Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-08-15

CHAPTER VI.

Ruth ehattered gayly with her aunt
at breakfast. That Mrs. Clayborne was
not quite pleased that she was going
to marry Brian, she knew. But, so
long as that displeasure took no other
form than cutting her off from spend
ing money, Ruth did not worry about
it. For, one who has Always spent
money reeklessly knows nothing Of its
value.
Mrs. Clayborne had allowed Ruth her
own way in regard to their wedding.
1t was no part of her plan to ALLEVIATE
her niece. So Ruth was TO be mar
/ ried in the little church she had at
tended ever since she came to "The
Terrace. The same old white-h haired
minister who had patted her on the
head, then, and said he hoped she would
help her aunt forget her sorrow be-
cause of the death of her husband, was
to marry her to Brian. There were to
be no engraved invitations. Ruth her.
self had gone from house to house and
invited the few whom she wished to
eoi<e to the church, and to the we'd
ding breakfast afterward There were
Cnly a few-a dozen young people, and
some old friends of Mrs. Clayborne s
perhaps twenty in all. Ruth laughed
when she overheard one of the SER
wants say:
"Dat Miss Hopkins Eliza said dat
Miss Ruth warn t havin no kind of
weddin at all. She said she warn I in
vitin nobody and that she was mar
ryin' a pore man."
She was marrying poor man, per
haps, but he wouldn't be poor very
longl He had told her he wouldn It.
And he couldn't be so VERY poor;
he dressed nicely, and his uncle was
prominant man in the town. Ruth
was clever, in many ways, but in others
she was as ignorant as, when child
of ten, she had come to live with her
wealthy aunt.
After breakfast she went upstairs
and quietly went over the entire house,
not missing room.
"What yo all doin ~ Rachel asked,
"I Sc got yo dress and the rest of 20
things on the bed lax yo told me.
Twelve O'Clock comes mighty soon,
missy Ruth. Twelve o'clock was
the hour for the wedding.)
THE DEAR OLD HOUSE.
"I'm saying goodbye to the rooms,
Rachel. l IN going long way and
may not get back to visit for some
time.
cit ain t dem rooms what is gwoin
to miss yo, honey; it am old Rachel
and Missy Claiborn, and all the rest
of we uns.
al know, Rachel, but you will soon
be with me. And Aunt Laura got mar
ried when she was young. younger
than | am. | am almost twenty one.
She was only eighteen, and she was
happy, too," she added, wistful tose
is her voice, she told me she was
that she was always happy until Uncle
Clark died. If l ever have a boy, Ra-
chel, | shall name him Clark. 1t
would please her so much. | haven t
told her, but l made up my mind,
years ago, that | would.
"Yo sho 'ly is quare, missy Ruth
tdiIln dbcul uuiHlH pdbSJ anu
old Rachel laughed and cried together
as Ruth went into her aunt g room to
talk, a few moments, before she put
on the shimmering satin dress spread
out upon the dainty lace-eovered bed.
Mrs. Clayborne was sitting quietly
by the window, the morning paper
still unfolded in her lap. Her thoughts
were sad, and she did not hear Ruth
enter the room.
"Guess who it is2' Ruth said gay
ly, putting her hands over Mrs. Clay
borne s eyes, then leaning over to kiss
her before she took chair beside her.
"Ruth, dear, you haven't much
time. 1t is eleven O'Clock. +"
81 know, but | wanted to talk a lit
tie. | shall be ready in time. Rachel
has everything laid out for me.
know you don t like Brian, Aunt Lau-
ra.-''
"You are mistaken, Ruth, I do like
him. I simply do not believe he is the
right man for you to marry
Strong Ties
"But, Auntie, please don't stop low
ing me because I can't do as you want
me to, will you9 just couldn t bear
it if you did,
81 shall never stop loving you, dear |
You and my dear husband have been