Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-01-18
RUTH'S ROMANCE.
CHAPTER vi.


has been on quite friendly terms with
Robert Haviland, a young man with
one arm, and not dollar in his pocket
beyond the amount which the actual
necessaries of life call for, from day to
day. 1t is impossible for him to earn
more, unless he has streak of luck,
and luck can not be depended on. Aside
from the fact of his being poor, there is
nothing to be urged against him, and
this fact Ruth has seemed to ignore.
She knows well enough what l think
about her marriage with him. But
there is no prospect of such marriage
taking place. Mr.. Haviland has been
here. 1 have told him frankly how the
matter stands, and am happy to say
that he very CONSIDERABLY steps aside,
and is not only willing, but anxious,
that Ruth shall consult her interests,
and do as you desire. He has written
to Ruth, and she will understand, when
she receives his letter, that he renounces
all claims upon her, and thus puts an
end to the intimacy heretofore existing
between them. For Ruths sake, / hope
she will comply with your wishes. So
far as am concerned, il matters little
perty my husband left is sufficient to
supply my requirements; but, as have
said, for her sake, trust she will act
sehsibly in this matter. i think she
cared a good deal for Mr.. Haviland, and
his attentions have been so marked that
he doubtless considered that her accept
ance of them was a tacit agreement, on
her part, to that which he, on his part
declared by his actions, if not in words.
This is probably why she told you that
she could not accept attentions from
Mr.. Ford was surprised at Mr..
Haviland's withdrawing from the field
rs he did. Perhaps, on sober second
thought, he came TO the conclusion that
he could not support wife. when it is
as much as he can do to take care of
himself. Perhaps, he should be given
credit for higher motives. He may
have felt that Ruth's interests demand
ed that he should give up all idea of
marriage with her. This much is sure,
he has given up that idea, and told her
so; and yesterday he left for Chicago,
where he accepts a situation on a news
paper. / shall write to Ruth to-day,
and enclose her Haviland's letter. You
will oblige me by saying nothing to her
of what L have written. If she would
not tell you herself, she would blame
me very much for doing so.
Hoping that your plans may tcrmi-
nate successfully, am
Your brothers wife,
JANE NUGENT.'
Aunt Rachel read the letter through
carefully.
1T is plain to see that Jane would
like to have Ruth marry Arthur she
said, musingly. She cares very little
for Ruth's interests. She looks at them
through the spectacles of her own. 1t
was Jane Nugent first, always, with
her. If what she says is true, ard it
seems that it must be, if Haviland has
written to Ruth to that effect, then l
think l shall succeed in carrying out
my wishes after all. But she must not
know what have done, or that | knew
her secret | will hope, and wait.
That day Ruth received letter from
her stepmother, enclosing Roberts.
She read this sentence at the close of
Mrs. Nugent's letter:
Robert Haviland called last night,
and told me that he was going to Chi
cago. He leaves to-day. He spoke of
you, and said he would be glad to see
you before he went away. AS that was
out of the question, he wrote his good
bye, and requested me to enclose it to
you
That was the only reference to Robert
in Mrs. Nugents letter. 1t told moth
ing to Ruth of what had taken place. 1t
stated hard, bewildering fact, in brief,
plain terms, and that was all. Robert
was going away-had gone already
and when she went back home the
place would seem drearier than ever,
because his face did not brighten it, and
his voice was missed in the old songs.
These thoughts came to Ruth before
she had read what Robert wrote. She
felt sure that within the yet folded
pages was a message of regret at leav-
ing her-a tender thought for remem-
brance.
She went to the window to read his
goodbye, so that no eyes might see hel
tell-tale face. She opened the white
pages, saying softly TO herself.
Dear Robert; he has never written to
me beforer
This is what she read:
MISS NUGENT: am going away;
don't know when / shall come back
perhaps never If the paths that part
here never meet again, be assured that
you are not entirely forgotten by,
ROBERT HAvILAND.'
She read the battling message through
with frightened eyes. She felt hersel
gasping for breath, and yet hardly con
scious of it. She knew that she wa.
pale as death. She crumpled the lettel
in her trembling hand, and went out o
the room and into the garden, like on,
walking in a dream. She crept away
behind great lilac-bush, where no on,
would be likely to find her. and sa
down.
She spread the crumpled paper on
upon her knee, smoothing the crease
with fingers that shook as IL the chill o
winters day was upon her. Then sh,
read it over slowly:
MISS NUGENT. Not even my friend.
He had used the most formal of al
terms. Could anything be colderp Tn,
two words seemed TO be like hand
thrusting her away from the man sh
had loved. Il am going away. l don
know when / shall come back-perhap
never. Not word of regret at going
1t seemed as il he had written it from
sense of duty. She would expect hin
to do as much-or as little-as that, be
cause they had been friends. 'Perhap
never From that she was to under
stand that he had no ties to draw hin
back It mattered little where he went