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bringing them out in clear…cut relief against the dark trees behind。
〃How strange the graveyard looks by moonlight！〃 said Ruby suddenly。
〃How ghostly！〃 she shuddered。 〃Anne； it won't be long now before
I'll be lying over there。 You and Diana and all the rest will be
going about； full of life and I'll be there in the old graveyard
dead！〃
The surprise of it bewildered Anne。 For a few moments she could not speak。
〃You know it's so； don't you？〃 said Ruby insistently。
〃Yes； I know；〃 answered Anne in a low tone。 〃Dear Ruby； I know。〃
〃Everybody knows it；〃 said Ruby bitterly。 〃I know it I've
known it all summer； though I wouldn't give in。 And； oh； Anne〃
she reached out and caught Anne's hand pleadingly； impulsively
〃I don't want to die。 I'm AFRAID to die。〃
〃Why should you be afraid； Ruby？〃 asked Anne quietly。
〃Because because oh； I'm not afraid but that I'll go to
heaven； Anne。 I'm a church member。 But it'll be all so
different。 I think and think and I get so frightened
and and homesick。 Heaven must be very beautiful； of course；
the Bible says so but； Anne； IT WON'T BE WHAT I'VE BEEN USED TO。〃
Through Anne's mind drifted an intrusive recollection of a funny
story she had heard Philippa Gordon tell the story of some old
man who had said very much the same thing about the world to come。
It had sounded funny then she remembered how she and
Priscilla had laughed over it。 But it did not seem in the
least humorous now； coming from Ruby's pale； trembling lips。
It was sad； tragic and true！ Heaven could not be what Ruby had
been used to。 There had been nothing in her gay； frivolous life；
her shallow ideals and aspirations； to fit her for that great change；
or make the life to come seem to her anything but alien and
unreal and undesirable。 Anne wondered helplessly what she could
say that would help her。 Could she say anything？ 〃I think； Ruby；〃
she began hesitatingly for it was difficult for Anne to speak
to any one of the deepest thoughts of her heart； or the new
ideas that had vaguely begun to shape themselves in her mind；
concerning the great mysteries of life here and hereafter；
superseding her old childish conceptions； and it was hardest of
all to speak of them to such as Ruby Gillis 〃I think； perhaps；
we have very mistaken ideas about heaven what it is and what
it holds for us。 I don't think it can be so very different from
life here as most people seem to think。 I believe we'll just go
on living； a good deal as we live here and be OURSELVES just
the same only it will be easier to be good and to follow
the highest。 All the hindrances and perplexities will be taken
away； and we shall see clearly。 Don't be afraid； Ruby。〃
〃I can't help it；〃 said Ruby pitifully。 〃Even if what you say
about heaven is true and you can't be sure it may be only
that imagination of yours it won't be JUST the same。 It CAN'T be。
I want to go on living HERE。 I'm so young； Anne。 I haven't had
my life。 I've fought so hard to live and it isn't any use
I have to die and leave EVERYTHING I care for。〃 Anne sat
in a pain that was almost intolerable。 She could not tell
comforting falsehoods； and all that Ruby said was so horribly
true。 She WAS leaving everything she cared for。 She had laid up
her treasures on earth only； she had lived solely for the little
things of life the things that pass forgetting the great
things that go onward into eternity； bridging the gulf between
the two lives and making of death a mere passing from one
dwelling to the other from twilight to unclouded day。 God
would take care of her there Anne believed she would learn
but now it was no wonder her soul clung； in blind helplessness；
to the only things she knew and loved。
Ruby raised herself on her arm and lifted up her bright； beautiful
blue eyes to the moonlit skies。
〃I want to live；〃 she said； in a trembling voice。 〃I want to
live like other girls。 I I want to be married； Anne and
and have little children。 You know I always loved babies； Anne。
I couldn't say this to any one but you。 I know you understand。
And then poor Herb he he loves me and I love him； Anne。
The others meant nothing to me； but HE does and if I could
live I would be his wife and be so happy。 Oh； Anne； it's hard。〃
Ruby sank back on her pillows and sobbed convulsively。 Anne
pressed her hand in an agony of sympathy silent sympathy；
