Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-10-03

did he pay court to Ruth ? Mainly
because she was the village belle
nd it gratiiied his vanity to beal
off the subject of general conten-
ton. Again. she had expectations
from her aunt, ana a.ighI inherit a
considerably STARE of the $4,000
which the penuriouS old lady possess
ed. On the whole the experiment
was worth trying. a week after
Ruth's rejection OF James Wilkins
she had engaged herself to marry
Byron Fortesque, and three months
later the marriage took place.
The yom% lawyer had n few
thousand dollars which lie at once
invested in house, more preton-
tious than any OF the plain village
homes, to which Ruth had been ac-
cuStomCd. 1t must be admitted
that she enjoyed the CONSEQUENCES
which attached to he. from her
style Of living, and her husbands $
position. She had gliued what she
sought. What matter if she hal no
real affection for her husband, or he
for her, for she soon made this dou-
Die discovery. She was ut least a
lawyers wife, and cnull mention
her husbands BUSINESS without
Shame to her fashionable friends.
AS for James Wilkins, he soon re-
moved from the village ana settled
in Il town in Ohi0. His sparse
means he invested in lands, and
fOreSeeing that the town at no dis
tant day was likely to become a
point of considerable Importance, he
borrowed money for the same pur-
pose, His sagacity was proved by
the event. Ia a few years railroad
was built, running through his land.
Its value was greatly increased. So,
too, the houses lie had built on spec
ulation were enhanced in value. He
found himself in fifteen years IA rich
man.
More than this, his fellow citizens
discovered his proOitY and sound
practical sense and Judgement. He
was elected to the Slate Legislature,
where he became Il man of influence
Whatever political questions arose
he studied faithfully, deyoting his
leisure time also ID the acquisition
Of those branches of learning which
his limited education had not allow
ed him to baclme familiar with. He
WAS everywhere acknowledged to be
rising man, and a popular fLvorite
Accordingly, itsurprised no one but
himself when he was put in nomin-
alton for Congress. The contest
was spirited che, for party feeling
ran high, yet when it WAS terminat-
ed by the success of James Wilkins,
he was so generally respected that
the whole district, opponents as
we'll as friends, acquiesed in the re-
suit. James Wilkins, M. c.. lie
had attained position which Would
have gratifed Ruth's ambition. Bat
she lad thrown him aside. D. not
fancy shat he remained single for
| her sake. He said truly that Ruth
wat not what he supposed. Her
marriage to Fortesque, the motive
OF which he understood, had cured
him OF ali love for her. There was
Mrs. Wilkins, however, an amia-
bic, attractive woman, who had
been help meet, and who, though
proud OF her husbands elevation,
had never blushed because he was a
Mechanic.
Meanwhile, how Jared Mrs. For
tesque ? Her husband was a shallow
pretender of talents he did not pos.
Sess. This was found out after a
while and affected his professional
success, Feeling that he was net
appreciated, he removed to larger
place, that his talents might have
wider field. Bat here, too, the YER
dict was the same. He failed to a3-
quire the confidence Of the more re.
spectacle classes, and his c.icf earn
ings came from sharp practice
among the most ignorant who were
duped into thinking him a man Of
talent. Mean while his little proper
ty became yearly less from the in
roads which were made upon it, un-
til nothing renamed.
Finding his professional success SO
poor, Mr.. Fortesque turned his at
tention to politics. Accompanied
by his wife he went to Washington
to try his luck at gaining a govern
ment Office. They took cheap Iodg-
ings, and waited upon differeni Of
licials in the hope of interesting
them in suit. But, as usually hap
pens there were ten oGice-seekers to
one Office, and al their efforts proy-
ed unayailing. Meanwhile their
scanty funds gave out. They were
warned to leave their lodging-hJuse.