at close of day was pleasing to her father, for his love of money was well known, and next to his darling Ruth was his greatest passion. He had the reputation of hav- ing accumulated quite snug little fortune in one way and another, and the prevailing opinion was that son. in-law acceptable to him would find that Ruth would have generous dowry | But that word acceptable, meant a great deal and the old man would not easily be pleased, particularly if he had begun to notice that his dear girl had other admirers besides himself Reg inald Hastings he certainly did not | favor. Perhaps he suspected that Ruth was inclined to do so. At all events | he let no chance go by of saying something against that young man Sets himself up, does he, because his father owns the finest farm in this region? I've seen the time when John 1 Hastings could not count pennies with me. He made his money by marrying a rich mans daughter. That fine farm came with her, but she led him a life I of it while she lasted, which was not long, She was mighty fine feeling, ant named her son Reginald instead ot John or James or any other sensible name. No, don't like that young man. He comes of poor stock Hi father would cheat in any trade h. made if he could. He cheated me ou of a good bit of land once by having boundary line measured to suit hi
 own notion. No, I want you to havt
 nothing to say to Reginald Hastings
 What does he come here for, anyway
 We are not on his line to market
 Let me get over this attack of gout
 and I'll send him where he belongs il
 quick time."
 Just then who should drive up bu
 this same Reginald Hastings, but in
 stead of passing on, he alighted fror
 his team and came towards the house
 Ruth blushed with pleasure, then pale
 with dismay for she suspected his CT
 rand. Only the day before he had Wo her promise to become his wife, and h