Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-01-18
Beyond the Shadows.

Beyond the Shadows.
as it really true that there is to be
a wedding at Mr.. Harrington's this
week ?" asked one lady Of another
as they gossiped over the counter of d
dry goods store.
ooh, yes quite true. The invita-
tons are out, and the brides dress j:
being finished at Madam Duval's."
"Well, never thought Ruth Sted-
win would marry. Since Herbert Lor.
raine served her the way he did, four
years ago, she hasn't seemed to care
at all for the company of gentlemen. u
81 never really knew the straight
of that Lorraine affair. Do you sup.
pose they were actually engaged ?"
ooh, there's no doubt of it J.! But
he got bewitched with that little curly.
headed thing who came out to visit al
Judge Stanhope's, Miss Lacey OF
Gracey or some such name, and Ruth
like girl of spirit, just gave him his
ticket of leave"
"And did he marry the Gracey
girl?"
eyes, and got we'll paid for his
fickleness. To-day she's faded out
fretful thing, lazy and extravagant
and Herbert is going to the dogs as fast
as he can. I'll bet he's been sorry
many time, but it was a lucky escape
for Ruth"
ut is said, though, that she is going
to marry for money this time"
"Well, / shouldn't wonder. You
know she has no home, except with
her brother-in-law, Mr.. Harrington
and though they think great deal O.
her, and are just as kind as can be
yet of course she feels her dependence
She is going to marry very wealthy
man, who has splendid home il
Columbus, and he's a lawyer, indeed
he's a Judge, l believe, and she will
step into a very nice position"
do you know his name ?"
SHERMAN / think. He's a goo,
bit older than Ruth, but then sh
must be thirty, herself"
"Well, think she's mighty luck.
girl !"
$50 do l. She ought to be happy
if anybody is"
That's what | think"
Meanwhile, the girl about whom
these ladies were gossiping, and who's
bridal was so near, sat in her lon
chamber with deep shadow in he
true brown eyes, and tried to assur
herself of the fact which they seemed
to take as certain, that she was happy
Measured by any worldly estimate
her present position which wealth
and society could give her, would b.
hers in abundance.
But, far back-it seemed to her I
century, though it was only fou
years. she remembered time whel
all the passion of her woman's hear
had been lavished on man who wa
witched from her side by dolls face
with no soul to back it, and Ruth be
lieved that love was forever over will
her.
She did not know how bitter ha,
been Herbert Lorranie's repentance
or, how he had cursed the hour wher
he lost her noble, earnest nature, he
soulful devotion and high principle
for wishy-washy woman who was ,
compound of fretfulness and vanit,
and selishness.
Ruth lived with her sister, Mr.,
Harrington. Her brother-in-lav
honored her for the noble girl sh,
really was, and gladly gave her I
home. She had little means o
her own, enough to dress on, and wa
a happy addition to the household, a
well as company for Mrs. Harrington
when her husband was away.
He represented his country in tn
State Legislature, and it was at Co
lumbus he had become acquainted
with Judge Sherman.
There was convention held in tn
small city where they lived, which
Judge Sherman attended, and wher
he was the guest of the Harringtons
Of course he met Ruth Stedwin
He was widower, but had no children
and the sweet. earnest face Of Mis-
Stedwin, as well as the womanly grac
of her manners, touched his heart a
once.
When he went back to Columbus h
wrote to her, and asked permission +
come again. Ruth would have refuses
it, but she knew that to do so woul
offend her kind brother-in-law, MI
Harrington.
Besides, there was nothing in on
friend merely visiting another. s