Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-11-10

you think would marry man poor ol
low born2 Gould I, with my extrava
CANT ideas, struggle with poverty No,
indeed. 1t would be criminal for me,
knowing myself as well as 7 do, to link
myself to man who could not support
me as have always been supported.
But Ruth said nothing, only into her
soft eyes came an almost sad expression.
The following day brought Lawrence
Efingham, and Ruth, looking into his
face with its clear eyes, knew that he was
noble and true. How quickly she grew
to like him-they had SO many likes in
common, and they both loved Judith so
dearly; they were never tired of talk
ing Of her when they chanced to be
alone together, and Ruth knew far bet
ter than did Judith how deeply Law
renee loved her.
They were sitting with Mrs. Ellesly
in her room one morning, Judith and
Ruth, several weeks after Lawrence
had returned from Europe, when SER
want brought Judith letter. She
opened it, a smile curving her lips as
she recognized the handwriting. Mrs.
Ellesly and Ruth, talking together, did
not notice that as she read the contents
her face grew deathly white, her lips
trembled. The letter dropped from
her hand in strained, unnatural voice
she spoke:
Ruth, auntie, Lawrence has lost
every dollar of his fortune he is ready
to release me from my engagement to
him."
It was as though thunderbolt had
fallen into the pleasant, sunshiny room.
Mrs. Ellesly sank back in her chair /;
she was wholly unprepared for this.
But Ruth went to her sisters side, and
took the small icy hands in her own.
Darling" she whispered, what
does it matter his love has not gone,
you have that still !; and what is all the
gold in the world compared to that ?"
But Judith drew her hands away, her
lips curling scornfully.
81, Lady Judith, marry poor man p
she said. ''No, no, it can never be-"
Mrs, Ellesly's teachings had had their
effect.
Judith" said Ruth, her own face
white too, 'syou will not let him go from
you now, when he loves you So"
For a moment Judith was silent
pressing one hand to her heart where
dull pain throbbed for she loved
Lawrence Efingham, how dearly she
did not know until long after then
slowly repeating the words, "It can
never be-" she left the room. Soon
after Mrs. Ellesly followed her, Ruth
heard the low murmur OF their voices
as she sat there, her heart filed with
great pity for Lawrence. And then
just indignation rose within her. If
that was the way of the world. she
thought, then it was well she had no
place in it she could not ever have a
part in society where poverty means
disgrace, where love must be bound
with golden chains else it flies away.
Late that afternoon Judith sent for
her colder, laughter than ever before !;
no trace of tears in the beautiful eyes,
only new compressed look about the
mouth.
"Ruth, she said, quietly, drawing
from her finger the golden band with
its cleaning diamond that Lawrence
had placed there, 81 shall not see Mr..
Efingham tonight when he calls; it
would only distress us both unneces-
sarily. Give him this, and this note.
That is all"
When Lswrence came that night with
despairing hope upon his face, his
eyes wistful and eager, it was Ruth
alone that met him, and looking into
her eyes he read his answer. Then the
faint hope that had 'buoyed him up all
through that long day forsook him.
Sinking down he covered his face with
his hands, moaning only her name, the
name that was SO sweet to him, Lady
Judith
With tears falling like rain over her
face, Ruth tried to comfort him, this
man who had pinned all his love and
faith upon broken reed, and afterward
when the terrible pain had died in his
heart, the memory of that face came
back to Lawrence Efingham. He took
his ring and the note in which Judith
had told him that it was better they
should part, for time at least it was
a note filed with the philosophy Of the
world. not Gods world, but that world
which has wealth for its god and when
our hearts cry out with hunger, philoso-
ply is very bitter food.
He had loved Judith Stanhope with
his whole strong nature reading the
words she had written, he felt that that
love was already thing OF the past,
love and unfaith could not lie together
in his heart. Where love- had been
came dull hopelessness, bitter pain.
He went away to the far West. In the
busy city Of San Francisco he com
menced new life, and yet sometimes
when his thoughts would stray back