The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-02-15
From Harpers Bazaar.
When the Ship Comes Home
BY WALTER BEsANT AND JAMES
RICE.
AUTHORS OF READY MONEY MoRrIRoY," "rHI
GOLDEN BrrrERFLY." ETc.. Erc.
CHAPTER V. continued. J

CHAPTER v. (continued.)
Everything" said Mr.. Baldwin,
sadly-.everything. Ruth Warne-
ford, l do not blame you. 1t is not
your fault that my nephew has met
you. 1t is his that you did not know
what kind of conduct his has been
toward YOU"
"What conduct his has beenn re-
peated the young man, fiercely.
Ask that in ten years time, if am
living, and if you hive found time to
reflect. Girl! between you and my
nephew there stands ghost-the
shadow of a great wrong"
ALAS! know it." sobbed Ruth !;
II know it,"
"fhere is no ghost. 1t is the dream
Of a morbid brain, dwelling too much
on things long gone and forgotten" ;"
said the young man. Ruth, come
out of the shadows into the light"
What was done by one of your
blood eight years ago separates you
from me and mine unto the third and
fourth generation" said the old man.
"What was done yesterday matters
nothing to-day" pleaded the young
man. Ruth, do you think l have
not known your story: Long the tale
of George Warneford has been familiar
to me-since / was boy at school.
What has it to do with you and me,
and with our love:''
ut stands between YOU" said his
uncle.
All the time Ruth looked steadily at
the old man. There was was no hope
there, only stern justice, before
which she trembled.
Il have been kind to you, Ruth
Warneford," he said; "what the world
calls kind. But let that pass. Re
member, however, that it pains me
even to hear your name pronounced.
l shall not relax in whatever help you
may want; but ask you in return
it is little thing-to send this young
man away"
A little thing! Why, all in a mo-
ment, when John took her hand in
his, she knew that it was her life, her
happiness, her all, that she was asked
to give up.
She made no reply.
1.-The idle attachments of youth"
Mr.. Baldwin went on, still sitting
judieially on the pulpit stairs, while
the guilty pair stood before him-"the
idle attachments of youth are quickly
made and quickly forgotten. You will
laugh at this in a month, Ruth"
"Ruth!' the other pleaded-"Esuth!
remember our happy days together in
this old church, our evenings at your
home; the sweet talk that we have
held together-are these to go for
nothing?"
"What is love-" asked the old man,
"tliat II is to override the most sacred
obligations, and make duty mockery?
Children, could you prosper with the
memory of the past ever before you -
"rhe past! Oh, the past! Let the
dead bury its dead,' cried John.
Ruth! if you will be mine, we will
turn our backs on this city and its
hateful memories; we will go to new
country where no one can reproach US;
we will live where the firm of Bat
terick & Baldwin is not known"
Think of it, young lady, Mr..
Baldwin said, bitterly. 'He is pre-
pared to sacrifice his future and his
own happiness, your future and your
happiness--to say nothing Of me-in
order to crafty his whim. Yes, sir,
a whim; the fancy for a pretty face
Pshaw, sir! what do you know about
goodness? Do you think / don't
know that this is a good girl? Do you
think | thould treat her like this if
did not know il? ~
Ruth took the old mans hand. He
stood up as if to receive her, and she
laid her head upon his left arm per-
haps it was to hide her tears.
MY mind is made up" she said.
John, Mr.. Baldwin is right. ! can
never marry you. Heaven knows
that until this day, even when I did
not know that you were his nephew,
| never thought of marrying you or
any body. What I feel now-that
matters to no one" she stopped her.
self proudly. "The disaster that fell
upon me, eight years ago, is between
us; we can never pass that barrier.
Farewell, John, and try not to think
about me any more-never any more"
Ruth" he said, "hear me again.
1t is not my fault that this disaster fell
upon You. 1t is not yours"
No." she cried; ''it is the will of
Heaven, and we must bear itn
He turned fiercely upon his uncle.
You have robbed me of my wife,
sir" he said, "and you have lost your
nephew. This day leave your firm
The partnership that | was to have
had on my next birthday-that part
narship, on which hoped to marry
the sweetest and noblest girl in all the
world, you may give to whom you
please. Leave your money where you
wish. l will never see you or speak
to you again, unless it be to take my
bride from YOU He walked half
down the church, leaving the girl
clinging to his uncle's arm.
Suddenly Il thought struck him, and
he returned.
Ruth" he said, with so!tened
voice, ''in this sacred place, before this
altar, l have one more thing to say.
In the years to come l shall wait for
you. This foolish fancy, the persua-
sion Of this selfish old man, who would
keep alive the miserable past to poison
the present, who sacrifices two lives
IN srratsf., ht, I