Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-09-23
? HEN Rodney Dare came

MS strong right arm Rutn
Trevor's friends wondered 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
ry him, isn't hef"
"Yes, but there's a 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
peculiar"
"Thank God for such peculiartty,"
said her friend. She wouldn't be the
woman l have always believed her to
be If she refused to marry him because
be had lost an arm. She will take It's
place to him. know Ruth Trevor too
well to believe that the idea has ever
occurred 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: II
have come to tell you that of course
do not expect to hold you to your prom
ise to me, under existing circum-
stances, if you care to withdraw It"
she rose up before him with something
akin to anger in her face and looked
him squarly in the eyes.
Have ever given you any reason to
think l cared to withdraw itT she
asked.
mo-" was the reply. But when you
part of one"
"I'l take that part of the man that's
left" she said. Its the part that the
Bodney Dare love lives in. Never
speak of this to 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 fit
himself. It was almost like beginning
life over in learning to make one arm
do the work Of two, but he had a brave
heart and strong will. and love stood
ready to help him in the times when he
felt inclined to become discouraged.
One day Ruth said to him:
I'm going away for month or two,
I've had a letter from Aunt Martha.
who lives In the pretIeSt little country
village you ever saw, and she wants
me to visit her. l shall enjoy breath
Of pure air so much Only, wish you
were going with me, Rodney. shall
thtnk Of Won hoply hO1,a ir, ha ot+1- nj
feel half ashamed of myself for hav-
Ing such good time that you cannot
share"
II shall share It in thinking how
much good It Is doing you" he said.
zone does not always have to take part
In the pleasures Of others to be bene-
fitted by them. There's sort of reflex
influence, you know"
THAT sounds quite metaphysical"
laughed Ruth, "but l think l under
stand what you mean and promise to
enjoy myself to the utmost in order
that you may feel this reflex influence
TO the fullest extent"
Before Ruth had been at Aunt Mar
blLzt JnO udlS Slle lIlStl size Ddu
been invited there for purpose.
Your cousin Hugh is coming next
week" said Aunt Martha. II wanted
YOU to meet him. know you'll like
him-at least, hope you will. and the
better you like him the better suited
I'll be-"
Ruth looked at her Questioningly
You wonder what sort of a plan
have in my head, suppose" said her
aunt I'm not going TO say anything
more about II now, but Hugh knows. 4"
II infer that II Is some sort of matri-
monial plan" said Ruth. "If 1t Is, put
it aside at once! may like my cousin
very much-I hope shall-but could
not marry him"
"WhyT asked Aunt Martha
because I am TO marry Rodney
Dare" answered Ruth.
"And who Is Rodney DareT' demand
ed Aunt Martha
Then Ruth told her about her lover.
"a man with one arm, toow cried
Aunt Martha, ''and poor man, too!
You're foolish, Ruth"
Perhaps So" said Ruth, quietly, but
with brave steadfastness in her
voice. but, foolish or not, love him.
I have Promised TO marry him and I
shall keep my word
you've got the stubbornneSs Of the
Trevors in you. see" said Aunt Mar
cha, grimly. But this-this obstinacy
of yours may make great difference
with your future prospects,, as we'll as
my plans. have considerable prop
erty that must 60 to the children OF my
two brothers You represent one OF
them, Hugh the other. wanted you to
marry each other and keep the prop
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