HOPES AND FEARS.
"HAVE you had a pleasant evening, John?" asked Ruth, after sitting for a
minute or two in silence before the dying embers of the kitchen fire.
"Why, yes, dear, I believe so; but Dick put so many new ideas into my
head that I didn't know how the time passed," replied John, wondering
how he should speak of his new plans to Ruth.
"What sort of ideas, John?"
"He's been talking of Australia, and saying there's no place like it for
getting on in the world, and, of course, he's likely to know; and,
Ruthie, dear, he said if I would go back with him, he'd put me in the
way of making money, and getting a home ready for you in no time."
Ruth took her hand out of John's, and stared fixedly into the fire.
"Can't you say something, Ruth?" asked John, after waiting several
minutes. Ruth breathed hard.
"What do you say, John? Do you want to go?"
"I don't want to leave you, darling, but if you'd promise to come out to
me, I think it would be a good thing for both of us. I could get on so
much better, and we could marry so much quicker than if I plodded on at
the rate I'm going now."
"Then," said Ruth, looking up with a brave smile upon her white face,
"you must go, John, and when you send for me I'll come out to you."
"Bless you, my dear, brave girl, you shall never repent your decision,"
cried John. "I'll work harder than ever, and we'll soon be together
again, never to say good-bye."
But at that dread word, Ruth's composure gave way, and she hid her face.
"Don't take on so, Ruthie. It will only be a short separation, and we're
bound to each other for life," said John, trying to soothe her.
"I've no fear in letting you go from me, John," answered Ruth, proudly,
through her tears; "and after you're once gone, I shall look forward to
seeing you again." And the lump in Ruth's throat was choked back, and
she sat up with an air that was plainly intended to carry a warning to
any rebellious tears that might threaten.
"And now, John, tell me about your brother. Is he like you?"
John laughed.
"I'm afraid you wouldn't think so, Ruthie, and I can't say Australia has
much improved him. However, you must judge for yourself, for I shall
take you to see him soon. He sent kind messages to you, and is anxious
to make your acquaintance."
But Dick was soon dismissed from the conversation, for Ruth and John had
much to talk over that was of far more interest even than a brother
newly arrived from the other side of the world. Before they parted that
night, John had succeeded in imparting to Ruth a little of his own
enthusiasm in view of the new life he was about to enter upon, though
her last thought before closing her weary eyes in sleep was: "Women feel
so differently from men, and I must try and not discourage John by any
of my fears, poor boy!"
A few days later she accompanied John to his home.
"Dick's out, my dear, but he'll be in directly, as he knew you were
coming," said Mrs. Greenwood, affectionately greeting Ruth.
"He don't care to spend much of his time with his old father and mother,
Dick don't," complained Mr. Greenwood.
"We can hardly expect he'd settle down to our quiet ways, father, such a
boy for company as he is. John's different now, and he'll be sure to
make a comfortable stay-at-home husband; but then he hasn't the go in
him that my Dick has."
"He's quite sufficient, anyhow," said Ruth quickly, with an instinctive
feeling of dislike towards the brother who she felt must be so different
to John. Truly, as the door opened just then, and Dick's ungainly figure
appeared, the contrast between the brothers was striking. Ruth's inward
comment was not complimentary, but she struggled with herself, and when
John said by way of introduction, "Dick, I've brought Ruthie to see
you," she stretched out her hand with no hesitation of manner.
"Glad to see you, my lass. Jack's a more knowing dog than I thought for,
I declare," he exclaimed, looking at Ruth's sweet, upturned face with
such coarse approbation, that the girl's eyes fell under his scrutiny.
"Guess I may claim a brother's right a little beforehand," continued
Dick, trying to draw Ruth to him.
Ruth's eyes flashed, and she started back indignantly, saying: "Indeed,
you shall do no such thing, Mr. Richard."
"Come, come, Dick, Ruth isn't the girl to allow any liberty," interposed
John, putting Ruth into a chair.
"Prudish, eh? Ah, well, colonial life will soon knock that rubbish out
of her," returned Dick, in an unpleasant tone.
"So you're really bent on going as well, John?" asked his mother,
anxiously.
"Well, yes, mother; Ruth says she'll come after me, and I quite agree
with Dick in thinking I ought to be doing better for myself."
"It's hard to bring up children, and then see them go off to foreign
parts so easily," murmured the poor mother.
"Why, mother, you've got Susan, and Tom, and Bess all settled near, and
I'll come over and pay you a visit when I've made my fortune; and you
may be sure I'll never forget the dear old folks at home;" and John laid
his hand affectionately upon his mother's shoulder.
"I say, can't you stop your sentimental rubbish, and get to business?"
cried Dick.
The mother sighed, and knowing well what Dick would consider a necessary
prelude and accompaniment to business arrangements, brought out a bottle
of spirits, some hot water, and glasses.
"Come, my dear, I'll just mix you a glass, and we'll make up our quarrel
and be friends," said Dick graciously to Ruth.
"Pray don't trouble, for I never take anything of the kind," replied
Ruth, very stiffly.
"Mean to say that you belong to the teetotal set!"
"I do."
"Well, I'm glad Jack's got better sense than to follow your example,"
answered Dick; and from that time he treated Ruth with open disdain.
For John's sake she controlled herself, and sat beside him listening,
with an aching heart, to the account of colonial life as Dick had known
it; watching also, with a vague uneasiness and dread, John's frequent
applications to the spirit with which his brother supplied him. If, in
her presence, he so readily yielded to Dick's persuasion to take "just a
drop more," what might be the consequence when he was far away from her,
and completely under his brother's influence?
In one hour all Ruth's bright hopes for the future, and John's
well-doing in a distant land, faded; and when she passed out of the
reeking atmosphere of the little room into the cool, tranquil moonlight,
her heart seemed to have died within her.
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