nation. Familiarity with the inevitable step gave them increase
of courage; yet, when the moment had come and gone, when, speeding on
opposite trains, the hills and valleys multiplied between them with
terrible velocity, a pang like death cut to the heart of each, and the
divided life became a chill, oppressive dream.

During the separation no letters passed between them. When the neighbors
asked Jonathan for news of his brother, he always replied, "He is well,"
and avoided further speech with such evidence of pain that they spared
him. An hour before the month drew to an end, he walked forth alone,
taking the road to the nearest railway station. A stranger who passed
him at the entrance of a thick wood, three miles from home, was
thunderstruck on meeting the same person shortly after, entering the
wood from the other side; but the farmers in the near fields saw two
figures issuing from the shade, hand in hand.

Each knew the other's month, before they slept, and the last thing
Jonathan said, with his head on David's shoulder, was, "You must know
our neighbors, the Bradleys, and especially Ruth." In the morning,
as they dressed, taking each other's garments at random, as of old,
Jonathan again said, "I have never seen a girl that I like so well
as Ruth Bradley. Do you remember what father said about loving and
marrying? It comes into my mind whenever I see Ruth; but she has no
sister."

"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 b