In the Way by Grace Livingston Hill Read Free Book Online Page B

and awaited her orders concerning the furniture, in case she chose to have the articles taken from the house. He added in a postscript, that as they had so often talked over the matter of renting unfurnished, and decided it was best to rent furnished under the circumstances, he feared she might consider that he had taken a good deal upon himself to consider the matter at all; but the fact that the parties wishing to rent were such exceptionally fine tenants and willing to pay so high a rent had made him feel that possibly she would wish to change her mind.
                  Ruth read the letter through twice, standing there in the hall, and then sighed and wished she had some one to advise her, and so looking up met the clear admiring eyes of her brother fixed upon her. Why, to be sure! David could advise her, and was it possible this letter was in answer to prayer for guidance? Was it put in this way that it might be easy for her to bring her own furniture here without offense? Without more ado she handed the open letter to David and sank upon the lower step of the staircase saying, “There, David, tell me what to do?”
                  Surely God's Holy Spirit was guiding her every action. She could not have done anything which would have more completely and quickly won the heart of her brother than to thus freely and frankly give him her entire confidence. It changed the face of matters quite materially in his mind. He was no longer being condescended to by an angel who had suddenly dropped down and might as suddenly and mysteriously disappear, but he was being looked up to as a brother by one who needed help, advice and protection. His heart warmed instantly with the thought that he would protect her always from everything just so long as she would let him. Then he read the letter. Ruth watched him as he read and decided again that he was handsome. There was a look and bearing about him which reminded her of his Uncle Hiram, who had been known to her all her life as her father. She wondered if he did not resemble their father.
                  David had a few questions to ask. Did she know what the rates of storage in the city were? Were they not very high? Was she attached to the furniture? Would she like to have some or perhaps all of it about her? Would it not make the old farmhouse seem more homelike to her? He had a dim recollection of rich blendings of color and soft luxury of which he had caught a glimpse on that memorable visit to his Aunt Ruth's, and a fine instinct told him that the haircloth furniture and rag carpets must be a decided contrast. Her face flushed and her eyes grew bright with eagerness as he asked this last question.
                  Oh, she would like to have her things here; might she? She clasped her hands in her eagerness and came and stood shyly by his side, looking up at him. Was he sure they would not be in the way? Would he mind having her put them in place of some of the present furniture? She did not want to do anything which would hurt his feelings or Joseph's, and if he was attached to the things he had been used to all his life, she was perfectly willing to live just as they did. (At this instant she made up her mind to really like that red and green ingrain in the parlor, if it was necessary in order to win her brothers' love.)
                  But David was in no wise offended. He was pleased at the idea of pleasing his sister. He knew their things were old and ugly and that probably if she had lived at home they would have been different; but Aunt Nancy's taste had been severely plain and they and their father had never thought, if they had known how, to get better. It did not matter anyway for just men, he said a little sadly and added: "But if you will stay and brighten up this old place for us—if you think you can stand it here and not get lonesome—why we'll do everything we can to make it pleasant for you. Joe is a