SIMPLE REUBEN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5309, 15 March 1884, Page 1

SIMPLE REUBEN.

BY CARLIN GRAY.

CHAPTER I.

A certain little Minnesota town, which may as well be called Redwood as anything else, was, not many years since, the scene of one of those horrible railway disasters that now and then occur to terrify the travelling public. Among the badly wounded was a certain Mr Delamayn, of New York, who, in company with his lovely daughter Fanny, and a prim maiden sister, was homeward bound from a month's sojourn at the Lake of the Woods. His injuries were so severe that it was thought he could not be removed io town — a mile or so distant— by the wrecking train despatched to the scene of the disaster, and the two ladies were bending over him in the agony of despair, when the yonnger felt a hand laid upon her arm, while a kindly voice said :

"Can I be of any service to ye. ma'am ?"

Raising her tearful eyes, she beheld at her Bide a man attired in routjh garments, which, however, did not conceal the shadeliness of his tall and powerful frame, He was regarding her with eyes brimful of pity, and his comely face wore an air of simple good-nature that won her confidence at once. '•Oh, sir," she said, "is there not some dwelling near at hand to which my father may be removed ?" "Oh, ye 3," he cheerfully replied. "I live 'bout a triile back, and you're welcome to come thar with him."

" Thank you," she said, gratefully, rising, while her aunt continued to support the wounded man. " But I see that you have no conveyance at hand," she continued, glancing rather hopelessly about her. "We sha'n't need any," he replied. " I can carry the poor gentleman handy enough, and you and your mother " "My auntr— Miss Delamayn," she said, correcting him, while that lady raised her eyes rebukingly to him, bowing somewhat more coldly than the occasion justified. "Oh, jest so. How d'ye do, ma'am? Glad to see ye 1" he said, with great volubility, bowing and touching his hat with Tustic grace. ' ' That is to say, " he continued, in doubt -of the propriety of the remark. "I'm right sorry to find ye in such a diffikility. As I was saying, however, my home is only a mile back, and I can carry the poor ereetur thar in no time. So come along, ladies, and be sure you'll find a welcome there."

Saying this, he lifted the insensible man from the ground, and, turning into a road that led northward through the forest, struck out with long, easy strides that the ladies found difiicults to keep pace with.

"Nothwithstanding his heavy burden, he talked incessantly on the way, anathematizing at timtis the managers of railways in general, and at others entertaining them with genealogical sketches of the Todd family, of which he, Rsuben— he informed them — was a member.

His remarks were so humorous and unique that, in spite •of her anxiety, the younger Miss Delay mn was really forced to smile now and then.

"My mother," he remarked, as they neared their journey's end, " is the gentlest creetur' anywhar in Minnesota, and you ladies'll take to her right off. We ain't got much to offer ye in the way of shelter, but mother's mighty tidy in her work ; besides ihat, we're honest people, and them's virtues enough to make a shanty endurable, I'm a-thinking."

Thus he rattled on until they reached a small clearing in the forest, in the centre of which stood an humble dwelling, near which coursed a pretty stream, its clear waters shimmering in the sunlight of the glade, and growing dark and cool in the shadows of the umbrageous forest.

Before the open door was seated a mildfeatured woman of some fifty years, who engaged in spinning, arose from her work at the appearance of the little party, courtesying to the ladies.

" Why, Reuben, whatever has happened i" she exclaimed.

"Asmash-up on the road, mother," he replied, " and this poor gentleman is nigh done for. These ladies are his sister and daughter, and we must take care of 'em somehow until he comes around."

" Certainly — certainly !" said the good woman, in tones of pity. " Come right into the house, ladies, and make yourselves at home ; and you, Reuben, carry the poor gentleman into your room."

She led the way into a small room, whose solitary window admitted the balsamic airs of the forest, and whose scrupulous neatness authenticated Reuben's assertion of her love of cleanliness.

The coverings of the humble bed were spotlessly white, and it was with a sense of thankfulness that these aristocratic ladies saw 'their unfortunate kinsman resting on so inviting a couch.

"Now, Reuben," said the widow, whilst assisting the ladies in the care of the wounded man, "do you hurry off to town and bring Dr. Jones as quick as possible." Reuben started off in quest of the rural Esculapius, but, owing to the many injured, he found some difficulty in securing that person's services.

However, upon the arrival of several surgeons from a neighboring city, Dr. Jones was relieved, and hastened at once to the bedside of Mr Delamayn.

He found the patient suffering frominternal injuries, which, after a critical examination, he pronuonced curable. Then he proceeded to dress the external wounds in a manner that gave proof that he knew something of the science of surgery, notwithstanding his coarse garb and homely phraseology.

It became now the joint duty of Reuben and his mother to care for their guests, and never once did they relax their kindly attentions.

As for Reuben, he scoured the forest for game, and took unlimited quantities of trout from the near-by stream, which, with the purest of milk, the sweetest of butter and the whitest of bread, brought strength to the invalid, and caused the younger Miss Delamayn to secall with something like contempt the " swell " dinners of higher society.

At once her father began to mend ; she began the habit of accompanying Reuben in his piscatorial excursions, generally to a point in the steam where it formed into rapids. Here the speckled beauties abounded and through his instruction she was soon able to cast the fly with almost certain success. One golden day, some weeks after her compulsory introduction to the simple foresters, as the first tints of Autumn were touching the maple-leaves, they repaired as usual to the rapids, and Reuben began to make ready the fishing tackle. Miss Delamayn had seated herself on a mossgrowu rock, and, observing him about to cast the line into the stream, said :

"Don't let us tempt the fish today, but come rather and sit with me, and we'll talk instead."

Flinging the rod aside he came to her and seated himself at her side.

