Year: 1878




being used in some handicraft. They were
not as white and shapely as Byron Fortes-
cues, who had just commenced practice as
a lawyer in the village. Perhaps Ruth
Henderson thought of this, as in a low
hesitating voice, she answered. Yes James,
must decline your offer"


II thought" the young man continued,
sadly, /" 1 suppose 1 was presumptious, but
I really thought, Ruth, that you-that you
cared for me a little"


81 do, James," said Ruth, and there was
a trace of agitation in her voice. p.


"But not enough to marry me-"


ut is not that-at least not entirely"
said the girl .hestating, "but you will be
offended, perhaps, if tell you why can
not accept you"


"No, Ruth, will not be offended"


al do like you, James, but it is your oc-
cupation | object to. cannot marry a
carpenter" ......


A flush arose on the young mans face.


"Is it not respectable business ?" he
asked hastily. ....


Yes, James, but you cannot give me that
position in society which desire. If now
you were a merchant or professional man,
it would be different"


"If l were either, I might be less honest
and honorable than am now"


"You would occupy a higher social po-
sition." ..... .. E.


"And is that all important with you,
Ruth2 l can give you an honest heart and
a comfortable homo, and may rise. you
love me, Ruth, don't let any silly pride,
stand between us. With you at my side, l
will work, and win an honorable position
for both of u.s." -...... ....


al can never become carpenters wife,"
said Ruth, coldly.. ...HH


"Ifsuch are your feelings" said the young
man, proudly, "you are not what took
you to be. Farewell, Ruth. wish you
every happiness"


Goodbye, Mr.. Wilkins" said Ruth,
coidly, I reciprccate your good wishes"


A moment later and he. was gone, and
hide it as she might, Ruth's heart confessed
that he carried with him more of her love
than she had ever granted to any other.
But pride was in the ascendant. She could
not make up her mind to marry carpenter.
This foolish notion she had imbbed from
the fashionable acquaintances which she had
made ut a select boarding -ichool where she
hadspent single quarter at the expense of
an aunt whose liberality commenced and
ended with this outlay. Her niece would
have been better off without it, She had
struck up an intimacy with several young
ladies from the city, the daughters of veal
thy merchants, and with them she had
learned to look down upon those who were
forced TO rely upon the labor of their own
hands for Livelihood. This wds the more
unfortunate because her lot was cast in
small village, where her choice was neces-
sarily restricted.


Soon after Ler return from school young
man NAMED Byron Fortescne had establish
ed himself as lawyer in the village, He
was not very literally supplied with brains,
but had large amount of assumption and
selfconceit and the consequential airs which
he saw fit to assume led some to think that
he was possessed of great ability. As Ruth
was really pretty and attractive, the young
lawyer paid her marked attention on several
public occasions, considerably to the envy of
many of her own sex, and the annoyance of
the village beaux, who had hitherto shared
in her smiles. Lf all, however, none had
been so favored as James Wilkins. Had he
proposed to Ruth before she went to board
school there is little doubt that favorable
answer would have been returned to his suit
But Ruth had become ambitious. She look
ed higher. She felt that she should not be
willing to acquaint her city friends with her
approaching marriage to a mechanic.


The attentions of Byron Fortescue gratifed
her vanity, though he had not the slightest
share in her heart Indeed he was so much
attached to himself that it is doubtful
whether he was likely to inspire love in any
one else Why then did he pay court to
Ruth? Mainly because she was the village
belle, and it gratifed his vanity to bear off
the subject of general contention. Again,
she had expectations from her aunt, and
might inherit considerable share oftho fifty
thousand dallars which the penurious old |
lady possessed. On the whole the expert
ment was worth trying. week after Ruth's
rejection of James Wilkins she had engaged
herself to marry Byron Fortescue, and three
months later the marriage took place.


The young lawyer had few thousand
dollars which he at once invested in house,
more pretentious than any of the plain viii
lage homes to which Ruth had been accus-
toned. 1t must be admitted that she en-
joyed the consequences which attached to
her from her style of living, and her hus-
bands position. She had gained what she |