The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-20
"Bo you going to Merrlton ?" said Tom

behind the driver, who, swallowing the ale,
took up the rains and drove of.
After a brief space, she became aware
that the man was looking back at her.
She felt sure of it; and, slightly raising her
face, which was veiled, watched
The vast extent Of snow produced gray
light despite the leaden sky above, and by
it the girl plainly saw the mans head slow
ly turn, go that his eyes could behold her.
For some seconds he remained thus, then
averted them.
A sudden terror seized Ruth Fordsham.
For the first time, as she glanced round at
the loucly moor, she became fully con
scious of the danger into which she, in her
anxiety TO reach Merriton, had possibly
run by intrustiog herself to this stranger.
Suppose he was robber-a scoundrel2
The vehicle stopped and the man alight-
ed. She suppressed scream, and com
mandiug her voice said, "Why do you
stay2 Is anything the matter ?"
"No, Miss Fordsham. That is, nothing
such as, probably, you mean. merely
wish you to alight for few minutes, as |
much desire to speak to you, must
speak to you !"
The accents were no longer husky, and
there was something in them that struck
Ruth as familiar.
lie took her hand, and she was too
frightened to resist As she stepped on
the snow he released her, and threw back
his hat. Ruth beholding the face started
away with cry
"Mr. Bryan Avelinc y she exclaimed,
eyes, Ruth Fordsham," answered the
young man--ior he was young and good
looking too.
"Mr. Bryan, she remarked, trembling
violently, yet trying to hide it, "What is
the meaning Of this p
"The same that has governed my action
for the last two years, Ruth; love-loye for
you !"
"Mr. Bryan, If you are not mad, this
conduct is cowardly-ungentlemanly !"
"Call it both, Ruth--or call il madness;
it may be the best term-the true one. l
loved you to desperation-I, who could
have chosen from the richest 10 Merriton,
laid my heart at your feet You rejected
it, and, to avoid me, preferred quitting
your home, and accepting an engagement
10 London"
at was necessity"
"Thats as il may be, he laughed, short.
ly, Struggling his shoulders. "But, Ruth,
vowed, if you ever returned to Merriton,
it should be as my affianced wife, or you
should not return at all That means you
should never marry another man. You
want an explanation of to night, he pro
ceedcd. And the girl saw that his dark
eyes glowed with inward feryer, passion, or
madDess. "Listen heard you had been
telegraphed for to Mrs. Fordsham."
"Oh, Mr.. Aveliuc," interrupted Ruth,
''pray tell me how she isl"
"The same as when you heard he re.
sponded, after a pause and apparent men
tai struggle. 81 knew when you were
coming, and this afternoon rode over to
meet your, aware you would find no vehicle
to cross the moor, aud also of your deep
anxiety to reach Merriton"
"To meet me, Mr.. Aveline For what
purpose ?" asked Ruth
go obtain your consent to be my wife, "
he replied.
"Neyer p she said.
Suddenly, roughly as a man lost to self
control, he caught her wrist.
"Ruthl" he exclaimed hoarsely, do you
love any one else 2"
"Mr. Aveline, you have no right to ask /,
| none to answer"
"But, by Heaven, you shall - he said
fercely.
al once thought it was my brother Ar.
ty,"
"You are acting like coward, Mr..
Bryan"
"l am acting like madnan, Ruth
know it, for AIN mad I" And as she
looked into his face she saw, to her terror,
his words were, for the time, true. "Mad
with my love for you Promise to be
mine, aud in half an hour you shall be in
MerritOn, by your mothers side. If you
refuse"
off | refuse p she repeated, inyolunta-
rily.
81 will not be the one to bear you, prob
ably, to the man you prefer to me. You
see this wild moor--you see the snow is
fallingi leave you here, Ruth--leave
you to your fate Guess what il will be?n
"Oh, Mr.. Aveline-Bryan, you would
never do that"
81 would 1t is for that l have brought
you" he answered; but she noticed his
previously pale face was crimson with
ieryer, and his eyes were dilatcd and bril-
liant.
"lIave mercy !" besought Ruth. "0h,
think Of my mother now waiting me?"
"You think of her, rather, think Of her
aud be mine"
"Neverl" calculated the girl with a
scorn aud indignation her very misery pro-
duced. "UntiI now, Bryan Ayeliue, es-
teemed-I pi,ied you Now, scorn and
hate would rather die here-lcst, fro
zen in the snow-than be your wife. Go
leave me if you will | have one com
foit. | have no call to be grateful to you
for one single action. Heaven alone is
here to help me In that frost |
dcspise you |"
A moment he looked at hcr-now very
pale--with compressed lips.
"Ruth, do you mean this 2 Is this your
inal decision 2"
at is.
Bryan Aveline, mad with fury, disap.
pointment and pain, sprang into the chaise,
and drove off at violent pace.
"Have mercy! Oh, Bryan Aveline,
think Of my motherr'
But tho falling snow mutiied Ler voice,
and soon shut the vehicle from her view,
leaving her alone on the wild moor
With cry of despair she sank TO the
ground.
Not for long, however, did she remain
inactive, as to do so she knew would be
certain death. Besides, her mother She
must try to get to her.
Bryan Aveline had said 10 less than half
an hour he could bring her to her mothers
side; then, BY waking fast, surely she could
reach Merriton in an hour. II she once
could see the lights Of the Chase she would
feel secure.
The question was, In which direction
must she bend her steps. Rising TO her
foot n ,to.v horr,.r aatna1 ta, Hlat