which perhaps helped Ruby more than broken； imperfect words could
have done； for presently she grew calmer and her sobs ceased。
〃I'm glad I've told you this； Anne；〃 she whispered。 〃It has
helped me just to say it all out。 I've wanted to all summer
every time you came。 I wanted to talk it over with you but
I COULDN'T。 It seemed as if it would make death so SURE if I
SAID I was going to die； or if any one else said it or hinted it。
I wouldn't say it； or even think it。 In the daytime； when people
were around me and everything was cheerful； it wasn't so hard to
keep from thinking of it。 But in the night； when I couldn't sleep
it was so dreadful； Anne。 I couldn't get away from it then。
Death just came and stared me in the face； until I got so frightened
I could have screamed。
〃But you won't be frightened any more； Ruby； will you？ You'll be brave；
and believe that all is going to be well with you。〃
〃I'll try。 I'll think over what you have said； and try to believe it。
And you'll come up as often as you can； won't you； Anne？〃
〃Yes； dear。〃
〃It it won't be very long now； Anne。 I feel sure of that。
And I'd rather have you than any one else。 I always liked you
best of all the girls I went to school with。 You were never
jealous； or mean； like some of them were。 Poor Em White was up
to see me yesterday。 You remember Em and I were such chums for
three years when we went to school？ And then we quarrelled the
time of the school concert。 We've never spoken to each other
since。 Wasn't it silly？ Anything like that seems silly NOW。
But Em and I made up the old quarrel yesterday。 She said she'd
have spoken years ago； only she thought I wouldn't。 And I never
spoke to her because I was sure she wouldn't speak to me。 Isn't
it strange how people misunderstand each other； Anne？〃
〃Most of the trouble in life comes from misunderstanding； I think；〃
said Anne。 〃I must go now； Ruby。 It's getting late and you
shouldn't be out in the damp。〃
〃You'll come up soon again。〃
〃Yes； very soon。 And if there's anything I can do to help you
I'll be so glad。〃
〃I know。 You HAVE helped me already。 Nothing seems quite so
dreadful now。 Good night； Anne。〃
〃Good night； dear。〃
Anne walked home very slowly in the moonlight。 The evening had
changed something for her。 Life held a different meaning； a
deeper purpose。 On the surface it would go on just the same； but
the deeps had been stirred。 It must not be with her as with poor
butterfly Ruby。 When she came to the end of one life it must not
be to face the next with the shrinking terror of something wholly
different something for which accustomed thought and ideal and
aspiration had unfitted her。 The little things of life； sweet
and excellent in their place； must not be the things lived for；
the highest must be sought and followed； the life of heaven must
be begun here on earth。
That good night in the garden was for all time。 Anne never saw
Ruby in life again。 The next night the A。V。I。S。 gave a farewell
party to Jane Andrews before her departure for the West。 And；
while light feet danced and bright eyes laughed and merry tongues
chattered； there came a summons to a soul in Avonlea that might
not be disregarded or evaded。 The next morning the word went
from house to house that Ruby Gillis was dead。 She had died in
her sleep； painlessly and calmly； and on her face was a smile
as if； after all； death had come as a kindly friend to lead her
over the threshold； instead of the grisly phantom she had dreaded。
Mrs。 Rachel Lynde said emphatically after the funeral that Ruby
Gillis was the handsomest corpse she ever laid eyes on。 Her
loveliness； as she lay； white…clad； among the delicate flowers
that Anne had placed about her； was remembered and talked of for
years in Avonlea。 Ruby had always been beautiful； but her beauty
had been of the earth； earthy； it had had a certain insolent
quality in it； as if it flaunted itself in the beholder's eye；
spirit had never shone through it； intellect had never refined it。
But death had touched it and consecrated it； bringing out delicate
modelings and purity of outline never seen before doing what life
and love and great sorrow and deep womanhood joys might have done
for Ruby。 Anne； looking down through a mist of tears； at her old
playfellow； thought she saw the face God had meant Ruby to have；
and remembered it so always。
Mrs。 Gilli