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

to her if doiH
YES, certainly if you wish it.n
"Reach me that desk, then, like good
fellow; don't wa t my mother to know
nor Audley. | am gong home with my
mother in a day or two, and | should like
well, to say good-by
Seaforth brought the desk, and then turned
away and went to the willow, aud stood
| taere looking down at the misty sen. 1t
was gray, dull day, and his heart was sad
and troubled. H. was very fond of Ruth
| Forth, a d her unaccountable conduct
| seemed more and more unreasonable
the longer he thought of it. And while
| Beaton, with his shaking hand, was pouring
| out his eager, passionate words of farewell
| to the beautiful woman VINO had be-
| witc ed his soul, Seaforth made 10 his
mind that he woul ask for leave and go
| home for a short time to seq his father and
mother, and try to persuade the to give
| their consent to his marriage; for his mind
| had again returned 10 the idea that somehow
through their inf fence Ruth had acted as
she bad done.
Presently, with weary, heavy sigh, Bea-
| ton told him his letter was ready.
Every well shall l seal it and inclose it
| to Miss Forths" said Seafor b, re urning to
the bedside; and, with reluctant hand-as
though he did not care to part with it-Bea-
| ton gave him the letter, which Seaforth
|
him.
He was still talking of her, this unhappy
| boy, abusing Frances at one A.oment and
| pralsiag her the next, for he ever "fed on
lJve's moody food" though he knew it was
poisoning him, wnen Maj. Audley rappe 1
at the rom door and cane il, and after
exchanging few words, Seaforth asked
| him if he could have leave for a day or
| two.
Audley looked down at him sharply as he
did this, and smiled.
YES, my dear fellow" he said, "when do
you wanG to goP
| Tomorrow, if I can get away" an
| swered Seaforth. ~ want to see my father
about some business matters" and he cast
| down his eyes
'.All rig1t," said Audley, and the CONVEX
sation ende 1, Seaforth shortly afterwar1
| Having the room, and carryi e Beaton's
| foolish words for Frances Forth away with
him.
But Audley did not go until Lady Beaton
| retur ed. His cool, acute gazs had read
some fresh i rms Of restless misery in Bea-
| tons face, and he was afraid to leave him.
| He guessed the truth per APPS, and thought
it very likely that Frances Forth had sent
some note or message by Seaforth, and he
| thought also some very hard things Of her.
| He therefore waited for Lady Beaton, aud
| hen went to his own room and wrote to
| Ruth Forth. He sat with pen i'll hand for a
| few moments, considering wnat to write be-
| fore he commenced, and then wrote as fol-
| lows:
DEAR RUTH-Seaforth has just asked
! for leave the efore | couclute you have
| fulfilled your promise and broken with him.
He is going tomorrow, and | propose to call
| on you tom irrow afternoon about o lock,
| aud shall afterward speak to your father
and tell him of our engagement. | wish
| also our marriage to take place soon, to
winch / expect you to offer no objections.
| Bu5 we can discuss this point whel | see YOU
tomorrow, and | remain, very sincerely
| yours, X. AUDLEY."
The next mornings post carried this hard
| letter to the broke -hearted girl to whom 1t
was addressed. Ruth had b ell quite pros
| trate during the rest of the day af5er her
| interview with Seaforth; her over whelm-
ing grief seeming to ner greater than she
could bear She lad not attempted to go
| down to dinner, and Frances grew absolute
| ly afraid that after ali she was going to
| break her pro Mise, and refuse 10 carry on
| her engagement t. Audley. And thu terri
bic conseque ices of this were quit clear to
| Frances, and yet she dare not speak on the
| subject to her young sister, who looked
| like one who had heard her death warrant.
| Nay, it was more bitter than death to her,
| this rending of her heart; this b. each of
| price so vile. Sne had to buy Audley IS
| silence by the sacrifice OF all that was pure
| and beautiful to her; her love, her tender
| hopes her lovers trus5-all must 60 Ruth
lay there on her bed, coun ing the cost with
dry, fearless eye, after Frances had left
her, a I'd it seemed to her more tn IN she
could endure. She resolved at Iength-vaia
hopei-to try to turn Audley from MS pur-
pose. Sac would see him, she told herself,
and kneel down and pray him, for Gods
sake, to have some pity on her. She would
give up Kenard-oh, US; she had gi, en-
him up-she would promise never to see
him again, never to SPEAK to him any more,
if only Maj. Audley would not force her to
! marry him.
Some sort of hope stole into her breast
after she had made this resolution. But
she little knew the nature with which she
had to deal, and that the p city shared
songster of the fields has as much chance of
release from its hard-eyed captor, as it
beats itself against the cruel oars of its
cage as she had from the man who held her
in MS power. Audey had strong passions
and a determined will, I'd Ruth's swest
face had won his fancy, and he thought ner
girlish love for Seaforth would som die
His letter gave a fresh blow to her poor
tremb ing neart, but she still kept to her
purpose, aud determi led TO see him. She
said nothing of this to Frances, and
Frances wondered WnaU naQ given the look
| of streng IA to her usually wistful grIy eyes,
| and could not understand, wuen AudleY
callei at the appointed hour, how it was
that Ruth received the announcement very
| quietly, and at once rose and went into the
| drawing room.
"Sae must have expected him." thought
F ances. alxiously, and during tAe ter
view which followed, the elder sister
waited upstairs with fast-beating, trou-
| bled heart.
A i'd now lot us see how it was faring
with the pale girl who me INT to beg for
something that was dearer to hey tn IN life.
Ruth walked into the drawing room in that
quick, mechanical way with which We
sometimes 60 to meet painful scenes, and
speak painful words.
Audiey was sta ding by the window as
she went in, and he at once advanced to
meet her with outstretched hand. Did he
feel how chill was her little palm, and note
her pale cheeks and averteJ evesl If so,
he ma lie no sign aud asked no questions
"Well, | have been very & cd, have
notf' he said, smiling. land done exactly
what YOU told me; so you must be good in
RETURN
He did not release her cold, flute ing
hand, but held il in his strong, warm
grasp, and a feeling Of powerless less began
10 creep over r tins sinking heart.
''Seaforth left this mcrnilg," went on
AUDI y, with his eyes fixed on her changing
face, land before he returns | want hin 10
hear that we are engaged, and | snail write
and fall ri i'm for Of cDurga Won haVa