The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-06-13
RBTH,s LEGACY.

81 RHTH'S LEGACY. rzs,
When Rodney Craig came home from
the army with an empty sleeve, some
people wondered if Ruth Gerrish would
marry him. A man with one arm gone,
and that his right one, they argued. was
only part of man, and Ruth was a
girl who could have her choice among
the young men of her acquaintance !;
therefore--and what conclusion these
persons arrived at you know well
enough, am sure, for you have seen
these very persons. They live in every
neighborhOod.
But those who knew Ruth best never
doubted what she would do for mo-
ment.
"0f course she'll marry him,n they
said. ..She wouldn't let the loss of an
arm keep her from doing as she prom
ised She loves him, and that settles
the Question: 2
When Craig told her that he would
give her back her promise, she came
and stood before him, and, looking
straight into his with her. ear1esteyes,
she said: . A. = - =
Do you love me, RodneyPn
"God knows | do, Ruth he an
swered, and then she put her hand in his
and made the reply:
"Then never mention this matter
again. told you would be your wife,
God willing; and if we love each other
see no reason why we should not do
as we intended. Iwould marry you, Rod
ney, if there was enough left of you to
hold your heart"
After that he never spoke of breaking
the engagement; but he would not con.
sent to be a burden upon her, and it was
agreed that the marriage be postponed
until he secured some employment. He
had made application for clerkship
under the Government, but it began TO
seem as if twas a modern case of Jarn-
dyce VS.. Jarndyce. Once in while he
got a letter from the Department
at Washington, saying that it was
quite probable that he would secure the
position; the matter had been referred
to such bureau, or was now under
consideration by such an official, etc.
And so the weeks heightened into
months, and he waited and hoped and
heard nothing definite, and the time
when he would be in a position to mar
ry Ruth seemed very far of. She would
have married him next day if he had
been willing. She would have been
glad to work for him, because she loved
him, and work for those we love is al |
ways pleasant. But'he was too proud |
to consent to any thing of that sort, asI
have said r-...-.,...
hra 1aN- Irrfi, OF n1sf from A INF
Martha Fielding. Aunt Martha lived in |
Il thriving little village among the Berk
shire hills, and all that Ruth could re-
member about her was, that she always
made her think of some of the old |
mountains to be seen from her windows, !
because she was SO grim in aspect and |
seemed so Interchangeable in all ways. |
There had been some family trouble, /
and Aunt Martha had but very little TO
do with any of her relatives. There
fore it is not to be wondered at that |
Ruth and her mother were surprised
when this letter came, asking Ruth to
come up and stay with her for month
that summer.
s'Shall | go?" asked Ruth.
:" / think you had better,'' answered
there. Poor thing! she's had good
deal of trouble, off and on, but she's
made the most of it herself. But sup
pose she couldn't help it; it was her
II can't see what she wants me to
come for" said Ruth. 81 haven't seen
her since was a little bit of a girl. l
wonder she didn't send for one of Aunt
Lucy's girls"
"She's got some plan in her head"
said Mrs. Gerrish; "she always has
when she invites any of her relatives to
visit her. Yes, Ruth, l think you'd bet
ter go, and do all you can to make it
pleasant for her."
SO Ruth went. Aunt Martha vel
coined her in her usual grim fashion.
Her kiss made Ruth think of one of the
old mountains departing from its usual I
dignity and saluting one of the hills.
Ruth wasn't long in finding out what
Aunt Martha had invited her to visit her !
for. One of her nephews was coming
next week-her faYorite nephew, she 4
told Ruth, and the one to whom her
would go when she was done
with it, and she had got the idea into
her head that he ought to marry Ruth.
81 always liked yOn," she said, in /
one of her confidential moods. Now,
when Lucy's girls were up hers L was
disgusted with 'em. All
they thought of was dress and parties.
They were willing to see their mother
slave herself half to death for 'em, and
they wouldn't lift a finger to help her
But I've heard all about you, and L know
you're a good girl, and l know John'n
like you. He's sensible, and hope you
are.'' @s4~ -
When Ruth saw how determined she
was to make match between her and (
this expected nephew, she thought it
time to tell her how matters stood.
'Aunt Martha,'' she said with little
frightened catch of her breath, for she
was afraid the old lady would be NOR
tally offended at the failure of her plan,
90 I'm engaged to be married" And
then, the worst being over, she went Oh
and told her all about it, and succeeded 4
in making her lover into a great hero, L
in her own estimation, if not in Aunt /.
Martha's. i-,- ~ L~t
Sand so you're going to marry
man with one arm and as poor as pow
erty, are your said the old lady,
grimly.
Yes, if nothing happens to prevent
IT," answered Ruth, bravely. "We
love each other, and Wen get along [
some way and loves better than all |
the wealth in the world, think, and SO
does Rodney"
"Humphlr said Aunt Martha, and
there the matter dropped ,
Nephew John came, and he and Ruth
were good friends at once; but neither
Of them ever dreamed of loving each
other. One day Aunt Martha limited
her plan to him, and then had long
talk with Ruth, which hadn't the least
effect toward changing her mind.
al have promised to marry Rodney. -