Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-05-18
RUTH HENDERsoN's PRIDE.
BY REV. noRATIo ALGER, JR.

ing young man. but his lace W;sS sun
burnt aud his hands bore the unm staka
BILE marks of being used in some handi-
craft. They were noe Is white and
shapely as Byron Fortesques. who had
just commenced practice as a lawyer III
the village. Perhaps Ruth Henderson
thought of this. as in low hesltatihg
voice, she answered.
Yes james, l must decline your
ofjer.n
81 thought" the young MN contia"eo
s1dly, Il suppose | was presihp'io"s'
but really thought, Ruth, that you
that you cared tor me a little.
Il do. James," said Ruth, aud ih're
was a trace OF of agitation III her vo.ce.
But not enough TO marry me. :.
alt is not ihat--at least not entirely.
said the girl hesitating. "Dut you VIII ne
offended perhaps. II tell you why
cannot except you"
NO, Ruth. | will not b. oil :nded.
III do like you. james, but it your oc-
cnpation objrcs to. L ciiihot IN 'rry Il
carpenter"
A ftush rose on the Young mans face.
is it not respectable business :" he
asked hastily.
"Yes, James but you cannot give me
If now you were merchant or profess
ional man it would be tlii!errnt."
IF / were either, might be less hon e.
and honorable than am now.
You would occupy higher social
position
And is that all important with you
Ruth? l can give you an honest heart
and comfortable home, and L may rise.
4 Ie,r Il, LAT
pride stand between us. With you al
my side, will work, and win an hon
Orable position for both of MS"
81 never can become a carpenters
wife, said Ruth, coldly.
IF such are your feelings" said the
young man, proudly, '.yvu are not what
l took you TO be. Farewell, Ruth.
wish you every happiness"
'Good-bye Mr.. Wilkins" said Ruth,
coldly. Il reciprocate your COOL wishes. ,
A moment Later an'i he was gone, and
hide it us she might, Ruth's heart con
fessed that he carried with him more of
her love than she had ever granted to
any other. But pride was in the a>cen-
dant. She could not IN Ike up her mind
10 marry Il cirpentcr. This foolish TO-
ton she hid iinbibcd Fl ON the fashion
able acquaintances which she had made
at a select DO riding school where she
had spent "a si"sle quarter at the expense
Ot an amt whose liberaiiiy commenced
and ended with this GULLY. Her nrice
would have been. better of with ont il. She
had struck up all intimacy with several
young ladies from The ely, the daughters
of wealthy merchants, and with them
she had learned to LOOK down upon those
who were forced to rely upon the labor
of their own hands for Il livliaood. This
WAS the more unfortunate because her
lot WAS east in snail viii 20. where
her choice WIS ncc .ssarily restricted.
Soon after iirr return from school a
young man, named Byron Forte>cu2.
mad established himself as lawyer in
the village. He Was not supplied With
brains. bat had Very larg. amount oil
assumption selicouc.it. aud the coIise-
l,iential airs which H. SAW lit 10 assu,n;-
led sume to think that he WAS possessed
of great ability. As Ruth vas really
pretty and attractive, the young lawyer
paid her marked attention on sevt r.,l
public occasions, considerably to the
envy of miny OF llFr OWN sex. anl the
annoyance OF the villlge beaux, who hal
hitherto shared in her smiles. OF all
however. none hid been so favored
hitherto ~ Jam 5 Wilkins. Hal he pro-
posed to Ruth before she Went I'D board
iug-school there is little doubt bat that
Il favorable answer would nave been re-
turned 10 lis suit. But Ruth had be-
come ambitious. Size llotiei higher.
She felt that she should not Dc willing to
ncquaint her city friends with her APP
preaching marriage TO a III sclanic
The attention of ByrOl FurteSeue
gratiflcd Ler vanity even though, he
had NOT the III ylIli-st share in her henri.
Indeed he Was so much attached 10 h IN
self that il is doubtful whether he S
likely to iiISpre love in any one else
Why then did he pay curt 10 Ruth
IN ,inly becaiiSe she WAS the village belle,
and il graiilied his vanity to bear off the
subject of general contention. Again.
she had expectations from her aunt, and
might inherit Il considerable share OF
The fifty thousand dollars which the
penuriOus old laly possessed. On the
whole. the experiment WAS worth try
ing. A week after Rutll's rejection OF
james wilkins she hid engaged herself
to mary Byron ForieScue, and three
months later the IN irrlage took place
The young lawyer had few tious-
sand dolicrs which he ut once invested
i'm house more pretentious than any of
the plain village homes to which Ruth
bad been accustomed. 1t must be att
united that she enjoyed the consequent
ces which attached To her from her style
of living, and III husbands position. She
had CAMEL what she sought. What
matter If she had no real affection for heI
husband. or he tor her, for she soon made
this double discovery. She WAS ut leaS.
lawyers wife, and could mention hel
husbands business without shame to bel
fashionable friends.
As for jams Wilkins. he soon remove
from the Village and settled in tow
in Ohio. His spaise means he inyesi ct
in land. ami forese ing that the town al
10 distant day was likely to become /;
point of considerable Importance, ht
borrowed money for the same purpose
His sagaci,y was proved by the event
In IA few years a railroad Wac built run
ming through his land. Its value was
increased. So. too, the houses he hat
built OIL speculation were enhanced il
value. He found himselfin fifteen year!
rich man.
More than this, mis- fellow citizens dis
covered his Irobity and sound practical
sense aud Judgement. lie was eleclei
to the State Legislature. where he be
came mau OF influence. Whateve
political question arose he studied faith
fully devoting his leisure time also t
the acquisition of those branches o
learning which his limited education has
not allowed him TO become familiar with
lie was everywhere acknowledged to b.
rising man and popular favoriIe
Accordingly 1t surprised no one bu
himself when ne Was put in nomination
for Congress. The contest Was a spirite,
one. for party feeling ran high, vet whel
IL was terminated by the s,cresS nt J,un