The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1919-03-21
Obe
Candle CeS1

BY r. a. MICHEL

working for Farmer Bathgate. "
vent TO him when the crops wer
ready TO be taken in. ana he liked u
20 well that when the harvest wa
over be concluded 20 keep us for every
day work during the winter. In th'
sumhher Ruth Bathgate. bis 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 intentioni
/ 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 In shock. the weather getting
cold. and the logs were blazing on th'
hea -th. the farmer and his family an'
Josh and | used TO siS around th'
blaze. talking and telling yarns. Tia
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 10 break up our pleasant circle
That's the trouble with pleasant. time
there's always something that make
them pleasant. and. ten 10 one. It's I'll.
very thing 10 break up the pleasure
Since II Is all over know that what
made our enjoyment so keen was Ruth
and II was Ruth that spoiled II all
not intentionally. for as l said. she ia
vored neither OF US. She couldn't have
kept US two fellows from gradually
falling in love with her II she hac
wanted TO-
At first Josh and used TO speai
about little occurrences concerning be-
with perfect freedom. Then we cease
10 say anything 10 each other that IN
VOWED any relation with her. and final
ly we never mentioned her. A year
passed. the pleasantest I have eve
known. and when we'd filled the barn
md there was little 10 do one day Jos
- q 10 me:
There's something | want TO say e
you. Ben. The harvest Ia ended. and I
doesn't seem just right for two STRAP
ping fellows like us 10 put Farmer
Bathgate 10 the eNpensr II keeping u
al winter. There's oG-h for one e
n, but not enough for two. It's ms
lpinfon he'd et one OF US go. bui
,loesn't Tx a. decide between Us
What d. yyu say 20 playing a game Of
.e-,p up ~ settle which shall re-
a--~
d. kon there's something IN what
yva "a Josh" replied IN as mehn
cho, o tone as his. Hes treated u,
mlzl- we'll and we ought to reliev'
ti.n - The responsibility of sending Of
Or 81; Us. And you ana !. too. hav'
lieci. aIrare 10 each other. don't eI
sc;iv Ike your plan Of playing a gam
- Cd cut which shall 90, for on
az. have more skill than the other
think we'd better let something els'
,hen cards decide between us Mrs
sifhgate was making candles thi
morning. Now, what do you say Z
our choosing a candle and | choosing
cue out Of the same mold and Lighting
them at the same timer The one who's
candle goes out FIRST Is to go-
Il think that would be . good wa.
to settle tt
We were In our room ut the time
We occupied room togetber-and
was going out 10 get the candles whei
Tmst Ruth at the door
i've heard what you TIVE have bee
saying" she said. through the part
ton. and you're right Father doesn'
need but one extra hand this winter
but he won't send away either OF yor
I'll 60 down and Get the candles an
light them for You"
We were both nightly pleased I
have her do this and waited patientl
: TIL she came back with the candles.
: Would you choose for usT we bot
said at the same moment.
IF yeu wish me To-"
Placing a candle sefore each Of US
she scratched q match ia each han,
and lighted them ~ the same moment
Then she left the room without
x1snce at either Of us The candle
uefe>short and would burn out IN BE-
tween\one and two hours. Josh and
played,a good many games OF sevel
up, occasionally glancing at the can
dles,with apparent unconcern, but rea
ly with suppressed suspense. IL wa
lot till'they had burned down 10 with
3n m inch OF the socket that notices
a difference. Then / saw that my can
Ill. vns burning the slower. whe
Jo,a'S egan TO flicker there was stil
tsi e-ni his Of an inch OF mine left
JIe blew = out and turned away (
cpn, ga ~ ceilings. | expected Rut
10 SHOW ,-' ugh interest In which o
* vgi in .main. 10 ask before goin
49, - she didn't "well." ! sal,
- doesn't make any differ
N~ y. = - which goes first. Wei
DoD g. ugh. She doesn't wan
s!flt-. es
1hr e., Josh told the farme
.aLat i' led look for WORK \
III ,l'y 9Lt q rs. lie had 10 sc, ac
gen .hsn HG egan 10 bestow upc'
We ut s- Ons. This was qul