The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-05-12
O6e
Candle CeSf
BY r. A. Mitchell.

BY =. A. Mitchell.
fCopyright, 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation-l
Josh and 1 were fellow laborers
working for Farmer Bathgate. We
went TO him when the crops were
ready to be taken in, and be liked Us
SO well that when the harvest wss
over he concluded to keep US for every
day work during the winter. In the
summer Ruth Bathgate, his daughter
used to bring US out cool drinks, and
we two young men soon became anx-
ious for some sign of preference-noi
that either Of us had any intentions
toward her; 1t was just an ordinary
rivalry. But Ruth was mighty particu
lar not TO make the slightest differ
ence between us.
When the autumn came on, the fod-
der was In shock, the weather gettins
cold, and the logs were blazing on the
hea -th, the farmer and his family and
| Josh and ] used TO sif around The
blaze. talking and telling yarns. Tha
was happy winter for both Josh an9
me- We didn't either of us suspect
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 times
there's always something that makes
/ them pleasant, and, ten to one, it's the
very thing to break up the pleasure.
Cipoe, II ic oil 0uQr I know that what
made our enjoyment so keen was Ruth.
and itswas Ruth that spoiled it all
+! not Intentionally, for, as l said. she IA
vored neither of us. She couldn't have
kept us two fellows from gradually
falling In love with her il she had
wanted to.
At first Josh and 1 used to speak
about little occurrences concerning he1
with perfect freedom. Then we ceased
to say anything to each other that In
volved any relation with her, and final
" we never mentioned her. \ year
PASSED, the pleasantest | have ever
known. and when we'd filed the barn.
and there was little to Go one day Josh
said to me:
There's something | want to say to
you. Ben. The harvest is ended, and Il
doesn't seem just right for two strap
ping fellows like us TO put Farmer
Bathgate to the expense of keeping Is
,, all winter There's enough for one tc
do. but not enough for two. It's my
!, opinion he'd let one of us go, but
doesn't like TO decide between US
What do you say to playing a game OF
seven up to settle which shall get
/, outY
81 reckon there's something In what
you say. JOSH / replied in as melan
choly a tone as his. Hes treated u;
mighty well. and we ought to relieve
: him Of the responsibility Of sending of
one of US. And you and l, too, have
f, been square to each other. | don't ex
actly like your plan of playing game
4 to find out which shall go, for one
4 might have more skill than the other
/ | think we'd better let something eis'
S than cards decide between us. Mrs
r Bathgate was making candles thi
S morning Now, what do you say t
7 your choosing a candle and | choosin;
: one out of the same mold and lightin;
/ them at the same time? The one whos'
candle goes out first Is to go"
( 81 think that would be a good waI
to settle It"
S We were in our room at the time
It we occupied room together-and
II was going out 70 get the candles whel
e met Ruth at the door.
e 1--WE heard what you two have beer
e saying" she said. through the parti
|, ton. and you're right. Father doesn'
o need but one extra hand this winter
o but he won't send away either of you
l. I'll 90 down aud get the candles an'
E. light them for you"
n We were both nightly pleased Z
v have her do this and waited PATIENT.
till she came back with the candles.
would you choose for u.s." we bot
said at the same moment.
eff you wish me to-"
IL Placing candle before each OF Us
she scratched match in each ham
~ and lighted them at the same momen
Then she left the room without
~ glance at either OF us. The candle
ST were short and would burn out in b'
u tween one and two hours. Josh and
le played q good many games of seye
y up. occasionally glincing at the car
IL dies with apparent unconcern, but rea
"a ly with suppressed suspense. 1t wa
re not tirl'they had burned down TO witt
20 In an inch Of the socket that / notice
O. a difference Then saw that my car
die was burning the slower. Nhe
Josh's began to flicker there Wa ST
three-eighths of an inch OF mine lef
He blew II out and turned away
| conceal his feelings. | expected Rut
| TO show enough interest In which
| US was TO remain, TO ask before goin
| to sleep. but she didn't. WELL" | sal
| to myself. lit doesn't make any diffe
/ ence, after all. which goes first We
| both go soon enough. She doesn't wal
| either OF US"
l The next day Josh told the farm'
Il that he thought he'd look for work
Il the city and left us. He had no soon'