"Good morning, Mrs. Hall," said Mr. Develin, handing Ruth the doctor's
letter, and seating himself at what he considered a safe distance from
a female; "I received that letter from the doctor this morning, and I
think it would be well for you to attend to his request as soon as
possible."
Ruth perused the letter, and handed it back with a trembling hand,
saying, "'tis true the clothes are of no use, but it is a great comfort
to me, Mr. Develin, to keep everything that once belonged to Harry."
Then pausing a moment, she asked, "have they a _legal_ right to demand
those things, Mr. Develin?"
"I am not very well versed in law," replied Mr. Develin, dodging the
unexpected question; "but you know the doctor doesn't bear thwarting,
and your children--in fact--" Here Mr. Develin twisted his thumbs and
seemed rather at a loss. "Well, the fact is, Mrs. Hall, in the present
state of your affairs, you cannot afford to refuse."
"True," said Ruth, mournfully, "true."
Harry's clothes were collected from the drawers, one by one, and laid
upon the sofa. Now a little pencilled memorandum fluttered from the
pocket; now a handkerchief dropped upon the floor, slightly odorous
of cologne, or cigars; neck-ties there were, shaped by his full round
throat, with the creases still in the silken folds, and there was a
crimson smoking cap, Ruth's gift--the gilt tassel slightly tarnished
where it had touched the moist dark locks; then his dressing-gown,
which Ruth herself had often playfully thrown on, while combing her
hair--each had its little history, each its tender home associations,
daguerreotyping, on tortured memory, sunny pictures of the past.
"Oh, I cannot--I cannot," said Ruth, as her eye fell upon Harry's
wedding-vest; "oh, Mr. Develin, I cannot."
Mr. Develin coughed, hemmed, walked to the window, drew off his gloves,
and drew them on, and finally said, anxious to terminate the interview,
"I can fold them up quicker than you, Mrs. Hall."
"If you please," replied Ruth, sinking into a chair; "_this_ you will
leave me, Mr. Develin," pointing to the white satin vest.
"Y-e-s," said Mr. Develin, with an attempt to be facetious. "The old
doctor can't use that, I suppose."
The trunk was packed, the key turned in the lock, and the porter in
waiting, preceded by Mr. Develin, shouldered his burden, and followed
him down stairs, and out into the street.
And there sat Ruth, with the tears dropping one after another upon the
wedding vest, over which her fingers strayed caressingly. Oh, where was
the heart which had throbbed so tumultuously beneath it, on that happy
bridal eve? With what a dirge-like echo fell upon her tortured ear those
bridal words,--"till death do us part."