The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-07-19

CsdllOIl.l
Josh aud were fellow laborers
working for Farmer Bathgate. V,
went TO him when the crops 1ver,
ready to be taken in. ard he liked
SO well that when the harvest ":
over he concluded &c keep Us for erpr.
day work during the winter. In g.
summer Ruth Bathgate his daught,
used TO bring US out rool drinks. a.
we two young men soOh Iecame am
ious for some sign OF prelerence-no
that either of us had any intention
toward her; it 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 gettinc
cold, and the logs were blazing on the
hea 18th, the farmer and his family and
Josh and | used to sis around the
blaze, talking and telling yarns Tha'
was happy winter for both Josh and
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 time
there's always something that make
them pleasant, and ten to one. It's tho
very thing TO break up the pleasure
Since II Is al over | know that wha.
made our enjoyment SO keen was Ruth
and 1t was Ruth that spoiled 1t 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 had
wanted to.
At first Josh and I used to speai
about little occurrences concerning hel
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. A year
passed, the pleasantest 1 have ever
known, and when we'd filled the barns
and there was little to do one day Josh
said to me:
There's something I'want to say to
you, Ben. The:hafvest is ended, and It
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 game of
seven up to settle which shalr get
out?" -
Il reckon there's something In what
you say. josh" / replied in as melan-
'choly tone as his. HES treated us
mighty well.,apd we ought to relieve
him Of the$ $stpnsibility ofsepdingsoR
one OF rs. And you and 1, too, have
been square to each other. I 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.
I 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 candle and | choosing
one out Of the same mold and lighting
them at the sane tin;e? Thesone whose
candle goes cut FIRST is to 60"
81 think that would be good way
20 settle IT,"
We were In cur room III the time
we occupied room together and !
was going out 10 get tie caE,i'eS when
I met Ruth ut The door
i've heard what YOU two have bee
saying" she said. "thrcuh thc part
ton. and you're right Father docsn
need but Ole extra hard this wiHtei
but he won't serd away either Of yo'
I'll GO down and get the cardlcs an
light them for you
We were both nightly pleased e
have her do this ard 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 candle before each OF US,
she scratched match In each hand
and lighted them at the same moment.
Then she left the room without a
glance at either Of u.s. 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 CHANGING 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
a difference Then saw that my cam
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 TO
conceal his feelings. / expected Ruth
to show enough interest In which OF
Us was TO remain, 70 ask before going
to sleep. but she didn't "Well," | said
TO myself. 1T doesn't make any differ
ence, after all. which goes first Wen
both go soon enough. She doesn't want
either OF US"
The next day Josh told the farmer
that he thought he'd look for work IN
the city and left US. He had no sooner
gone than Ruth began to bestow upon
me little attentions. This was quit
enough TO induce me to show MY feel
ngS, and ! net with every enCUln eee
ment. In less than a month after
Josh's departure was engaged.
After our engagement / told Ruth