The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-10
CHAPTER XIV.

Kenard Seaforth returned to the fort,
| after his interview with Ruth, with a
moody brow and troubled heart. He re-
called her words and looks of great tender
ness and love, and yet she had told him
they were given for ''the last, last time y
And her unmi5takable grief and changed
appearance filled him with profound uneasi-
ness. She, at least, plainly intended that
it should be all over between tn m; but
Kenard Seaforth could not bring his mind
to realiz9 this.
81 am not going TO give her up" he de-
cided; my da ling loves me, 1 am sure of
that; and | won't allow anything or anyone
to part U.s..
lie thought this as he assembled the stone
staircase Of the fort, and went up to his
own room, pausing, however, at The door of
young Beaton's quarters, as he remembered
the message he had promised to deliver from
FIR iuces Forth.
He raped, and lady's voice called to
him to enter, and when he went in he
found tall, handsome, dark woman St
ting by young Beaton's bed. This was his
mother, Lady Bsaton, wuo smiled and bowed
aad held out a white slim hand, when her son
introduced Seaforta to her.
my boy has b en- telling me how good
you have been to him, MIR. Seaforth," she
said, graciously.
II hope he'll soon be quite well now," an
swered Seaforth, kindly, oking from the
mothers straight, marked features to the
pallid face lying on the pillows. There was
a strong likeness between the two, id
both were of singular regularity and
beauty. But there was a sort of hopeless
apathy and WEAKNESS III Arthur BeatonS
expression, while that of Lady Beatons
was calm, lofty and content She kne
nothing of Arthur's mad attempt upon his
own life, but believed his injuries had been
accidental, and was proud and fond of her
handsome son.
"Will you stay and chat with him awhile,
Mr. Seaforthp she asaed, presently. 81
only arrived an hour ago, and l want to go
and look after my maid, aid see what sort
of rooms she has contrived to get for u.s."
81 shall be delighted" said Seaforth, and
Lady Beaton, having kissed Arthur and
promised to be back shortly, left the
room, and Seaforth was thus free to deliver
his mes age.
''I have just seen a friend Of yours,
Beaton," he began, "who was making a
great many anxious inquiries afte you.n
In an instant the white face flushed, and
t 9 thin hand lying outside the coverlet
twitched
"Miss Forth asked me to tell you," went
on Seat rth, how very sorry she was to
hear of your accident. She said she should
ike TO see you, but l told her that was i'm
possible"
"And did she say anything elser asked
Beaton, with sudden excitement and pas
sion, raising himself up in bed. did she
know what she has done for me-though |
am fool to talk about itp
"She is not worth it, Beaton," answered
Seaforth, gravely.
Don't you think know thatP said Boa
ton, with extraordinary bitterness; don't
you think know it was only to crafty her
va ity that sne tried to MAKE me care for
her, when all the time she meant to marry
Col. Kenyon! No one knows betterp
And he gave a harsh, short laugh.
"Then should try to forget her; try not
to think Of her.n
Its ca to give advice; people tell the
drunkard not to drink, the madnan not to
leap from the d zzy hight; but does it stop
theml No, they go to destruction all the
same, and they know, too, That they are 60
ing.n
but. Beaton, you don't mean TO tell me
that if you had no respect or honor for a
woman, that mere blind passion for her
beauty would make you-well, unhappy
about herf
Beaton turned restlsssly in bed before he
answered, and the he Looked at Seaforth
with face full of gloom.
81 kno must seem fool to you" he
s id, "but-pve understood. Seaforth,
though you have not talked OF it-that YOU
knew what this woman drove me tol Yet
even now, think me mad as you like, can
think Of no one else, aid everything is ut
terly weary aud dreary to me-"
you'll get over all that"
'tWill IL | wish could begin, then. But
what's the good OF talking OF ones follyl-
tell me everything the future Mrs. Kenyon
said, and how d she lookp'
"Shes always handsome, you know"
"Handsomel She's beautiful, she's per-
feet crea ure, and it's no use saying ~
thing else. And to think-good heavens! IL
makes me mad 20 think Of It-that she will
be that old mans wife, and that perhaps
shall see her-but what did she sayr
"She seemed very sorry; she has talked to
me about you before, bus must confess /
don't think very highly of her."
"You cannot tell their circumstances"
said Beaton, restlessly; 'they say Col.
Forth is poor, and Frances told me so; told
me bsggars could not bs choosers, or some
thing t1 tn It effect. or course she is st
marrying Kenyon for his money; there is
no doubt of that-but it seems so horrible,
such degradation"
"Col Kenyon is very nice man."
"He may be nice enough, don't say he's
not but he's old enough to be her father,
and cannot lear to think of i'll Did she
say any hing ab ut writing~
"5he said something about writing be-
fore,,'