"
"But we need not both marry," David replied, "that might part us,
and this will not. It is for always now."
"For always, David."
Two or three days later Jonathan said, as he started on an errand
to the village: "I shall stop at the Bradleys this evening, so you
must walk across and meet me there."
When David approached the house, a slender, girlish figure, with
her back towards him, was stooping over a bush of great crimson
roses, cautiously clipping a blossom here and there. At the
click of the gate-latch she started and turned towards him. Her
light gingham bonnet, falling back, disclosed a long oval face,
fair and delicate, sweet brown eyes, and brown hair laid smoothly
over the temples. A soft flush rose suddenly to her cheeks, and he
felt that his own were burning.
"Oh Jonathan!" she exclaimed, transferring the roses to her left
hand, and extending her right, as she came forward.
He was too accustomed to the name to recognize her mistake at once,
and the word "Ruth!" came naturally to his lips.
"I should know your brother David has come," she then said; "even
if I had not heard so.
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