Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1883-04-05
HER CRUEL DUTY.

1t was all over; the l0vin
eyes had smiled their last upol
her; and the pale lips had ei
, deavored to-. frame some las
|. words which never reached he
ears. Mrs. Vennor was deat
aud Ruth was motherless. Rutl
had but a vague remembrance
of Mr.. Vennor. He was tai
, and fair, and reticent, and la,
died of consumption many year
ago.
Now all the magnificent prop
erty would fall to the girl, an,
she had q lover whom world,
people called u lucky fellow
ready TO step into luxury. 3
i But Rolf Grennis knew him
self to be supremely fortunate
IN having won the heart of {
girl like Ruth even If she had
not a dollar to her name.
| Some three months after Mrs
Vennor's death, Ruth received
q call from the old family ply,
sician.
After some desultory conver-
sation, he said. abruptly:
"My dear child, / have some,
thing to say to you which fear
will seem very cruel; but / want
you to try to believe that 1
would use the same words to
my own daughter If it were nec-
essary.'
Ruth gave him her hand con-
fidingly, although an anxious
look drifted into her eyes, for
the doctors face was very grave,
and his manner much depressed.
"Dr. Brian,' she said, earnest
ly, II have the utmost conf.
dence in, and respect for, what
ever you say to me.n
"My dear. I feel the truth of
your words, and l would to
Heaven that duty did not SO
sternly point my way. Ruth,
you intend to marry Rolf Gren-
mis- in q few months 7"
Ruth assented with widening
eyes and a deepening color in
her fair cheek.
"Child, that marriage must
never take place. Hush do not
interrupt me. I have much to
say to you. My poor little girl
you must marry no man. To dc
so would be crimiaal.n
"Dr. Brian p gasped Ruth
pale now from the violence OF
her emotions. ''In Heavens
| HaRds %Gieif' snU' 1ex,eiYucu p,
appealingIy toward him, anu
went on huskily, u great plty
shining in his kindly eyes.
.sThere was a terrible disease
lin the blood of your moth
e,,s ancestors-insanity. Mrs
Vennor had "a severe attack OF
melancholia when she was q
voung woman, and had she NV
ed FIVE years longer, | believe
she would have been hopeless
ly insare. -,
"All this, l know, has beel
strenuously kept from you; ou
it is my opinion that the word
which your mother valniy en-
, deayored to articulate upon he
, death. bed would have been a
: once a confession and a calitio'
e to you, her child; -.
aThe taint of insanity ma
!. never show itselfin you, but
4 il almost certain to ruin tn
!. lives of your children. Ther'
Is fore, my dear Ruth, be bray
il and womanly, and refrain fro
d a step which must bear terrlb
I. fruits. God knows, nobo'
ol could feel more keenly for "
r. than I-your old friend"
He paused.and looked at h
,r "a he drew off his spectacl
et and wiped them with trembill
I'd fingers.
IN Ruth's eyes were fixed up
he his face, but she did not seem
i'm see him, although not a wo
/ had failed to impress itself up
ce her.
nix She was recalling somethl
er which her lover had said d.
les evening in her presenc, WI
" the subject of hereditary tai
a was under discussion.
nd "Any person who mari
to with the knowledge OF disc
he in his or her family, whether
on the body or the brain, comm
of in my estimation, a heinous S
ont She had listened then, pr
me of his good sense and int
low gence, little thinking that
herself would be put to the |
And now, as the full fore
the DR.. Brian's words rushed u
ran. her understanding, the WI
Non seemed to drift from benz
'',,,, her feet; she felt like a P
"i,n shipwrecked wretch at the
all CIV of the wild waves.
mis- She threw up her hands
600 a little, anguished cry, and
good doctor sprung forwal
alarm.
licle But she shook her head,
ex. a smile more dreadful I'll
non storm of tears.
w." "Do not fear for me,
the friend | will do my duty,
than as it seems. But l mus
best away from this place: Lat
any | will come to you for ao
Leave me alone for a'
>