Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-02-08
CHAPTER XIII.

Robert Haviland was sitting in the reading
room of Chicago hotel one day, about year
from the time he wrote his goodbye message
TO Ruth Nugent.
Some one came into the room. He did not
look up from his paper, however, until hand
was laid upon hts shoulder, with hearty, 'How
are you, old fellowi" ~
''Whatl You here, Fordl'' he cried reach
ing out his hand TO meet the strong and cordial
grasp of the other. ~ thought you were out
on the plains, or In California. IL is good for
ones eyes to look ut you again"
.I'm glad TO know IL, answered Arthur Ford,
as he drew seat near Haviland's and sat down
to talk. "How's the world used you, old fel-
low, since went awayp'
"Very well, indeed" answered Haviland.
lift continues to use me as well, l shall have
no reason to complain"
"rm glad of it, said Arthur, in his hearty
fashion. You deserve it."
"And you" answered Robert, with his hand
on the others arm. "Have you enjoyed your
Western lifei Il has left Its marlson your face,
see. You are 'bronzed and BEARDED In the
full meaning OF the term" ~
"Yes, have enjoyed it after fashion," an
swereu Arthur. ~ have come back feeling
better than when went away. j felt down at
the heel, as the saying goes, for some time be-
fore left here"
''Yes, l know said Haviland. II believe 1
told you that such trip was the best medicine
you could take am glad IL has done you
good. Are you going to settle down to work
noww
81 am going East after my fortune first
answered Arthur = $50
"Your fortunel'' said Haviland, question
ingy. "You mean a wife by that, SUPPOSED"
'''No, don't, but wish did," answered
Arthur, with sigh. Haven't you heard
about the money that was left me last winter!"
mo, have heard nothing" answered Hayi-
land.
"A cousin Of my father died, and left me
thirty thousand dollars,' explained Arthur.
THAT'S what meant by my fortune"
II congratulate you, said Haviland, extend
ing his hand, which the other almost crushed
THANK YOU" Arthur said, and sighed again.
do you know, old fellow, there's girl at the
East I'd give all the fortunes In the world for.
III were going after her, should feel that /
was going after fortune that would make me
the richest man on earth.r ~e
Perhaps You may succeed in bringing her
back with YOU" said Haviland "You can't
tell tall you try. Faint heart etc"
~ have tried,n said Arthur-'tried and fail
ed. That was what allied me when everybody
thought i was sick i was trying to get over
my disappointment, and as long as staid here
and moped about in idleness, | got worse.
never told any one else about it, my boy, and
as I've told you so much, III let you see her
He took letter from his pocket, and from
the envelope he drew photograph and handed
IL to his friend.
my God Ruth Nugent"
a, thur looked in astonishmont at Haviland,
as he gave utterance to the exclamation. The
hand that held the picture shook like leaf in
the wind. His face was pale TO the lips.
You know herr" cried Arthur Il never
thought OF 1t before, but | knew you came
from the same place"
"Know hcrl"-Haviland' tone was full of
intense bitterness-"l thought knew her once,
and found out my mistake after 1t was too late
toto save myself sore heart"
~ don't understand 1t at ALL" said Arthur.
Cant you explainl You seem to doubt her.
IL ever there was true woman Ruth Nugent is
one. I'd stake my life on that"
$50 would l, once" answered Haviland.
"And the woman you would marry Is Ruth NJ
gent. Whyn' suddenly, and with an excited
flash in his eyes, "you must be the man for
whom she Tilted me. His name was Ford re
member-her stepmother read IL to me in let
ter from Ruth Nugent's aunt
''See here" Arthur said, laying HE hand on
the others shoulder; "cool down enough 10 tell
me what you mean. ] asked Ruth TO marry
me. She refused. That is my story. Now
tell me yours"
81 loved Ruth Nugent as shall never love
any other woman" answered Robert Haviland,
and his face told that the confession was a
painful one. II believed that she loved me- /
had not asked her TO be my wife in formal
fashion, bat felt that between us there was a
promise as sacred as II spoken In words. She
went 10 visit an aunt. Before she had been
away two weeks, she wrote 10 her stcpmother
that this aunt had planned TO have her marry a
man who was visiting there; and, in case she
married him, this aunt's money was to be left
to them. She felt that had a tacit claim upon
her, and so strong was her sense of honor that
Gh tanx Oft tt.ht oh ,,s.Ik ~.
made by the lover of her aunt's choice unless
felt willing to give her up. This she could
not ask me To do, and her stepmother was dele
gated to act as her agent. The matter was
placed before my consideration. / Gid not
have TO consider it long. / had been deceived
in her,an had no claim that l cared 10 enforce
on the woman in whom had been deceived. /
wrote her line or two-all that was necessary
to convince her that / released her fully from
what had been, before God, on my part, an I'M
spoken engagement of marriage, and / have
not heard word from her since then until to-
day. i supposed she married the man her
aunt selected for her. ! cannot understand
why she refused you"
"There must have been a mistake some
where" said Arthur. Ruth Nugent never
was guilty of trifing with any mans heart.
Ruth Nugcnt never would have married
through any mercenary motive. You wrong
her Haviland.'
u wish 4 could feel sure OF that, the other
said. From the bottom of my heart / wish
that, my friend; for 1t gave me the cruelest
hurt i ever felt, to think the woman / had
thought as true as truth itself was other than
what believed her to be. IL is strange that
she rejected your offer. She obtained release
from my claims for the purpose of marrying
you. / know that. Her stepmother told me
that she asked her TO do what she did with that
intention. i am at loss TO understand why
the intention was not carried out since you
say you asked her to marry you"
'VThere was something wrong somewhere
said Arthur. II do not believe she ever had the
faintest idea of marrying me. She told me she
had no love to give me, and without that to
give she would marry no man. There was
something she would have told me If had
urged her to. But saw that she would rather
not tell, unless insisted, and / did not ask her
to give any reasons for doing as she did; for
knowing what her reasons were wouldn't help
me any. III she had told me that, IL might have
thrown some light upon the matter for us now.
One thing i know, Robert Haviland; when
you think Of Ruth Nugent as q woman capable
of doing deliberate wrong, you misjudge her.
would stake my life on that"
81 hope ] do" Robert Havilaud said, earn
estly. There is sore spot In my heart yet.
Some of the first smart has ceased, but the
wound is not healed, and never will be, for
loyed her-I love her still-and the worst pain
of all is TO think, not that have been deceived,
but that was deceived In her."
TO DE CONTINUED.
The Importance of Reading BEFORE Sign.