The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-02-23
Obe
Candle OeSf
Observation-Disclosures


4
eiation-l
Josh and I were fellow lsboser
working for Farmer Bathgate. W
went 10 him when the crops wer,
ready TO be taken I'm, and he liked u,
SO well that when the harvest VIZ
over he concluded to keep Us for every
/ day work during the winter. In th,
summer Ruth Bathgate, his daughter
used TO bring us out cool drinks, anc
we two young men soon became anx
ious for some sign OF preference-no
that either OF US had any intentions
/ toward her; IL was just an ordinary
rivalry. But Ruth was mighty particu
J lar not TO make the slightest differ
ence between us.
When the autumn came on, the fod
/ der was I'm shock. the weather gettinf
cold, and the logs werS blasting on tn,
hea til. the farmer and bis family arc
Josh and | used TO SD around ia.
blaze, talking and telling yarns. Pha
was happy winter for both Josh an(
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
very thing to break up the pleasure
Since it is all over / know that whai
made our enjoyment so keen was Ruth
and II was Ruth that spoiled II all
not Intentionally, for, as I said. she In
vored neither OF us. She couldn't hav,
kept us two fellows from gradually
falling In love with her If she had
wanted to-
At first Josh and I used to speak
about little occurrences concerning he
with perfect freedom. Then we ceased
to say anything to each other that I'm
ly we never mentioned her. A year
passed, the peasantest I have evel
known, and when we'd filed the barn
and there was little TO do one day JOS
said to me:
There's something l want to say tt
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, 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
outT'
'I reckon there's something In what
you say, JOSH" I replied in as melan-
eholy tone as his Hes treated US
mighty well, and we ought to relieve
him Of the responsibility Of sending OF
one OF US. And you and /. too, have
been square to each other. l don't ex
actly like your plan of playing n game
to find out which Shall go, for one
might have more skill than the other
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 I choosing
one out of the same mold and lighting
them at the same time? The one whose
candle goes out first is to co."
al think that would be a good way
10 settle It."
We were In our room at the time
we occupied room together-spd ]
was going out TO get the candles when
| met Ruth at the door.
1--WE heard what you two have been
saying" she said, through the parti-
ton. and you're right Father doesn't
need but one extra hand this winter
but he won't send away either Of you
I'll 60 down and get The candles ana
light them for you
We wefe both nightly pleased 10
have her do this and waited patiently
till she came back with the candles.
would you choose for usr we both
said Mt the same moment.
"if you wish me TO-"
Placing candle before each OF us,
she scratched a match In each hand
and lighted them at the m me moment
Then she left the room without
glance at either OF us. The candles
were short and would burn out In be
tween one and two hours. Josh and
played good many games Of seven
up. occasionally glancing ut the can.
dies with apparent uncoacern. but real.
ly with suppressed suspense. IL was
not till'they had burned down to with
IN an Inch Of the socket that I noticed
difference. Then Y saw that my can.
die was burning the slower. When
Josh's began 10 flicker there was still
three-eighths OF nm inch OF mine left
lie blew II out and turned away 10
conceal his feelings. | expected Ruth
10 show enough interest In which OF
us was 10 remain. TO ask before going
TO sleep. but she didn't "Well." I said
30 myself. 1T doesn't make any differ.
eBce. after all. which goes nrsA Well
both 80 soon enough. She doesn't want
either OF u.s."
The next day Josh told the farmer
that he thought he'd look for work In
the city aud left rs. lie had no sooner
gone than Ruth began TO bestow upon
me little attentions. This was quite
.oourh to induce me TO show my feel
mgs, nnd 4 nlet Win every rnt-vup ss~
mcnt. In less than month after