Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-09


SAYS Ruth, and ran into the room wher'
her mother sat.
I'm going out to ride with Harry, ma
said she, and catching up hat anC
shawl that lay upon a lounge, stood be
fore the mirror to put them on.
Nobody will see you to night" said
Mrs. Pennington. "What night it is
for a ride-dark as pitch"
Not on the road, ma, said Ruth
aud hurried off.
But it was dark-So dark that aftel
the streak of light from the lamp
in the parlor had ended, she could
literally see nothing. She found tn,
latch OF the garden gate by feeling fol
it, and stepped outside. There under
the poplars, stood a dark object, a sort
of silhouette of carriage, horse and driy-
er, all in one piece. She approached it
hand met hers, and helped her in.
"Oh, how dark it is, can see you
Harry" she said.
Then the hand went around her waist
and drew her close 1t was no unwont-
ed thing, and surely it was right for a
promised wife to yield to the embrace
and nestle her head on the broad shoul-
der.
Il suppose it will be lighter on the
road. said she.
The answer was that little unspellablc
sound that people use for the affirmative
when they do not want to Speak-ani
the carriage dashed away furiously.
'Why do YOU drive 50 fast, Harry >
/ she asked, as they whirled through the
village, the wiudow-hghts flashing past
them-a, it scmmcd-each blurred
star. no more. The horse is not run
ming away, dear
The arm iighteued about her, but
no word was spoken.
"Why don YOU say anything Harry
she said. I'm frightened. Nothing
ha, happened
Nothing, was answered, in sort
of whisper.
Blu, know something has, said
she. You never behaved 50 before.
am trembling. Harry, feel how trcm-
ble. am cold all over Harry. please
speak. Still the carriage whirled on
still there wa, silence, and now The village
was passed. They were alone on a
lonely road. and faster and faster still
they drove on. The thought that her
o,tro,hcd lover had suddenly gone mad
thrust itself Ike stab into Ruth $
heart. Oh, ii she could but see his face.
"Harry, she said. fal,eringly, "Har-
~. won't You 20 back now: It Is so
dark. I'm tired Of driving, Harry.
Suddenly he bent toward her.
kiss me. said he.
She lifted up her lips As she did So,
,traiuiug her eyes toward his face, the
black cloud, overhead suddenly parted,
and from between them peepod the moon
at her full. and Ruth saw By the white
and CHASTITY light the lace Of Ralph Bar
low
/, was hc who sat beside her. She
understood quite well how She had been
uicked. She was miles from home and
in his power. He had fulfilled his threat
Of vengeance.
so. vou are surprised SAID he with a
laugh. Come, make up your mind to
it, was good enough Tor YOU once.
You have kissed me before, lassie. AIS
fair in love and war, YOU know. I'll
no, make YOU bad husband. | love
YOU, my dear, or I'd never have done
this. So goodbye TO the doctor"
Ralph Barlow, l hate YOU, cried
Ruth. If | was fool enough to like
You once. | hate YOU now. III say no.
I'm tell the minister YOU carried me off.
What fool YOU are, to think a girl can
be married without her consent. Take
me back at once. I'm TO marry DR..
Howard on Wednesday.
Indeed" said Ralph Reflect a mo-
ment. You will then have been away
with me two days. scarcely think DR..
Howard will want wife who has beeu
away with another man two days. l
think by that time you will be quite will
ing 10 say YES. Come. once YOU liked
the notion. Those steady going Yankee
parents chose the doctor for you-thats ;
ALL Wen have a merry life together,
plenty of money, Jolly times. Come.
make up your mind 10 ii.
Harry Will think played him false, "
said Ruth. Harry Will believe me such
wicked girl.
Just so, said Ralph
And mother and father" moaned
Ruth "Oh, Ralph, take me back home,
and I'll pray ior YOU every night OF my
life
I'D rather you would kiss me every
day. said Ralph. No; I'll never so
back with you
Then he drove on faster than bsfore !;
and though Ruth uttered scream after
scream, and strove i her despair to cast
herself into the road, the cries spent
themselves on empty air, and the strong
arm around her waist made her struggles
utterly useless.
At last she ceased to cry out, and sat
perfectly quiet; but it was not, as Ralph
supposed, that she had yielded 70 fate
She was watching intensely for the next
house that they would pass, hoping that
some one would hear the desperate
screams that she would utter.
At last she saw ia square white
building in the upper windows OF which
a light burned brightly. for there people