The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-07-16
Obe
Candle OeSf
BY .. A. mitchell.

working for warmer Bathgatc. W.
went 20 him when the crops wcr,
ready. 20 Doe taken Ia. and he liked a.
90 wen that when the harvest VIZ,
over he concluded 20 keep Us FOR every
day work during the winter. In ia,
1 GUNNER Ruth Eaihsate. his daughter
USED 20 bring us ont cool drinks. ano
we two young men soon became ans
ious FOR some sign OF preference MOI
that either OF Us had any intentions
toward her. II WAS just an ordinary
rivalry But Ruth was mighty particu
lar not 20 make the slightest diner
ence between us.
When the autumn came on. the fod
Ger was ~ shock. the weather getting
cold. and.sfhe logs were blazing on tho
hearth. the farmer and his family and
Josh and I used 10 80 around the
bla5e. talking and telling yarns Tha
was a happy winter for both Josh nm,
me. We didn't either Of us suspec
that we were both dead gone on Rutt
nor ala we foresee what was 20 htr
pen 10 break up our pleasant Circ'l
That's the trouble with pleasant time
-thepe'snlway something that make
them pleasant, and, ton 10 one its III
very thing 90 break M the pleasure
Since Il - nil over know that what
made our enjoyment 80 keen was Ruth
and, It was Ruth that spoiled y an
not Intentionally. for as said. she IN.
vored neither ~ us. she couldn't have
Kept IT'S two fellows from gradually
falling in love with her II she had
wanted 10.
At FIRST Josh and ! used TO speak
about little occurrences concerning hrf
with perfeSt freedom Then we ceased
90 say anything 10 each other that in.
volved any relafil. VEN her, and final
b we never lrr 'cd her. \ year
passed. the pIcuaEtcst have ever
known. and WIN we'd hissi tae barns
ana there was little 20 do one 1hy Josh
said 10 me:
''There's something want 70 say 70
you. Ben. The harvest is.epded, and Il
doesn't seem INST rtsht for two strap
ping fellows Ike us Ia put Farmer
Bathgate TO the expense of keeping rs
on winter There's enough for oEe 20
DO, but not enough for 60. Ifs ny
opinion he'd lei one ~ uS. e., bui
doesn't nke 20 decide between as
What do Won say y playing a gane ef
seven up TO settle which shah get
outT'
II reckon there's something in what
you say. Josh" ] replied in as melan-
choly tone rs his. TIES treated US
mighty well and we ought 10 relieve
bin or tie responsibility Of sensing OF
hne Of rs. And ron md l. toS nave
been square 70 escb other dost OK
actiy. IKE your plan Of playing n game
20 f0sds cut which shall go. for ono
might have core skill than the other
Mink we'd better lct something else
than cards decide between MS Airs
Bathgsse was making candles this
morning. Now, what DO yen say e.
your choosing a candle and I choosing
one ont OF the Same mold and lighting
them at the same timer The one whose
candle goes cut hrst Is 20 60"
II think that would be good way
10 settle n"
We were 10 our room at the time
we occupied room together-and
was going ~ut to get the candles when
mef Ruth az the door.
"1've heard what you two have been
sayfrg," she said. Through the parti-
tion. and you're right rathsr doesn't
need hut one extra hand thi- winter
but ne won't send awaw-eithss OF you
III 70 down and get the cardles ana
light them for you"
We were both nightly psased. 10
have her do this and waited patiently
tln she came back with the candles.
"Would you choose for usT we both
eeid nj the same moment.
III You wish me TO-"
Placing a candle hefore each OF us,
$40 scratched n raioh in each hand
ard lighted them nt tie same moment
Then she left the room without
glance at either If us The candles
were short ana w~rid burn out IN be-
tween one and two hours. Josh and |
played a good many games Of seven
up. sccasionaiv CHANGING at the can
dies with apparo gaconcorn, but real.
/ ~ with supprcl uspcnsc. II was
not tin'thcy he'd down to with
IN an inch If The socket that noticed
q difference Thcn ! saw that my can
dk WIS burning lc slower when
Josh's began to fiic er there was still
three -eighths OF nn inch Of mine left
| Tie blew Il out aud turned away 20
conceal his feelings. | expected Ruth
TO show enough interest IN which Of
Us was 90 remain. 10 ask before going
10 sleep. but she didn't "Well," ! said
to myself. IT doesn't make any differ
! snce. after ALL viii. h goes first. Wen
both 60 soon enough. She doesn't want
either Of ne"
The next day Josh told the farmer
tnat he Thought he'd look for work ~
the city ard left ". lie hsd no sooner
gone than l.uth BEGAN TO Aestow upon
the llli, attentions. TtTts was quite
sucpch 10 induce me TO show my feel,
lnss. ana I net win every rnev,1as~
Ment In less than month after
1 -.