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Mark says it was the opening of about a hundred mills, all provided with excellent machinery for grinding. After dinner they sang, and listened to the music of Ruth's organ, which had been brought from the house for the occasion, and placed at one end of the booth. Then some one produced a fiddle, and they danced.
Ruth's face began to wear the old radiant look of calm peace, if not exuberant joy, which shone in her eye in the days of yore, and she, for two years, was able to send home to her friends in the old home land "glad tidings of great joy." But, alas! the dream was short as it was blissful.
"It was Jabe Potter he did it," the injured lad had murmured, and these words were woven in the pattern of Ruth's dreams all night. The little cottage was astir early and Ruth was no laggard. She came down to breakfast while the sun was just peeping above the house-tops and as she entered the sitting room she found an occupant at last in the little wheel-chair.
He was delighted with the success of his plan, but a little troubled that Ruth should believe so implicitly that fairies had first taken and then returned the candy. Mrs. Pennell listened to Ruth's story and looked at the basket with as much wonder and surprise as even Ruth could expect.
"Oh, no, we mustn't endanger Russ!" she said, mockingly. "Alice!" exclaimed Ruth, with gentle dignity, her face the while being suffused with a burning blush. "I meant I didn't want anyone to run into danger." "I understand, my dear. Oh, but isn't that sunset gorgeous? to change the subject," and she laughed at the serious expression on Ruth's face. The scene was indeed beautiful.
"Well" Ruth's voice was uncertain "we'd been hunting up in Kashmir. Martin wanted to come over somewhere here. So we crossed the passes. That was about a month ago. The fourth day out we ran across what looked like a road running south. "We thought we'd take it. It looked sort of old and lost but it was going the way we wanted to go.
And sure 'twas a mad thing for ye to do when th' ravening sharks were so plentiful. Of course my father and mother were very angry with us, and sent Kenna five pounds to partly pay for the damage done. He sent it back by Ruth, and said that he would be a poor creature to take it, for the mishap was caused by Ruth's folly, and that we boys were in no way to blame.
"Looks to me," Tom said to himself, "as though I was shut out in the cold. I wish I hadn't come up here. I might as well be slaving in that old office. Gee, I'm an unlucky dog!" For Tom, no more than Helen, could not see that Ruth's attitude toward the matter of strenuous occupation for a wealthy young man was a fair one. Tom certainly had none of Uncle Jabez Potter's blood in his veins.
And now the letter was written home, announcing the probable arrival of the brother and sister on a certain day, "with a distant relation, early left a widow," as Miss Benson expressed it. She desired the spare room might be prepared, and made every provision she could think of for Ruth's comfort; for Ruth still remained feeble and weak.
Shall I take my er my remaining young man away with me?" he asked, looking aside at Tom, who was already fastening Ruth's skates. "Oh, no," said Miss Reynolds, grimly. "I'll make use of him!" And she most certainly did. Tom was anxious to get Ruth away at once so that they could catch up with the foremost skaters; but he could not refuse to aid her teacher.
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