The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-27

WTSTITOIIVUTI
horse to his groom, and, having opened the
latch of the garden gate, was speedily
walking by RuUh's side among the wet lilac
bushes and laurels which grew round Col.
Forth's little house.
He had a good face, this Kenard Seaforth,
whom Col. Forth had asked TO take lunch
with his daughters, and whom the gossips
at Headfor5 said he would not object to
have for s1n-ln-law. face, which
though not absolutely handsome, impressed
you fayorably as to its owners character.
| His features were straight and his eyes
smiling, honest and clear. He had, more
| over a certain well-bred look, which Is not
easily assumed. He was tall, erect and
| slim, and looked very happy al he walked
| by Ruth Forth's side, keeping somewhat
| unnecessarily crosse to her slender form. An
| only son OF Gen. Seaforth's and a senior
! lieutenant in the - Regiment, two COM
panes of which were stationed at Headfort,
| he was supposed to be fairly well OIL III this
worlds goods, and he was very frequent
| guest at Col. Forth's.
And it was Ruth Forth, not the beautiful
elder sister, VII m he admired.
! THE snleqdid Frances he had one day
confided 10 his senior officer, Maj. Audley,
| who commanded at Headfort, lis not quite
TO my taste somehow; Beaton raves about
her; but then Beaton is younGster."
| Mai. Audley shrugged his broad shoulders
|
laugh.
such women" he said, sententiously,
care certain Of victims among the old and
very young"
THE other sister is quite a different sort"
! said Seaforth, quickly.
| The elder man looked at tbs younger ones
| ingenious face somewhat curiously.
YES he said, slowly, ''she Is now" and
| he turned away, leaving Seaforth feeling
unnecessarily angry.
Nevertheless, his commanding officers re
mark had no influence on him. lie was a
| young man who formed his own Judgment,
and it would have taken many of Maj.
| Audley'S hard words to make him think i'll
of Ruth Forth. These two seemed to I'M
derstaud each other, and they met with
pleasure and parted with regret. There was
| a iUtle arbor at one side of Col. Forth's gar
! dsn-a homelY ol1-faShioned spot enough
| round which the lilac bushes and laburnumS
! grew, and at Seaforths suggestion Ruth
now carried her flower basket there, aud
| they sat there together, and talked light
! pleasant words, which vet to them we're full
OF meaning This dawn of love-the rosy
opening Of tho oft bitter end-seems ever
fresh and sweet, as in the garden where it
/ first began They looked IN each others
! faces, and they smiled, and all the troubles
| of the world seemed far away. 1t was Sea
forth himself who reminded Ruth that
there were other things to do beside sitting
| in the green arbor alone with him. He very
innocentlv mentioned Col. Forth's name,
and this at once recalled TO Ruth's mind her
fathers orders, Sac sprang to her feet, and
! took up her basket
II mus go in" she said, land see after
some little household affairs; aud the flow
ers want putting right on the table,
Let me- help youF asked Seaforth, smil
| ing; but Ruth shook her head.
INV h.aV-u G1a aalA crf1n 10
| if YOU like | shall not be long" and with
little nod she went away; and Seaforth,
| having a cigarette, sat still thinking of her,
with his eyes fixed vaguely on a white cloud
sailing over the blue SKY.
| What a sweet girl she was, ne reflected; a
! girl who would help to keep mau straight,
| and pull him up, not drag him down as they
went together hand-in-band along the often
dangerous paths of life. 1t will he seen
| from this that Mr.. Seaforth was seriously
| thinking Of asking Ruth Forth to be his
| companion through the doubtful, strange
and devious ways we all must tread. He
! had in truth, almost settled to do this He
| expected to get his company shortly, and
when he did so meant to ask Ruth to be his
| wife
Presently he arose, flung away his cigar
cite, and strobe toward a little tool house,
which stood a short distance from the arbor.
| He entered this, and apparently began seek
! ing for something among the rusty rakes
| and other gardening implements which
were CO. lected here. Bat he did not find
| what he was looking for; and while he was
| doing this, Ruth, who had arranged the
! flowers on the luncheon table, and folded the
| table napkins in tasteful fashion, returned
| to the garden, and she grew little pale and
| her breath came short when she saw Mr..
| Seaforth in the tool house.
| He heard her step, and looked round.
Miss Ruth, | can't find your little SPADE
| he said II was going to amuse myself by
| finishing carving your name on 1t; you
| know | only got far as the Ruth the
last time | was here. Do you know where
it is"
II think l lent it to some one" an
swered Ruth, with falterlng lips and down
cast eyes; and Seaforth noticed her evident
| agitation with great surprise.
| "Wel, it will cast up some day, sup
| pose" he said still looking at her. shall
we go back to the arbor now"
And they went back, but to Ruth Forth
| the sunshine seemed suddenly to have
turned chill, and she shiVered slightly as she
sat.
| "Were you out in the rain last night, Miss
Ruthm asked S saforth, kindly. II fear you
nave caught cold somehow"
| mo- said Ruth, in low tone; and she
was thankful at this moment TO perceive
| her fathers scarlet Flsage over Ine ratings
approaching the garden gate; and the
| colonel also was not displeased to see his
daughter sitting beside the young soldier.
"Ah, Seaforth, is that youg he said, as he
appr0achee them, stretching out lean red
| hand adorned with long light hairs; ''am l
behind my time or are you before yoursH
And he looked at lis watch.
81 am before mine, | expect sir" answer
| ed Seaforth, with quick blush.
"Ah. it's all right, then. Ruth will have
been talking to you, | supposed Well, come
| in now; you know your way to the drawing
| room. III be down in minute; | want to
wash my hands"
Mr. Seaforth knew his way to the draw
ing room. and speedily found himself there
! talking TO the colonel's eldest daughter Miss
| Frances Forth.
She was, no doubt, q beautiful woman,
whatever splteful or envous people chose to
say to the contrary. She was tall and fair,
and her form was remarkable for its grand,
! full bounty. She had bright chestnut
hair, brilliant complexion, and large, ra-
diant, smiling, hazel eyes, which had haunt
ed many a young mans dreams. She was
dressed in deep red tea gown, deliberately
trimmed with Indian embroidery, and she
held out her slim white hand as Seaforth en-
tered with gracious smile.
$50 you and Ruth have been ruralising
in the arbor among the caterpillars, and
forgetting poor me" she said, with a GER
tain coqusttish grace, which was part Of her