Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1882 — RUTH’S VALENINE. [ARTICLE]

RUTH’S VALENINE.

[By Miss Flornence.] “Yes, two yards of pink callico, three quarts of molasses, and—let me see —what else? Oh. yes! a yard of scarlet ribbon for Ruth; and has the deacon’s letter came yet?'’ “No, ma’am, uo. Sorry to say it has* not; trains are off the track again—very hard winter,” said the talkative clerk. “Rut here’s something for Miss Ru'h—a valentine, I suppose, being it’s St. Valentine’s day.” The old lady carefully placfd the valentine and her spectacles in her dress pocket, and, drawing her shawl more closely aVouml her, left the little country store, which also served as the villape post-office, and walked briskly home. ny* is that you, Miss Brown? Glad to see you. Walk right in. Danny’s got toothache real bad, eh? and wants some hops. Yes, I’ll go right up in tue dark room and git’em afore I take my bonnet off—don’t allow no one iu there but myself, you know unless it’s an oncommou occasion.” The old lady took no candle with her, as she said light “spiled” herbs aud she could tind every package of them with her eyes shut; but in drawing her handkerchief from her pocket, iu which to carry the hops, she drew Ruth’s valentine out with it, and it slipped to the floor unnoticed and forgo, ten. ♦ # ♦ # The grest, blazing logs of mosscovered wood piled high upon the oldlashioued brass andirons tilled the roomy kitchen of the old farmhouse witli a delicious, piny odor, and toe ruddy light transformed the yellow painted floor, with its mats of gray rag carpet, aud the old cnintz covered furniture, into rare beauty; and Ruth, n her neat, black dress, was all that; was needed to make the picture perfect. Bo thought Dr. Felix Lemon when he drove up to the door to inquire for her; but she had gone to her cousin Hester’s to prepare for the sleigh-ride that ! evening to Nut Bwamp. The evening shadows had deepened, and the stars were clear and sparkling in the frosty air as he left the farmhouse and drove along iu the direction j of “Nut Bwamp.” He was a distinguished lodking man aud the pride cf the villagers, and if he would consent to be present at any ot their little gatherings, they were always sure of having a pleasant time; so when May Marshall saw him join her friends, she at once gave bim plenty to do in assisting her to entertain her unexpected visiters.

He was a most rare vocalist, and his voice, though sweeter than ever, had the faintest sound of tears; and when called upon to sing that half-forgotten song, “Then You’ll Remember Me,” he bent his soft gray eyes unon Ruth’s face, and met but the same steady look it always wore, he turned away with disappointment plainly “written on his face, and studiously avoided her for the rest of the evening, but to the last of his days he remembered her dress—a crimson merino. As soon as politeness would permit he left them, but the sky was overcast with dark clouds, and soon the snow came faster and faster, and a wild storm broke over the counirys. The tall cedar bent and waved in the angry wind, and the now frightened horse flew along, regardless of the soothing words of his master, whose bands were fast getting too numb to £uide him. Tin re w’ere a few moments of awful suspense, and then came a crash, and Dr. Felix knew no more until be saw Farmer Chapman’s anxious face bending over him. Carefully and tenderly he was carried into the spare bedroom by Farmer Chapman and his farm laborer, Jerry, who wept like a child, for he dearly loved the kind young doctor. Would he die? The seconds grew into minutes, the minutes into hours, and Ruth was crouching on the floor of the old. kitchen, with her ijead buried in the sofa cushions, waiting and dreading to hear the decision of the surgeons and praying for his life. At last the spare-room door opened, and she sprang to her feet as she heard the words: “Cannot be moved; will doubtless be lame for life.” Rutb did not faint: she was a strong, sensiole girl, and never had fainted in her life, and now there was too much to do, and she must not be a cpward. She had thought that perhaps Dr. Filix might have cared a little for her, and she musthaVe been'crazy to think so, she said slowly to herself, as she glanced in the old-fashioned lookingslass,5 lass, whose carved frame was still ecorated with sprigs of holly and the berries of the asparagus ruu wild—must have beei* crazy, with such ah awful ugly face; and she poked the fire again'and" agaih, as if it were the cause of all her trouble.

“If I only had some of that fepnel now —I’m sure Dr. Felix would like it. But this beef tea must be closely watched, and girls now-a days are so giddy, though, mebbe—here, I say, Ruth, you just go gently into the dark room, and be sure to shet the door after ye, and then hand down some of that fennel for the doctor.” Ruth did as she was bidden slowly ami listlessly, and where was the fennel? This packet was marked “boneset,” this one “pennyroyal” this one “catnip,’’this one —surely her mother’s precious femiel was not lying on the dusty floor! She went for more light nearer the door she had purposely left open, aud then saw her own name. ‘“Ruth Chapman!’ A valentine for me —but how did it get here, and from whom is it?” Hhe forgot all about the fennel, so absorbed was she in study over of her valentine, so neat and so pretty, not one of those elaborate combinations of gilt, embossed paper and flattery, but a simple card,on whose delicate,creamtin teil surface was painted a single 11 >wer, a pansy. “I tbiuK of thee*” it would say if it could sneak, and surely no other hand than Dr. Felix’s could paint like that, thought Ruth, aud with that thought the white dove of p*ace folded its wings and rested in her heart. As she took up. the envelope to replace the card a slip of paper fell out, on which was written: “It you care a little for me wear your blue dress this evening, for I shall call to take you to Nut Swamp.” “Ruth! Ruth! Laud sakes! Where are you? And that dark-room door Open! I—” “Never mind the door, mother. Where did this come from?” “The post office, and Jonu Herny gave it to me the day I got your red bow.” Bt. Valentine’s day! Bo long ago! She understood it all now—aud poor Dr. Felix! The snow had melted since then, the apple blossoms had faded aud gone, and from the open window came, the singing of . the scythes and the sweet scent of hay; aud yet Dr. Felix lingered at Old Oak farm. Ruth’s home, and she had never spoken to him once in all that time. And he was going to try to walk with only the help of his cane to-morrow, and if he succeeded iu doing so would go away for the benefit of the sea air. Ruth wandered next morning into the flowei garden, and twining together a pansy, a red rose, and forget-me-not, placed them by the side of Dr. Felix as he for the first time sat by the open window on the old chintz lounge in the sunshiny kitchen. His lips quivered and his thin hand trembled as he took them up. “Ruth, why did you bring me these? Was it only because they are pretty, or becau.-e it is my first visit to you? Or —speak, Ruth! I want you to answer me.” “I received your valentine yesterday.” Aud then followed explanation after explanation, until it was time to set the tea-table; for the hungry mowers were coming home and the red-and-yel low four-o’elocks were sleeping aud the air was full of the twittering of birds, the lowing of cattle, and the sweet incense of flowers. “Ruth, I am lame nowand can only use my left arm. If it were not so would you care for me? It would lighter, my heavy burden if I thought you would.” Ruth paused in her work, and, from the old book-ease in the corner, reached down her Bible and read aloud the words of Ruth of old: “Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from tollowing a'ter thee.” Then, laying aside her Bibie, she went to him auu said; “Felix, I will be your strong right arm, and you shall always be so happy that you will never regret sending me a valenf.iue.”