: brv sVV/riwV 
•-\ •.Jy>s fl Sv v 
Sp^S 
' v.-^VV 1 ' V • )hv<S 
■M 
ssw&mm 
• .i>> >v./,\-p f ‘ x^*,vv */g« 
,3 • .<•11; Wn>..c^vAji<\v•' 
MM 
gp wmm 
■Sr~A?< .. \ ; i i <; --' • 
m .m m: 
wtm 
^wIbB 
C.l.HOmRD.QEL 
r 
ost, a 
AT LAST—THE CRISIS. 
After a long-, and jjot altogether undelight- 
ful courtship, which has run like a rippling 
brook clear through the Summer, and extended 
far into the Autumn—so far that, tho leaves 
have nearly all fallen from the October trees— 
our young man from the eitv has reached the 
decisive moment, lie went up into the Cats- 
kill Mountains to spend the Summer, and fell 
in love with Ruth, farmer Howard’s daughter, 
the moment ho saw her. Old funner Howard 
always had his suspicions about this velvet- 
-oaled city chap, and he doesn’t Intend to have 
Ruth snatched from him unawares. If the 
reader looks behind the big tree, he will see the 
expression ol' anxiety upon ids face. Ruth is 
listening, but we fancy,.irom the way she folds 
her hands, that her mind is made up. If she 
says “yes,” the young man will be happy. 
What the old gentleman will do no one can 
safely say. Hut i f wc may venture a prediction, 
he will double up bis fists the moment Ruth 
says “yes,” and will inform the stranger from 
the city that he is a plain-spoken man, who will 
stand no nonsense; that he has not watched 
Ruth from her cradle to the present moment 
to see her trifled with. If the young man with 
the English side-whiskers really loves Ills daugh¬ 
ter, let him COMO to farmer Howard’s house, 
hare n good, old-rashloned country wedding, 
and settle down on tho little farm in the heart 
of the Catskills. That will boa test, of his sin¬ 
cerity which will doubtless prove lo the old 
gentleman that the young man is worthy of his 
daughter. 
THE CRISIS IN COURTSHIP. 
