The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-06-15
Obe
Candle OeSf

BY r. A. mitchell.

went W uAu aucu thC NiOpo Wtlt
ready to be taken in. and he liked u
SO well that when the harvest wa
ove 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. an6
we two young men soon became anX
ious for some sign of preference-no'
that either Of us had any intentions
toward her; Ii 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 I'm shock, the weather gettin'
cold, and the logs were blazing on tn.
hearth, the farmer and his family ant
Josh and l used TO sis around tn
blaze, talking and. telling yarns. Tha
was a happy winter for both Josh ant
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 u pleasant circle
u lat > IL WIN DANNAonhb III
there's always something that make.
them pleasant, and, ten to one, it's tn,
very thing to break up the pleasure
Since 1t is all over | know that what
made our enjoyment so keen vas Ruth
and 1t was Ruth that spoiled It all
not Intentionally, for. as | said, she ia
vored neither of us. She couldn't have
kept US two fellows from gradually
falling in love with her If she hac
wanted to.
At first Josh and I used to speas
about little occurrences concerning hel
with perfect freedom. Then we cease5
to say anything TO each other that in
volved any relation with her, and final
ly- we mentioned her. A yea
passed. the ~pleasantest | have eve
known, and when we'd filed the'barn
and there was little to do n day JOS
said to me:
There's something | want to say t.
you, Ben. TIE harvest is ended. and II
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 60, but
doesn't like to decide between us.
What do you say to playing a game Of
seven up to settle which shall get
out?"
81 reckon there's something In what
you say, JOSH" l replied in as melan-
choly a tone as his. Hes treated us
mighty we'll, and we ought to relieve
him Of the responsibility of sending off
one of us. And you and 1, too, have
been square to each other. / don't ex-
actly like your plan Of playing a game
to find out which shall go, for one
might 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 a candle and | choosing
one out Of the same mold and lighting
them at the same time? The whose
candle goes out first is to 60"
al think that would be a good way
to settle It,"
We were In our room at the time
we occupied n room together-and ]
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.
tion, 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 were both nightly pleased to
have her do this and waited patiently
till she came back with the candles.
Would you choose for usf" we both
said at the same moment.
IF you wish me to-"
Placing a candle before each OF us,
che scratched a match I'm each hand
and lighted them at the same moment
Then she left the room without q
glance at either OF us. 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
~ with suppressed suspense. 1t was
not till'they had burned down TO with.
I'm an inch Of the socket that ! noticed
n difference. Then | saw that my can
die was burning the slower. When
Josh's began TO flicker there was still
three-eighths OF an inch OF mine left
He blew II out and turned away C
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. "Well." | said
TO myself. 1T doesn't make any differ
enoe. after all, which goes first. Wei
both 90 soon enough. She doesn't want
either OF us"
The next day Josh told the farmer
that he thought he'd look for work IL
the city and left US. He had ne sooner
gone than Ruth began 10 bestow upon
me little attentions. This was quit,
enough 70 induce me TO show my fee
tngs, and 1 met Wild every crcyrn as~
In less than a month after
Josh's departure was engaged.
After our engagement | told Ruth
the story of how Josh and | had both
secretly loved her and how We had set
-