The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1919-08-29

working for Farmer BathGate We
went 10 him when the crops were
ready 70 be taken in, and he liked u
so well that when the harvest WIS
over he concluded to keep US for every
day work during the winter. In the
summer Ruth Bathgate his daughter,
used 10 bring Us out cool drinks. and
we two young men soon became anx.
ious for some sign OF preference-not
that either OF US had any intentions
| toward her; il was just an ordinary
rivalry But Ruth was mighty particu
lar not 10 make the slightest differ
ence between US.
When the autumn came on, the Tod.
der was IN shock, the weather getting
cold and the logs were blazing on the
hearth. the farmer and his family and
Josh and I used 10 so around the
blaze talking and telling yarns. Ehat
was a happy winter for both Josh anC
me. We didn't either Of US suspect
tnat we We're both dead gone on Ruth
nor did we foresee what was 10 hap
pen 70 break mp 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 20 break up the pleasure
/ Since Il IS an over / know that what
made our enjoyment so keen was Ruth.
and It was Ruth that spoiled Il all
not Intentionally. for. rs | said, she IA
vored neither Of US She couldn't have
\ kept Us two fellows from gradually
! failing in love with her IL she hac
wanted TO-
At first Josh and I used 70 speak
about little occurrences concerning her
with perfect freedom Then we ceased
/ 70 say anything TO each other that IN
VOWED any relation with her, and final
I IL we never mentioned her. A year
/ passed. the plcasantcst I have ever
known. ana when we'd filed The barn
and there was little TO do one day Josh
said 10 me:
There's something 7 wa-t 90 sly &c
/ You. Ben. Tile harvest IS ended, and 81
doesn't seem ,uet right Tor two strap
/ ping fellows l-'o us 20 put Farmer
\ Bathcatc rorse ~ keeping Us
al winter There's enough Tor one 90
/ Go. but not enough for two. It's my
opinion he'd let one Of Us 60, but
/ doesn't Ike 90 decide between Us.
what DO you shy to playing a game Of
seven up 20 settle which shall get
outY'
q reckon there's something IN what
you say. Josh" l replied in as melan-
choly tone as bis. Hes treated US
mighty w.l. and we ought TO relieve
him OF the responsibility OF sending OF
one OF Us. And you and l, too. have
been square 10 each other. l don't ex-
nctly ike your plan Of playing game
70 find out which shall 60. for one
might have more skill than the other
I think we'd better let something else
than cards decide between us. Mrs.
Bathrate was making candles ihis
morning. Vow. what DO you say %
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 20 60"
Il think that would be a good way
70 settle H."
we occupied n room togcther-aud J
was going ont 90 get the candles when
/ met Ruth az tie door
ave heard what won two have Icen
yaylnr." she said "thrcl-h lhc rarU
ton. and you're ri-ht Father doesn't
need but one extra mai t.s winter
but he won't rc.d rway 4. Der ~ y0u
I'll 70 down ana get tle indies ann
HIGHT them frr y.1~
We were both wgtalv rra-cd 20
have her DO th'f ar1 waited patiently
tn She came r4ck uihfle ceiFfcs
"Would you ch9cc for ueY we both
said at the Same uo.aeat
"If you wish u.s. t,."
Placing a candle sclo-e each OF Us.
che scratched a rst0l 81 each hand
and LIGHTED thcm nt ttc lme moment.
Then She lot The room without a
glance az either of u.s. TIE candles
,r,-, sf,rt ,.,1 ,r--.r1 l,,.~., o-f 30, h,.