Year: 1878

I was IN MS power 70 make ner nappy he
lost not amoment, but wrote the letter and
sent it at once. and waited for the answer.
Day after day passed and not word. He


went about his church duties with lighter
heart than he had felt for months, even
when he was most hopeful that Ruth would
answer his pleadings and listen to his love.
He saw her frequently, for she came and


went as usual, but she kept him at dis
tance by her reserve. The people about
them saw nothing unusual; they but noted
the continued friendship which gossips bad
predicted would end in marriage, but which
seemed not to grow any warmer than tfirst.
The minister worked continuously. The
varied life of the place suited him now. He
would ride for miles over the hills to hold a
prayer meeting at the cottage of sick man,
anxious to enjoy once more the songs and
prayers of Christians. He visited
the poor, dividing even to the last
penny. He baptized the little ones
and buried the dead of the village
and country, and when the clods OF the
| valley had covered the loved ones he com
forted with exceeding tenderness the mourn
ing hearts. When he said the marriage
ceremony there was earnestness in his
voice that fell upon the listeners as the echo
of some trouble or sorrow that had rung
knells of sadness to his soul, He was faith
full everywhere and at all times. Sometimes
he would find Ruth in the church practcing,


but he did not seize the chance to again
plead his cause, but believing it to be hope
less to attempt to win her, accepted his fate.
He told her that he had written to Miss
Carlyle, and she watched for the answer
almost as anxiously as he. At last, fearing
the letter had not reached her, he wrote again
full as tenderly. The reply came quickly,
and was amply sufficient. She was engaged
TO Lawrence Vance, and was soon to be
married, and then was going TO Europe. She
ridiculed him and his life work in her we'll
bred sarcasm, and convinced him that she
had never loved him more than as passing
fancy. She chopped he would marry some
country girl willing to lead prayer meetings
and endure the clatter OF sewing societies"
Mr.. Arnold carried the letter to Ruth and
bade her read it, and then again he besought
her to be his. But some perverse mood had
stolen over her, and she refused him. 81
can not tell but what i am only loved be-
cause you are with me. Perhaps you will
find another sweetheart at your next
appointment, and so on all your life. l
can not be sure of you, you know, because
you once said you loved Miss Carlyle Just as
| you now declare you love me. No, no, Mr..


Arnold, fear to say yes" The blow was
hard and cruel, and he recoiled from it with
| tightly drawn lips concealed under the
heavy mustache. "Then it is useless tor
me to plead longer, fear, but Ruth remem-
Der love you devotedly. So much hangs
on your belief in me that tremble to leave
you. Be mine, darling and will prove to
you my sincerity. Will your and he stood
so close by her side that he could have
clasped her to him, but humble and sad as
he was, he was yet too proud to touch her


when she was so unwilling She was almost
convinced, almost ready to say YES" when
her grandparents entered the room, and


there was no chance for word. AS Hugh


left her at the door he said. Ruth will you


be my wife?i The mood had changed, she


was for a moment yexed. and her "No'' was


cold and hard. He saw her no more for


days, and when he did 1t was only to bid


her ''good-by." A call had been made for
missionaries to go to the extreme west
among the frontiersmen, and he, after con-
sulting with the bishop, had proffered him
| self and been accepted. He was to stay four
years without returning, and was to start at
once. The church at Glenville was to be
taken charge of by various ministers in the
neighborhood. The plans were all made,


the arrangement completed, when he sought
Ruth. For the last time they walked from


the long lane home. Both were quiet, for at
the church service he had told his people


farewell, and many hearts had grieved to
say the word. The seed he had
sown with prayer and anxiety we're
springing up, and he saw the
fr1it in many instances. Young men who
have seemed utterly bankrupt in feeling
and principle, with honest heart begged
him to pray for them, and turned quickly
away to conceal their tears. Men grown old


in sin came to him and promised, even in
| their old age, to live better and to remem-,
Der the advice he had often given them. His
own people wept around him as though in
deed they were losing the first born OF their
homes and he could scarcely tear himself
away. But at last he found himself with


Ruth, separated from the little band that
had followed him even out of the church.
He told her his plans for the four years,
his hopes and his fears, but not word could


he say of that which was the dearest to his
heart She had said she could not trust


him in absence and separation. He could


not ask her now to be more confding No,


he would prove to her his love, and then, If
she would marry him, she could not upbrad
him. Something of this made their last
words constrained, and though she would
have given almost her life for him to have