Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-05-28
Ruth HendersOn's Pride.

| DurQC, anu LIS uduUS DOTc Cu0 uUullSLdk
able marks of being used in some handi
craft. They were not as white an
|shapely as Byron Fortescue's, who ha
lust commenced practice as lawyer i
the village. Perhaps Ruth thought c
this, as in low voice she answered:
"Yes, James, I must decline your ol
fer"
II thought" the young man continu
ed, sadly, L suppose was presumptuous
but 1 really thought Ruth, that you
that you cared for me little"
II do, James," said Ruth, and ther
was trace of agitation in her voice
"But not enough to marry me?'
."It is not that-at least not entirely,
said the girl hesitating. 'but you will
be offended, perhaps, if 1 tell you why
cannot accept you."
mo, Ruth, will not be offended"
II do like you, James, but it is you
occupation I object to, cannot marry
carpenter"
A flush arose on the young man g face
"Is it not respectable business 2" b
asked.
"Yes, James, but you cannot give m
If now you were merchant or profes
/
eff were either, might be less hon
est and honorable than am now."
"YOu would occupy a higher social
position"
"And is that all important with you
Ruth? 1 can give you an honest hear
and a comfortable home, and may rise
If you love me, Ruth, don't let any silly
pride stand between us. With you a
my side, will work, and win an hon
orable position for both of u.s." sale
James.
| ~ can never become carpenters
wife," said she coldly.
"Ifsuch are your feelings said the
young man proudly, 'you are not what
took you to be. Farewell, Ruth, I
wish you every happiness"
Goodbye, Mr.. Wilkins" said Ruth
coldly, II reciprocate your good wishes
A moment later and he was gone, and
hide it as 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 ascend
ant. She could not make up her mind
to marry carpenter. This foolish no.
| ton she had imbibed from the fashion
able acquaintances which she had made
at select boarding-school, where she
had spent single quarter at the ex-
pense of an aunt whose liberality COM
menced and ended with this outlay
| Her niece would have been better of
without it. She had struck up an in
timacy with several young ladies from
the city, the daughters of wealthy mer-
chants, and with them she had learned
| to look down upon those who were fore
ed to rely upon the labor of their own
hands for livelihood. This was the
more unfortunate because her lot was
cast in small village where her choice
was necessarily restricted.
Soon after her return from school a
young man named Byron Fortescue had
established himself as lawyer in the
village. He was not very literally sup
piled with brains, but had large amount
/ of assumption and self conceit, and the
consequential airs which he saw fit to
assume led some to think that he was
possessed of great ability. AS Ruth was
really pretty and attractive, the young
lawyer paid her marked attention on
several public occasions, considerably to
the envy of many of her own sex, and
the annoyance of village beauX, who
had hitherto shared in her smiles. Oi
all, however, none had been so favored
ulJuSIlO GS JGillSS w llkluS. I1du LIE
proposed to Ruth before she went to
boarding school there is little doubt that
favorable answer would have been re
turned to his suit. But Ruth had become
ambitious. She felt that she should not
with her approaching marriage to 8
mechanic.
The attentions of Byron Fortescue graf
| O ha In1 ~ l,o
slightest share in her heart. Indeed he
was SO much attached to himself that il
is doubtful whether he was likely to
inspire love in any one else. Why then
did he pay court to Ruth? Mainly Le-
cause she was the village belle, and it
gratified his vanity 10 bear off the sub
jeit Ofgeneral contention. Again she haG
expectations from her aunt and might
inherit considerable share of the fifty
thousand dollars which the penuriou:
old lady possessed. On the whole the
experiment was worth trying. a weeb
after Ruth's rejection of James Wilkins
she had engaged herself to marry Byron
Fortescue and three months later The
marriage took place.
The young lawyer had few Thousand
dollars which he at once invested in s
house, more pretentious than any of ths
village homes to which Ruth had beer
accustomed. It must be admitted tha
she enjoyed the consequence which at
tached to her from her style CT living
and her husbands position. She haC
gained what she sought. What matte
if she had no real affection for her hus
band, or he for her, for she soon made
this double discovery. She was at las
a lawyers wife, and could mention he
husbands business without shame tt
her fashionable friends.
AS for James Wilkins, he soon re
moved from the village, and settled in ;
town in Ohio. His sparse means he in
vested in lands and foreseeing that tn
town at no distant day was likely to be
come APPOINT of considerable importance
he borrowed money for the same pur
pose. His sagacity was proved by th
event. In few years railroad wa
built running through his land. 1t
value was greatly increased. So too
the houses he had built on speculation
were enchanced in value. He foun,
himself in fifteen years rich man.
More than this, his fellow citizens dis
covered his probi.y and sound practica
sense and Judgment. He was elected t.
the State Legislature, where he becam
a man of influence. Whatever politica
question arose he studied faithfully. de
voting his leisure time also to the ac
QUESTION of those branches of learnin
which his limited education had not al
lowed him to become familiar with. n
was everywhere acknowledged to be
rising man, and popular favoGite. Ac
cordingly it surprised no one but him
self when he was put in nomination fo
Congress. The contest was a spirite
one, for party feeling ran high, yet whe
it was terminated by the success G
James Wilkins, he was So generally re
spected that the whole district, oppe
nents as well as friends, acquiesced i
the result. James Wilkins, M. G, H
had attained position which wouI
have gratified Ruth's ambition. Blu
she had thrown him aside. Do not fame
that he remained single for her sake
He said truly that Ruth was not wha
he had supposed. Her marriage to Fol
tescue, the motive of which he under
stood, had cured him of all love for he]
There was Mrs. Wilkins, however, Al
amiable, attractive woman, who ha
been help. mate, and who thoug
proud OF her husbands elevation, ha
never blushed because he was me