Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-05-26
The Point of View.
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M NYTHING the matter with you,
IA\ JimY" And Ruth surveyed her
brother keenly.
mo"
What's the use of fbbing to me?'
she demanded with sisterly frankness.
Something's gone wrong, l can see
that clearly enough. Any trouble at
the Officer"
NO"
WELL" impatiently, what is it,
thenf 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 moodily out Of the win
dow and vouchsafed no reply.
You've not quarreed 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, l know. Now, what
was the fuss about?"
iHNiN vas hO luoS anu hO
my sapient sister, only"
go on, do!'
Il made trifiing error when l sup
posed she cared for me, that was ALL"
Are you crazy, Jim l am sure
that Clarice cares for you. Don't jump
at conclusions"
Il didn't jump at any conclusions. l
assure you. asked her to marry me
and she fatty refused"
But why? why? why?" Ruth asked
In honest bewllderment. II know
something Of girls and l am positive
that Clarice cares for you.'
81 had sometimes entertained such
an idea myself, but you see that we
both made a slight mistake
Don't be so maddening, Jim, dear;
tell me all she said. l am awfully sor-
ry for you, but l cannot help feeling
that there is mistake somewhere"
mot much chance for it," Jim Ruth
erford said grlmly; she had fifty un-
answerable arguments against mar
riage. She liked me, she was good
enough to say, but she did not dare try
the trials and tribulatiOns of domestic
life with any man. Servants were al
ways leaving on moments notice.
and generally, too, when the mistress
was i'll. She had seen so many men
act like brutes on such occasions that
she had not the courage to face it. l
tried to laugh her out Of the mood. |
told her to ask you II 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 M
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 mood had
good business, but | was not rich.
and would probably expect her to run
the house and dress herself, too. on
about five dollars a week-Ruth. |
say" breaking off suddenly with pa
thetic appeal in his voice, what do
You suppose made her talk so?''
II haven't the least idea. I've not
seen Clarice for three or four days. but
| cannot see how she could have al
tered so radically in such short time.
I'm going to see her, though. before /
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 a grain Of comfort
for you i will. The whole thing is
beyond my comprehension"
When Ruth Rutherford ian allitera-
tive name which the girl detested) was
putting on her wraps preparatory, to a
belllgerent call on her friend, she heard