She was a pretty girl, in perfect health, with warm cheeks glowing with the hues of the rose and soft brown eyes radiant with the light of happiness.

" Reuben," she began — for he had insisted she should call him that — " this will be our last visit to this lonely spot, and to-morrow you and your good mother will be relieved of the burden of our care. I shall never forget your many kindnesses, my friend, nor will I soon forget this beautiful wood and stream."^g,-yi t '' J She waited Bilently for her companion to speak, but he said nothing.

Suddenly she felt something fall lightly on her hand that was idling with the soft mosses at her side, and looking, she beheld what appeared a teardrop there. She blushed crimson, but was still courageous enough to turn her questioning eyes upon him,

That individnal was pulling his brown moustache with unnecessary vigor, and gazing intently at the patch of blue sky showing through the rift in the russet canopy overhead.

" Reuben 1" she exclaimed, betraying both surprises and emotion in the tone.

But he apparently heard her not, for he made no answer, but continued steadfastly to survey the regions above.

" Reuben !" she again said, laying her hand on his arm, " tell me what it is that troubles you."

"Nothing at all," he answered, in husky tones — " at least nothing that would interest you." "Now, Reuben," she said, reprovingly. " that implies your belief in my ingratitudeYou ought to know that an} thing concern, ins; your welfare and happiness would interest me. Then tell me the cause of your apparent unhappiness." " Well, Miss Fanny," he began, in a hesitating way, " I'm sorry — that is to say, I'm right glad we've been of sarvice to ye, but somehow I'm sorry you came here." " S'oiry we cams here ! What do you mean, Eeuben ?" she asked, perfectly ignorant of the cause of his dejection.

"Mi's Fanny, "he said, rising and standing before her in an attitude of contrition, "I thought I could let you go away and never tell you what's in my heart of late — but I can't. Hear me then, and forgive me if you can. I m only a rough lumberman, but I'm an honest man, ain't I ?"

"Oh, yes," she answered, nervously, wondering what he would say next.

" Well, then, when you came here with your poor father, I says to myself, ' Reube, do your best for 'em, and keep clear o' the young lady.' But I couldn't keep clear of her ; or, when I did, I was sure to see her sweet face framed in the bright leaves of the woods, or loofiing up at me from the water the-e, and, though I tried to run away from it. it followed me everywhar. I never knew how fast you was a holding me until one night when I stood out here and vvatuhed you as you sat by your window ; for, by-an'J-by, when you went away, and I couldn't see you any longer, it seemed as if something had gone out of my life and left it emptylike, and since that time I've been an unhappy man." He turned from her now, as if in shame of his confession.

" I am very sorry for you," she managed to say.

" I have no doubt of it," he meekly returned ; but there was just a tinge of bitterness in the tones.

" Do not misunderstand me, Reuben," she gently said. "I do not despise your love, for I know it comes from an honest heart. It is because 1 so much esteem you that I do not encourage you in this. Think what the future would be should Ido otherwise. I culd not live heie, you know, amd you could scarcely begin life in a city.''

" You're right, Miss Fanny," he returned, with a sigh, " I never thought of that, but only of you. It wouldn't be kind to ask you to live in a wilderness, and, of course, I could not make a living in a city. I hope you'll forgive me this time, and I'll never speak on the subject again." And, to assure her he was wholly resigned to her view of the matter, the poor fellow indulged in a sickly sm le. " But we shall ever be friends — shall we not !" she queried. "Oh, yes," he answered. " You may always count on that." " And you will let me write you when I am home !" she asked.

"Will you do that?" he cried, his fine face flushing with pleasure.

11 Yes, surely," Bhe answered ; " and you shall write me in return. "

He hung his head at this, and was silent for some moments, At length he looked up, and said :

" I'm ashamed to let you know it, Miss Fanny, but 1 never lamed to read or write — in fact, I never got a chance to lam. One don't need much eddication in my business, and I never gave it much thought until you came, and then I wished I had. "

"Oh, Reuben," said this sweet girl, "if you had only told me this in the beginning of our acquaintance, I could have taught y ou to do both !"

"I was ashamed to let you know it, and now it is too late," he returned, with a bitter sigh. " And to think I cannot write you, after all !" she said, in tones of disappointment. " Oh, yes you can," he cried, in alarm. " You jest send the letter along, an' I'll get old Uncle Cale Peters to read it for me. He lives about a mile back, and makes baskets for a livin' ; but he's eddicated for all that."

"Very well, then; in a month from today you may expect a letter from me. But, Reuben," she said, brightening up, as with some happy thought, " why don't you ask this old gentleman to teach you how to read and write."

" I'll do it I" he cried, with energy. "I never thought of it afore, but I'll commence right away after you leave us, and jest as soon as I've lamed how I'll write you a letter."

" That will be splendid," she said. And she wrote on a card a list of such books as she thought were suitable for a beginner,"after which they both went slowly, and she somewhat sadly, from the place. The next morning found the Delamayns safely on board an eastward-bound railway express-train, and as the signal sounded to start, Reuben bent down and whispered to the fair girl : "Good-by, Miss Fanny; we may never meet again, but I want you always to remember "me as your friend, one that'll come to you at your bidding, no matter whar you be, an 1, if you're in need, stand between you and the world. "

" I believe you, dearfriend,"she'mu?mured. her soft eyes filling with tears, " and I will not forget you. Good-by — and, Reuben, you'll some time come and visit us, will you not ?"

"Would you like to hevme?" he asked, eagerly.

"Yes, surely," she replied. "Then I'll come, if God lets me live. Somethin' tells me we'll meet agin ; so don't forget me, and I'll come."

Then he was gone, and the noisy train swept out of the little station, and Miss Delamayn's tears gathered thick and thicker as she was borne swiftly from the place that had become dear to her through its many happy associations. (to be continued.)