The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-08-15
'RUTHS PRISONER
Of Errors That Proved
Not at All Humorous to
Miss Cynthia.


thia and waving their hands to their
daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. Foster drove
out OF the yard. They were going
to Rochester, where Mr.. Foster ex-
pected to buy some fine cattle and
Mrs. Foster had some shopping to
do. When their business was fin
ished they expected to spend the
night with their married daughter
and return home the next day.
"Well," remarked Miss Cynthia, as
the buggy disappeared around a bend
in the road, "they have quite a treat
before them, no mistake. They don't
get off very often, now, do they?'
Ruth Foster shook her head.
Mother will think it the greatest
kind of a treat to have one whole
evening with Margaret they haven't
had an evening together for nearly
4 year"
"Thats So" agreed Miss Cynthia,
"and now I'm glad ! didn't mention
about that burglar before they went,
for your Ma would have been sure to
worry some. You see, there's been
a burglar over to Laconia, and he
broke a bank over there sOmewheres,
and the officers are after him. |
heard down to the ~postofRce that he
was a-headed this way. They've got
a paper posted up there, that says he
is a tallish young man with a smooth
face and mejum complexion and blue
eyes," Ruth Foster laughed mer-
rily.
Get him come, Miss Cynthia, |
do not believe he will bother you or
me-"
"The first of my boarders is COM
ing tonight, a little early for summer
boarders, but it is that Mr.. Stanton
l told YOU about, from New York,
you know, so I'm all right. But you
poor child, YOU will be all alone, now
that Johns away and your Pa and
Ma are off to Rochester. You had
better come up and stay with me to-
night" But Ruth was not disturbed
in the least, and refusing Miss Gym
thia's kindly offer she went about hel
work singing to herself. When il
was time she did the evening chores
and closed the house, then she SAL OF
the doorstep for nearly an hour en-
loving the sweet spring twilight an,
!. listening to the singing of the frog
in the willow brook.
On reaching home Miss Cynthi'
took a final peep into the room pre-
pared for the expected guest, anC
then, when she had finished the las
bit of cooking, she set the table 70.
tea.
"The train gets in at about tel
minutes to seven, and Jason Hodge
will have him up here in about tire
/. lips of a ay's wing, and if h
should take it into his head to wall
'twouldn't make him but a few min
utes later" unused the good lady a
she hustled about, and when, a fey
3 minutes after seven, a tired-lookin
young man with a dark beard, ant
carrying a heavy travelling bag cam
up the walk she hurried to the doc
and held out her hand.
"Howdy-do, Mr.. Stanton" sb
said, "you are welcome, but why j
the world didn't you get Jaso.
Hodges to drive you up? ] told hin
to be on the lookout for you on tn
train tonight, when l got your letter
but come right in, your supper an.
room are both ready"
After sitting on the doorstep for
long time listening to the wood note
and the frogs, Ruth Foster went int
the house, intending to return in
minute or two. When she did sh
was Mortified to find a young ma
standing on the step-"a tails
young man Of mejum complexion
she could see that, even in the twi
light. When he saw her he took o.
his hat and asked if Mr.. Foster wa
at home. Ruth told him her fathe
was not at home, and then as soon a
she said so she was sorry.
"Can l come in and rest?" h
asked, when he found that she di
not ask him in. Ruth hesitatet
"Come in" she said at last she feI
that It would never do to let this roll
Der see that she was afraid of hin
After she had lighted a lamn h