Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-05-21
1Re
Point,
of View.
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By Mabel CroniSs Jones.

sox NYTHING the matter with
4 you Jim?" And Ruth sur
8 N 0 veyed her brother keenly.
I ~ + mo" -,
2oN "What's the use Of flb-
bling to me?' she demand
ed with sisterly frankness. Some
things gone wrong. I can see that
clearly enough. Any trouble at the
Officer"
"NO."
"Well," impatlently, "what is 1t,
then? You always tell me things In
the end so you might as well go ahead
and save me the trouble Of dragging
it from you"
Jim stared modify out Of the win
dow and vouchsafed no reply.
you've not quarrelled with Clarice,
have you?"
A swift change in her brothers face
told Ruth that she had touched on the
truth, and she followed up her advan-
tage promptly.
"That is it, know. Now what was
the fuss about?"
"There was no fuss and no quarrel,
my sapient sister, only"
go on, do!'
II made trlfing error when l
supposed she cared for me, that was
ALL"
Are ,vnn -crazv IT., - nm .''"n
that Clarice cares for you. Don't
jump at conclusions"
II didn't jump at any conclusions, !
assure you. asked her to marry me.
- buh ""ffy4!'"afrsqh,yy nHh usAeu
in honest bewilderment II know
something Of girls, and l am positive
that Clarice cares for you"
| II had sometimes entertained such
an idea myself, but You see that we
both made slight mistake"
Don't be so maddening, Jim, dear;
tell me all she said. am awfully
sorry for you, but cannot help feel
ing that there is mistake some
where"
mot much chance for it," Jim Ruth
erford said grimly; "she had Hr41 un-
ansWerahla "~e..uenrs against mar
rIuge. She liked me, she was good
enough to say, but she did not dare
try the trials and tribulations of do
nestle life with any man. Servants
were always leaving on a moments no.
tice, and generally, too, when the mis-
tress was i'll. She had seen so many
men act like brutes on such occasions
that she had not the courage to face
1t. I tried to laugh her out of the
mood. 1 told her to ask you if l did
not behave like an angel in all crises
of that kind"
"You really do" Ruth interposed
warmly.
Jim nodded his thanks and then re-
sumed his story with discouraged
air.
1T was all no use, for Clarice said
that she had observed that mems na-
lures changed after marriage, and that
some who had been models of courtesy
to their mothers and sisters were the
embodiments of selfishness and incon-
siderateness toward their wives"
"Well, Of all things!'
"Oh, there was lots more Of 1t, too,
and she was in deadly earnest.
never saw her in such a mood. had
good business. but I was not rich,
and I would probably expect her to
run the house and dress herself, too,
on about five dollars q week Ruth,
l say" breaking off suddenly with
pathetic appeal in his voice, "what do
you suppose made her talk sop
II haven't the least idea. I've not
seen Clarice for three or foar days, but
1 cannot see how she could have al
tered so radically in so short a time.
l am going to see her, though, before
l am an hour older and find out the
truth"
II don't suppose that there is any
thing to find out She seemed to know
her own mind" Jim returned gloomily.
Now that Is just what she didn't
do. 1t is no Use for us to argue, Jim,
but If l can find grain OF comfort
for you, l will. The whole thing is
beyond my comprehension"
When Ruth Rutherford ian allltera-
tive name which the girl detested)
was putting on her wraps preparatory
to a belligerent call on her friund. she
heard Clarce's voice in the hal. below.
She went down hurriedly to meet her.
Come into the library" sLS said
hastily, knowing perfectly well that
Jim was in the room Just beyond.
"Now, I want you to give an account
of yourself. What have you been do
ing to Jim? He is just about broken.
hearted, for he believes all the Lon.
sense you were talking to him yesasr.
day. What did you mean by it, Clar-
ice? You know that you think thai
Jim is kind and lovable and bril-.
liant"
Il don't" ClariC., flashed indIg.
nantly. although her voice trembled
a little, che is not brilliant at all! He
is the most stupid man that ever
lived!'
Perhaps you will kindly explain.
Dpth said ooldIv