Evening journal., 1900-01-19
HE PROVED WORTHY.
aroEY o. a srFoNe Nj.

. DNH " - - NCNO with.
Ii was night ami tHey had reached
De cnd of the primrose path which
ent along the river bank AS they.
stood there the bright moonlight
shone full on their faces. dlflercn, in
every respect save that the intensity
O love WAS depleted on them on the
mans face was deep disappointment
but not despair. On the other hand,
the woman appeared sad and absolute
Isl without hope
John Harding had just proposed TO
Ruth Fletcher and had been iatly re-
fused She was saying sadly: You
know that am m uhbelievcr and
| fear q hopeless pessimist. Life seems
so empty and useless. and do get SO
Weary Of people and OF their petty
ambitions. .
Excuse me. Jack. II hurt you, but
I n should matry you should prota-
| bly, weary OF you too You resemble
the majority OF the people Of the
world. in that you are more or less
selfish Then too, you are lazy and
Indifferent. Are you not ashamed of
such a hand, rs white and soft as n
voman'sfr
And the light touch She gave Il sent
q thrill through tic young man.
Harding flushed knowing that rart
&C her consure was true. Yet he did
not remnd her OF his noble work dur
ing those insuneiah,c days and nights
ln the Cuban trenches. neither did he
speak OF his magnificent bravery at
III Canoy, for which his General had
personally praised him.
lie simply said earnestly: you will
az least listen to me when | shall have
worked and proved myself worthy Of
you RuthT
She shook her head YEARLY and
I said: 1T would DE wrong for me to
marry you ! should only make YOU
as discontinued rs | am myself, hold
ing the Views I do, about life. No.
slall carry out my intention Of study
ng medicine. aud shall try TO find
lme interest Ia that
Harding shudderd. "But we shall
J always be good friends. promise me,
! lck.' looking at him wistfully.
Hang being friends" he muttered.
Then With look of determination. be-
Tore which she quallcd hc seized her
auds with a grasp almost painful in
IFS intensity and said slowly in low
9ncs snrchareed with emotion: "As
z there IS God in Heaven. shall
make you marry me. Ruth Fletcher
Ruth's viii was strong, but Il had
met It's match. She trembled. but did
not speak again until she answered
, Ifardlng's muttercd good night at tn,
[ door OF her house.
They both passed a sleepless night
lie paced the iloor struggling manful
Is with Ills trouble. She sat still II
her room her hands tightly clasped
only too sure that she had done right
~ IN refusing jack. yet Tor all that
loving him more passionately thai
. ever.
I As soon as it was light Harding
throw himself into his boat for fur
r Gus row On the river After half ~
u ours hard rowing he was horinc
e 10 see IN the distance an 0vermrne
y canoe and a woman struggling tn Oh
= water Now his college training on ID
y crew came into splendid service, an
lie rowed as be had never done IN
n ace
Il As be put about his heart stood sti
e Tor the drowning woman was Rut
l. fletcher With great difficulty Ale lnal
r aged 20 pull her into the boat Whe
she had sufficiently recovered she tol
him that she had started out IN hC
canoe before light and had got ups,
hy running into a large rock.
n 1t was O'Clock when Hardin
d iowed down the river again, IN
{. time much more SLOWLY. The sun va
r inning brightly and the birds WEI
z singing. and IN his heart was an III
~ spcakablc JOY
II Suddenly Ruth leaned toward hin
a put both hands on his and said, wit
u. tho gcniloness IN her voice and q
10 lool, ia her eyes lac had so ofte
n longed for: "How good the old worl
" seems after an, and, Jack, dear, no
II do lore you.'