A Colonial Wooing
to be carried out so far as Ruth's real welfare would permit. Then we jointly interfered, with the result you already know of." And then, taking a sheet of paper from his pocket, said, "Here is a letter from Revell Stacy, of Scarboro, England. It is addressed to Robert Pearson, and was received after Ruth's preparations to leave home were completed. It says, in part, 'This will was made seven years ago, and I suppose Ruth must be now quite of age, and so, if she desires, need not spend the closing years of her minority with her English kinsfolk.' In other words, her step-father was so anxious to be rid of her he withheld this part of his letter, and trusted that once away she would never return. I hold myself a Friend, and have never known Ruth to be other than soberly and discreetly mannered; and if the innocent mischief of childhood is to be treasured against us, who shall escape? Ruth is eighteen years of age in the coming month, and on her birthday I trust we shall be married."
The three sets of thumbs ceased twirling, the fingers unlocked, and "the owls" moved
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