The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-01-21
Obe
Candle OeSf
BY r. A. mitchell.

tCopyrisht. 1908 by American Prese-Asso-
ciation.l
Josh and were fellow laborer>
working for Farmer Bathgate. ",
went 10 him when the crops wer
ready to be taken in, and be liked u
over he concluded TO keep us for ever
day work during the winter In T.
summer Ruth BathSate. his daught,
used to bring US out cool drinks. III
We two young men soon became ail'
ious for some sign of preference-nC
that either Of US had any intention
toward her; 1t was just an ordinar.
rivalry. But Ruth was mighty particr
lar not to make the slightest differ
ence between us.
When the autumn came on, the fod
der was In shock, the weather getting
cold, and the logs were blazing on the
hearth, the farmer and bis family an6
Josh and l used to sit around the
blaze, talking and telling yarns. Thal
was happy winter for both Josh ano
me. We didn't either OF us suspec,
that we were both dead gone on Ruth
nor did we foresee what was TO hap
pen TO break up our pleasant circle
That's the trouble with pleasant time
there's always something that make
them pleasant, and ten to one. it's tho
very thing to break up the pleasure
Since 1t is oil over know that wha;
made our enjoyment so keen was Ruth
and II was Ruth that spoiled II all
not Intentionally. for. as said. she fa
vored neither of u.s. She couldn't have
kept us two fellows from gradually
falling In love with her II she had
wanted to.
At first Josh and I used to speal
with perfect freedom. Then we ceased
to say anything TO each other that in.
volved any relation. with her, and final
ly we. never mentioned her. A year
passed, the pleasanteSt I have ever
known, and when we'd filed the barns
and there was little TO do one day Josh
said TO NE:
There's something I want to say to
you, Ben The harvest is ended, and 1t
doesn't seem just right for two strap
ping fellows like US to put Farmer
Bathgate TO the expense OF keeping us
all winter. There's enough for one to
do, bat not enough for two. It's my
opinion he'd let one Of us go, but
doesn't ike to decide between us
What do you say to playing game Of
seven up TO settle which shall get
outr'
II reckon there's something in what
you say, JOSH" / replied in as melan-
choly tone as his. Hes treated US
mighty well, and we ought to relieve
him OF the responsibility Of sending of
one OF u.s. And you and I, too, have
been square to each other. don't ex-
actly like your plan Of playing . game
10 nnd out which shall g., fG one
rnighs have more skill than the other
l think we'd better let something else
than cards decide between us. Mrs
Bathgate was making candles this
morning Now, what do you say TO
your choosing q candle and choosing
one out of the same mold and lighting
ksem at the same timer The one whose
candle goes out first Ia 10 60"
"I think that would be q good way
80 settle 1t"
We were In our room at the time
we occupied n room tOgether-and ]
was going out 70 get the candles when
] met Ruth at the door.
1--WE heard what you two have beer
saying" she said, through The part
ton. and you're right. Father dcesn
need nut ono extra hand this Wiate'
but be won't send away either Of yor
I'll go down and get the candies an
light them for you"
We were both nightly pleased T.
have her do this and waited patientl.
till she came back with the candles.
would you choose for u.s. we bot.
said at the same. moment.
IF you wish me to-
Placing q candle before each Of Us
she scratched a match In each hand
and lighted them at the same moment
Then she left the room without 3
glance at either of u.s. The candles
were short and would burn out in be
tween one and two hours. Josh and
played a good many games OF seven
up. occasionally glancing at the can
dies with apparent unconcern, but real
g with suppressed suspense. 1t was
not till'they had burned down 10 with
in an inch Of the socket that | noticed
a difference Then l saw that my can
die was burning the slower. When
Joshs began 10 flicker there was still
three-eighths OF an inch OF mine left
lie blew II out aad turned away TO
conceal his feelings. expected Ruth
to show enough interest In which OF
Us was TO remain. to ask before going
TO sleep, but she didn't We'll" I said
to myself. 1T doesn't make any differ.
ence, after all. which goes frst Wen
both go soon enough. She doesn't want
either Of Us"
The next day Josh told the farmer
Hhat he thought he'd look for work IN
The city and LEFT US. He bad no sooner
oODe tan Ruth began to bestow upon
- LITTLE attentions Thts was quite
so>swk In tnhuca ma 20 49, 49, k>>l