St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-03-05
! Ruth'S L6gd6u. /;
BY EBEN Z. RExFoRD.

81 E6IN =. KEXFORO.
0eeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeS
MHEN Rodney Dare came home
wv from the war without his strong
right arm Ruth Trevor's friends won.
uered if she would marry him.
"Of course she WILL" said the friend
who knew her best. "Why shouldn't
she? He's the same Rodney Dare now
that he was when she promised to mar.
~ him, isn't hep"
~Yes, but there's difference" was
the reply. "Then he had another arm
to fight the battle of life with. Now
well, suppose it won't make any diff.
ference with Ruth. She always was pc
culiar."
"Thank God for such peculiarity,'
said her friend. "She wouldn't be the
woman have always believed her to be
it she refused to marry him because he
had lost an arm. She viii take its place
to him. / know Ruth Trevor too well to
to her that this loss need make the
slightest difference in their plans"
And her friend was right. When one
day Rodney Dare said to Ruth: 4 have
come to tell you that of course ! do not
expect to hold you to your promise to
me, under existing circumstances. If
you care to withdraw it." she rose up be-
fore him with something akin to anger
in her face and looked him squarely in
the eyes.
"Have ever given you any reason to
think I cared to withdraw it?" she
asked.
"No," was the reply. "But when you
gave it I was a man. Now I am but
part Of one"
s'I'll take that part Of the man
that's left" she said. ITS the part that
the Rodney Dare love lives in. Never
speak Of this 10 me again." she added.
And he never did.
But he would not talk of marriage
until he had obtained employment of
some sort. and for this he began to ft
himself. 1t was almost like beginning
life over in learning to make one arm do
the work of two. but he had brave
heart and strong will. and love stood
ready to help him in the times when be
felt inclined to become discouraged.
One day Ruth said to him:
I'm going away for month or two.
I've had letter from Aunt Martha, who
lives in the prettiest little country VII
5age you ever saw. and she wants me to
visit her. shall enjoy breath of pure
air so much. Only wish you were GO
ing with me. Rodney. I shall think of
you back here in the city and feel half
ashamed of myself for having such a
good time that you cannot share"
II shall share ii in thinking how much
good il il doing you. be said. *-One
does not always have to take part in the
pleasures of others to be benefited BY
them. There's sort of reflex infiu-
ence. you know"
"That sounds quite metaphysical"
laughed Ruth. but I think / under
stand what you mean. and l promise
to enjoy myself to the utmost in order
that yon may feel the reflex influence
to the fullest extent"
Before Ruth had been at Aunt Mar
tha's two days she found that she had
been invited there for purpose.
"Your cousin Hugh is coming next
week." said Aunt Martha. 81 wanted
you to Lleet him. / know you'll like
him-at least l hope you win, and the
better sou like him the better suited I'll
be-"
Ruth looked at her questioningly.
"You wonder what sort of plan
have in my head, I suppose?" said her
aunt. Tn not going to say anything
more about It now. but Hugh knows"
Il infer that it is sort of matri-
monial plan ?" said Ruth IF it is. put
ii aside at once! may like my cousin
very much hope I shallEbut could
not marry him."
ssWhy?" asked Aunt Martha.
"Because I am to marry Rodney
Dare" answered Ruth.
Then Ruth told her about her lover.
~ man with one arm." cried Aunt
Martha. "and poor man, too! You're
foolish, Ruth"
"Perhaps So" said Ruth. quietly, but
with a brave steadfastness in her voice,
s.But, foolish or not. love him. have
promisad to marry him, and shall keep
my word
4You've got the stubbornness Of the
Trevors in you. I see" said Aunt Mar
tha. grimly. but this-this obstinacy
Of yours may make great difference
with your future prospects. as well as
INV plans. have considerable property
that mnst go to the children of my two
brothers. You represent one Of them,
Hugh the other. wanted you to mar
ry each other and keep the property to-
rether. If you persist in your determi
nation to marry this Rodney Dare Hugh
may get it all"
aLet him have il" said Ruth. "All the
wealth in the world wouldn't influence
me 10 the least in this matter"
you're . Trevor all through" said
Amt Martha, angry, yet admiring the
sn;r;t of her niece in spite of herself.
.Wel. since you've made up your mind,
LII let the matter drop; but if you are
al mentioned in my will you needn't
be surprised
~ haven't asked to be remembered in
]. !. said Ruth. II don't want you to
.s;.k FOR i moment, Aunt Martha, that
I -.re Tor your money. assure you, ]
never given it thought"
q .z.erhapx moi" responded Aunt Mar
g., .sl.ut money CONES Landy some
ss;s..x. and one wants to think twice BE-
-. -. fhroWiug away such chance -
a e - 5ot change NJ mind i !