ived. Then her eye fell on the evening paper; perhaps that might tell that the "Utopia" was safely in port. She started to turn to the shipping news, but her
opia' st
nger in
t during the severe storm which had hampered all ocean travel for the last few da
printed words swam before her eyes, and she groped blindly for a chair so that she need not fall. T
out of her wits when her sympathetic questions failed to bring forth any response. She flew out into the kitchen to Ellen,
an touch, Ruth's face relaxed. "Oh, Ellen," she cried, clinging to her closely, "so
ave her the paper, pointing ou
n't read it quickly wh
it to me
time and was surprised to find Ellen
't it you yourself was telling me that there was over a hundred
answered R
chances out of a hundred that your blessed father never had a h
Katie, who had been hovering arou
l have word from your father. At any rate, you can't bring it any faster, nor help it one bit by worryin' about it. So now, darlin', go up
he and Katie went back to the kitchen. "I've a great mind-" But what she had a mind to do
waiting for an answer walked in. Arthur, who was absorbe
little Miss Ruth has got word in tonight's paper that there's been an accident on her father's boat, and she's that frightened and worried that she doesn'
rrupted Arthur decidedly; "why
prised at her own boldness as Arthur was. "I've been livin' with your mother ever since you was a wee baby, Mr. Arthur
ent, but Ellen went on without
wns and get-ups," she said quaintly, "and whatever wi
r as nothing else had done. "You're a good fellow, Ellen," he said affect
in both hands. "It's the angel boy you are to take all the hard things I said so sweetly. And it's that glad I am that you're
aid Arthur, reaching for his crutches, "and
o the dinner." But she stopped on her way to knock on Ruth's door and say coax
arms, looked up soberly. "I don't believe I'll come down after all,
e just persuaded Mr. Arthur to come down so that you needn't be alone, and perhaps if he
r Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, who had been so kind to her, and it would mean so much to them if it did help Arthur to conquer his dread of taking up the old life again. T
xiously waiting for her answer, and said, "I'll go down, of course
try to make him feel that it's a great favor to you for him to com
patting the big bow at the back of her head, and putting on a fresh collar.
meeting every day for the past two weeks, "I'm sure this report makes it seem worse than
ish to worry, but it's pretty hard when he's
What if he should have a weeping girl on his hands! He turned cold at the thought. "Oh, I'm sure you'll get some word fro
unced with great dignity. "I hate to cry before peo
her," answered Arthur with a twinkle in his ey
hey began on their soup. "If I'd been alone I shouldn't have been a
know at the steamship company's office. I can't help feeling,
n to think up some interesting subjects for conversation, for she wanted to show him
ething. Before he could answer, it flashed across her mind with painful distinctness that it was at football that Arthur had been i
old game, and we've got some ripping good players in
in. Ruth was in despair. With athletics cut out, what could she talk about to a boy, particularly
or the last few minutes had been much the same as Ruth's, and
, with such touching anxiety to help the conv
just left my hero in such an exciting situation t
bad that you had to stop to eat dinner wit
l to turn up, that I really needed my dinner. Jiminy! it must be awful to have anything happen to you on th
l terror in her voice that Arthur woke sudde
h, you can cry if you want to after that, and I won't say a wor
to cry any more than you want me to. And you're not a forgetful idio
'll stand up for
u do me
you may see fit to ask,"
y," demanded Ruth, inwardly quaking, b
st, but changed his mind and said firmly,
, leaving Arthur to follow more slowly. Just as she did so, the bell rang, a sharp, clear peal, and Kat
a pencil, and she felt grateful when Arthur took book and all fro
one word could mean everything I wanted it to mean. That he is well, and has had a pleasant voyage, and has arrived safely. Oh, I am so happy. It's good news! The best of news, Ellen," she ad
who like other unwieldy objects went on from sheer momentum when
o a chair, while Arthur laughed as he had never expected to laugh
Mrs. Hamilton. Their surprise as they surveyed the jolly group was funny to see, and Ruth and
d that Ruth would be worried about-" She stopped suddenly, realizing too late that there
should have done if Ellen hadn't comforted me, and Arthur hadn't come down to dinner.
t makes me feel to see this tall boy of mine down here. Got back to us for keeps now, Arthur?" he as
to live up to his standard of manliness, as he felt the qu
e stood there, a litt
stretched out a wel
aid lovingly. "We're going to have good