The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-02-08


at has come at last, Ruth" ho mur
INJURED. ooh, my precious wife, how
can we bear itl"
"WhatF
Her face was rigid her clenchet
teeth sank deep into the full red lip
"The parting. Uncle Ned has sent
for me- lie says that he cannot last
long"
Rnth's hands were tightly claspod
her form trembled. Oh there Is Buei
woe, such unuttenble agony in these
partings,
.That crush tis life from out Yeung hss,ts
But il was all for the best. They
knew it, and so they determined to heel
all, as btavely us possible.
"Who is with your uncle ut PRESENT.
asked Ruth, at last.
"Lucie Dale, his orphan war,l," Ned
answered, somewhat hurriedly.
lyon never told me of her, Nedp
Ruth's voice had reploaehf,l ring
in it.
mo, darling, | viii explain why It
has always been my unele's wish that
we should marry bat never cared for
her, never trusted Ter, and was deter
mined not Co. That was one reason
why hastened our marriage, Ruth, for
fear that Uncle Ned might insist upon
my marrying Lucie. / believe her to
be false, desigtdng woman. BE cour-
ageeus, little one. We will soon be
happy"
There was moments pause, aud
then Ned continued
"Ruth, will you give me our mar
riage certiiieatel In case that / am
Obliged to acknowledge our marriage TO
Uncle Ned, It viii be best to have the
proof 10 exhibit. And the certificate is
the only existing proof now, for last
night the Office in which the public
records are kept. was burned to The
ground, and all the papers and books
were consumed. | will not retain il
long, darling"
She handed it TO him without word,
for she always wore it next to her heart
And so they parted, with long long
kisses of farewell, and elinging embraces,
and words of love, that could never be
forgotten.
And the long, dreary, almost inter
minable days dragged by, with no break
in their ccaseless, stagnant monotony
to the waiting heart of the young wife,
save the long, loving letters which came
at first frequent and tender, then, grew
less frequent, and ,then-o oh was it not
horiiblel ceased altogether. For weeks
Ruth waited aud watched for the COM
ing of the "white winged messenger of
peace" waited with the awful anguish
Of suspense, and the sickening doubts
of hope deferred. 1t has always seemed
60 mo that the hardest, most bitter,
most uncomfortable part of life Is just
such waiting. Give mo the sharp, quick
agony Of knowing the worst, il is in
finitely better than suspense, which,
like water dropping upon II rock, wears
the heart away.
One chill, dreary November morning,
when the sky seemed full of tears, only
waiting to fall, Ruth opened the news
paper, which came once week to bring
newa from the busy world outside.
Some spirit directed her wandering, list
less eyes to the column of marriages.
"ldarrie1-In New York City, on
the 18th inst, by Rev. Jolsn Jno. Stock
well, Edward Bentley, to Lucic, only
daughter of the late Arthur Dale, of
New Orleans"
| With low, gasping cry, she covered
/ hcr face with her hands. A deserted
wife, rminod. lost, for he still retained
the marriage certificate, and no other
proof existed in the world.
q knew that he would regret it p
she walled, in bitterness, 81 am older
than he, and he is but boy"
Even in that dark hour of agony, she
had no word of censure for the man she
loved. For, all tho while, despite the
dreadful fact which stared her in the
face reIentlessly, and which that paper
had revealed, there burned within her
heart the vestal FIRE of that faith, which
''many waters cannot quench, neither
can the foods drown" In the very
face of indisputable truth, she deter
mined to seek Ned Bentley and obtain
an interview. Pride said no. but love
in this womans heart was stronger than
pride, and it prevailed.
Ono morning, early, before any of the
household of Leon were stirring, Ruth
stepped out from che low doorway OF
She house, which she was never again to
enter, and took her way over the dewy
roads, on to the station, mile distant.
She had decided to leave in this man
ner; for she well knew that the madame
would never consent, and she could not
endure the storm which she knew would
follow disclosure of the truth.
She had means sufficient to defray
her expenses to New York and soon
seated in the train, she was whirled
away northward. 1t was evening OF
the fourth day, when, almost worn out
with fatigue she arrived in New York
City. She knew the residence of her
husbands uncle, for her letters to Ned
had always been addressed to his house,
and so, stepping into q carriage she soon
reached her destination. 1t was an i'm
posing, brown stone mansion, and timid-
! ly ascending the marble steps she rang
the bell A servant, in livery, opened
the door.
ssCan / see Mr. Edward Bentley 2"
The man stared, and then, pushing
open the door, conducted her into a
small, luxurious apartment Some one
was lounging there in discontented at
titude. 1t was Ned. Her heart stood
| ctiII Sba adyaDcod a cfa, Ha o,orn