The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-07-31


went to hinr when the crops were|
ready to be taken In. and he liked u.s.
so well that when the harvest wasl
over be concluded to keep Us for every
day work during the winter In theI
summer Ruth Bathgste, bis daughter
used TO bring Us out cool drinks, andI
we two young men soon became anx-I
ious Cor some sign Of preference-notI
that either OF Us had any intenfionsI
toward her; ii was just an ordinary
rivalry. But Ruth was mighty particu1
lar not TO make the slightest differ
ence between us.
When the autumn came on. the fod-y
der was In shock. the weather gettinyI
cold. and the logs were blazing on theI
hearth. the farmer and his family and
Josh and | used 10 SO around theI
blaze. talking and telling yarns. That
was 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 TO break up our pleasant circleu
That's the trouble with pleasant times
there's always something that makes
them pleasant, and. ten TO one, is the
very thing TO break up the pleasurey
Since II Is all over | know that what
made our enjoyment so keen was Ruth
and It was Ruth thai spoiled IL ALL
not Intentionally. for. as said, she IA
vored neither of rs. She couldn't have
kept US two fellows from gradually
falling in love with her IL she hacU
wanted TO.
At first Josh and I used 10 speekn
about little occurrences concerning herI
with perfect freedom. Then we ceased
TO say anything to each other that in
volved any relation with her, and final1
ly we never mentioned her. A yearI
passed, the pleasantest have everI
known, and when we'd filed the barnsN
and there was little TO do one day JOSH
said to me:
There's something / want to say to-
you, Ben: The harvest is ended. and III
doesn't seem just right for two strap
ping fellows like US 10 put FarmcrI
Batheate to the expense Of keeping u.s.
all winter. There's enough for one to-
do. but nots eHough:for two. It's my
opinion he'd let one OF us go, butt
doesn't like 10 decide between Us.
What do you say to playing a game Of
seven up to settle which shall get
outr'
II reckon there's something In what
you say, JOSH" replied I'm as melap-
choly tone as his. Hes treated u.s.
mighty we'll, and we ought 10 relieved
him Of the responsibility Of sending off
one Of US. Aud you and I. too. have
been square to each other. don't ex-
actly like your plan of playing a gams
TO find out which shall 60, for oneI
might have more skill than the other.
think we'd better let something elseu
than cards decide between us. Mrs.
Bathgate was making candles this
Now, what do you say toI
your choosing a candle and I choosinSI
,ne out Of the same mold and lightin,I
hem at the same time? The one whoseI
candle goes out first is to CO."
Il think that would be a good wayI
% settle IT,"
We were In our room at the time
we occupied a room .together-and Il
vas going out to get the candles whenI
nett Ruth at the door.
1--WE heard what you two have beenI
aging" she said, through the parti-I
Ion, and you're right Father Doesn't
iced but one extra hand this winter
tut he won't send away either OF you
II go down and get the candles anal
light them for you"
We were both nightly pleased tol
AVE her do this and waited PATIENTLY
iii she came back with the candles.
Would you choose for usT We bothI
aid at the same moment
IF you wish me'to"
Placing a candle before each Of us,
he scratched q match I'm each handI
nd lighted them at the same moment
rhen she left the room without al
lance at either Of US. The candlesI
,ete short and would burn out in be-
ween one and two hours. Josh and
layed good many games OF sevenl
p, occasionally glancing at the CAM
les with apparent uncencern, but real
7 with suppressed suspense. 1t was
OF .tillsthey had burned down TO with
!, an inch Of the socket that noticed
difference Then saw that my CAM
lie was burning the slower Wheni
osh's began to flicker there was still
2ree-eighths Of an Inch Of mine left
lie blew II out and turned away to
,nceal his feelings. / expected Ruth
, show enough interest I'm which OF
5 was TO remain. 10 ask before going
, sleep. but she didn't We'll" / said
} myself, lit doesn't make any differ
ice, after all. which goes first Well
9TH so soon enough. She doesn't want
ther Of u.s."
The next day Josh fold the farmer
lat he thought he'd look for work in
le city and left Us. He had no sooner
one than Ruth began 10 bestow upoE
e little attentions. Tits was quite
,ouxh to induce me TO show my feel
gs, and met WITH every encv,aas.
In 1aCc .S<--I