The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-03-12
RUIHS LEGACY.

W hen Rodney tTalg came home
from the army with an honorable
record and al empty sleeve, people
wondered if Ruth Gsrrish would
marry him. A man with one arm
gone, and that his right one, they
argued, was only part of a man, and
Ruth Was girl who could have hsr
choice among the most eligible
young men of her set. She had had
offers enough to make her the envy
Oi lees fortunate girls, or girls who
considered IL fortunate to have offers
of marriage, and she had refused
them all Iiil Rodney Craig came
Then she accepted the proposal he
made because she loved hin. But,
when be asked her hand iD marriage,
he had been Il man with two strong
hands. New he had come home
with but one. Therefore some peo-
pie wondered what she would do
But some. who knew Ruth best.
meyer doubted the course she would
pursue for q moment.
1t would be Just like her to marry
him" said those who looked on such
matters from what they considered a
common sense stand point. Shes
such a queer girl"
"Of course she will marry him,
said her most intimate friends. The
loss of his arm will not keep her
from doing as she has promised, for
Size loves him"
One day shortly after his return,
Rodney Craig came to her, and as he
stood before her with his empty
sleevs folded across his breast, he
said:
When | won your promise 10 be
my wife, Ruth, | was a strong, two
armed man. | felt equal TO a giants
work for your sake, because OF my
love. Now all that is passed. am
what men call wreck, for the arm |
depended upon IS gone. | have no
right to hold you to the promise you
gave me then. give YOU back your
promise, Ruth.
She came to him, and looked up
gravely into his face.
DO you love me. Rodney ~
God knows do he answered.
Then | refuse TO take back the
promise | gave you" she said, and
pu; her hand in his, while her eyes
we're bright with q womans stead
fast love and truth.
But. have you thought of the
change?n he asked. Think il over
well. dear. With my two arms |
could have made your life one above
all want, even one of luxury, after a
/ little, perhaps But with one to de
pend on | shall hardly be able to
win for you the position in life | had
hoped for. Think of that, Ruth"
Il have thought . she answered,
Il can work and help you. Rodney,
unless YOU want me TO break It for
some other and better reason than
the one you have given.
You know why ! have said what
/ have" he answered. Il want yeu,
need you, and without you | must
be lonely, sorrowful man, but felt
that | had 10 right to ask YOU to
make such a sacrifice for me.
Il make no sacrifice" she said,
bravely. I'VE need not mention the
matter again. told you | would
be your wife. God willing, and see
no reason why things should not be
as they would have been if nothing
had happened, if we love each other
| would marry you. Rodney, if there
was only enough left OF you TO hold
your heart"
After that there was no more said
about breaking the engagement. But
he would not consent 10 marriage
until be had secured some employ
ment. He had made application for
. clerkship under the government,
but il began 10 seem as if it might
be a modern case of Jarndyce rs
Jarndyce. Once in a while be got a
+ letter from The department at Wash
ingion, saying that il was quite
probable that he weuld secure the
position as soon as the proper action
could be taken tie matter had been
referred 20 such bureau, and would
he reported on soon, or it had been
turned over to such an official. and
his application would receive atten-
ton in its turn.
( So the weeks heightened into
months, and he waited, and hoped,
and heard nothing definite, and the
time when he would be in position
to marry Ruth seemed as far off as
ever. She would have married him
the next day if be had been willing.
Work for those we love is pleasant,
and she would have been glad to