The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-20

ness, and chase each other to earth, they
panied her over-strained vision, and made
her sick and giddy.
"0h, my matherl" she moaned. "0h,
Bryan could you ever have loved me and
left me like this Oh, you were mad
mad Oh, Arthur she added, with sob,
"are we never again to meet2"
Her numbed feet warned her that did
she remain inactive longer, soon action
would be beyond her power. She must
keep moving, or die One thing was in
her favor. The keen east wind of the day
had now ceased, and the air wns still. u
At first doubtfully, then with the reck.
lessness of despair, Ruth Fordsham began
her walk. She thought as she went, Of
the cheerful fires blazing within mile of
her, with merry faces and light hearts
gathered round, for this was the eve Of
Old Christmas night. Had il been New
Yenrs, she might soou have been guided
by the bells. Now, all was silent. Eyeu
when she called aloud, as frequently she
did, her voice seemed smothered, and
forced back upon her.
huth hoIusuah was tho ohiy ohhu VI
the widow Of the late incumbent OF Mer5
riton Her beauty, accomplishments aud
graceful demeanor had won her many sui
tors Among them were the two sons OF
Edward Ayeline, Of Merriton Chase.
Bryan had wooed hrst and openly, but
Ruth's heart had already gone to the gen
Tier, younger brother Fearful, however, OF
arouslng the elders passion, which was
not ana herce, she had accepted ah en-
gasement IN London, hoping by her ab-
senee 10 make bryan forget ner' now
iruitiess mas Deeh SHOWN
now long tne eiri wandered through
the snow she knew not In tue solitude
abu silence u appeared hoqrs' y tisht-
ness was over her heart' a guil' Slumprous
sensation I'D ner brain one W0uiu nave
gwen almost her NE 70 sleep, put daIed
poh one knew long ago sue nap los. heI
Way, oH' " monoIopous muIhur TN SeP'
repeating ~ must not Fs@aih sur ol OF
'he snow win cover me- ana shaIl die
enc was unconscious OF al put tnis,
even e. tna' ,he snow was iar less t9icAly
,alIlng' unti, she was aroused 3y nnuins
larse SatR opleot eelore her ohe was TOO
Wretcned even ior transient fear, ana
speedily discovered IL 70 DO ruae species
u sneu' ereeteu' Prooaoiy; Dy t1,i cutters
IL oneteu she',cr' ana siauiy ruin mas
'eneu 10 Tug uoor, wneh there deli uis
tine'ly = On her ear a ia'nt ery' Us 'or he'P
ioii1wcu py moan
het o~n position caused her 10 reeog
nlae Tue trush' lnere was some one iost
even as she' anu ~ once sue proceeaeu u
Tue direction, ea'iing'
a , 1oieo ,ain'iy ans"ereu' snu n'e MN
u'es ,a'sr sue saw d m1unu OF whi'e snow
" "ui.n iay . uian' nai ourieu also u
tue "n''e mantle
huunihs loF"aru' she Dent doWn, 'het
u'Ie,eu 'Sn q ety'
Dryan
hpth nc sasPed In amaze, raising
MS Wn''e iace, Wnen the sirl saw iars'
"ouuu un1, on his temple -,
80, Nha' mas happened sne CALCULATED
ou are hur' now can l heip you :
Iielp me-yoe huth hather go an'
iea'e INC 20 my 'a'e' na, iee'ios cal
yIu nave ior one VINO uoateu you SO pra
ANY ,p us uiu 10
DIyun ascline, you were nos yoarSeii
Sou "e,S Nv ao'lu uhuer an d''a9H Oh % inau
neSs; me are po'n lost ~ WIN not iea''
you n1w were you hur'
nun =, was a henu1a nehu from pas
SION ne answered as you say, wal
inno' pu' zen minutes ai'er drove on $
lurlous'y, aOanuVnipg you 20 80 cruei
iate reason came pack' ana with II remorse
l returned 70 nno you, ous could not
resolved, however not 10 leave The mool
untii aiqi npu all through the night nave
peen drlVing ABOUT seeking ana calling
upon you, hu'h' until 'ne wheel OF 'hs
enaise sunk ln'o ashowu!iit aGu was over
turned l was thrown violently out, WINE
''ne norse' oIeaNiss hissTtIaees' galiopeo
On. now, NUN, ueSr Fisu'n say you iof
give me' then Try 10 save yourself 'for q
remain out on the moor on such nigh'
Is death
bryan, ! WIN not leave you she an'
swered' = forgive you, ana, by heaven
mercy, both OF us shall 1--we Within
twenty yards OF TINS is as shed. Look; the
snow Is ce9sing; you can perceive the place
yonder. 10 yeu thlnk you can get to II
WIN my he'Pf Iry-oh, try =.
heaven piess you, huth les, l VIII
lry NY iimos are numbedi butt will
Try There are the chaise rugs they may
be OF service 4 AL a iftMt
In few minutes the girl had pulled
them from under the snow, aud, coming
back, gave Bryan her arm.
"huth, he said, with emotion, Hyou
have taught me lesson. would have
taken your life--you have saved mine.
"fou were mad, and not answerable for
your actions, she replied simply.
He was silent, only gratefully pressing
the arm on which he leaned.
Reaching the shed, she pushed open the
door and they entered BY the light re-
fracted from the snow, they saw a heap Of
rough implements in one corner The
other was darker, but Ruth, finding it free,
constructed with the rugs a couch for
Bryan. When he had lain down, she
bound her handkerchief about his head,
81 would not let you do all this, Ruth,
he said, only that you must not stay here.