The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-26
1ALL RIGHTS reservoir


toId me that sac was coming here: that she
should soon be back-and [ waite led her
drive away"
Here he broke down, and a sob wruug
from the brave mans heart choked his ut
terance; and Ruth laid her hand tendarly
on his shoulder
"Oh, don't, Hugh, doa'tm she said; but
what else could she say? She could
not speak of hope when she could see
none; wheu black shadow lay over her
own heart; prescie zee of a great wrong
done to this kindly gentleman.
I'VE must try to keep up" said Col
Forth, passing his large hand with a quick
gesture over his eyes, where an unwonted
IN lsture had stolen at the sight of the
grief of his old friend 1--WE had best see
the inspector of Police now, l thinker
shall we waltz"
why should we waltz" answered Col.
Kenyon, rising. II am ready; let us go
now"
Ruth followed them into the passage,
and again wrung Col. Kenyon's hand, and
then watched the two go out on their dis
maj Grand
Come back here" she said before they
went, AMI when she was left alone she sat
down and covered her face with her hands,
trembling and shuddering at the idea of
what any moment might bring forth
A minute or two later the postman rang
at the house door, and Ruth started to her
feet, listening with parted lips and fast
beating heart to some words he was saving
to the servant. Then the servant brought
In the letters, and with a CHASTITY face Ruth
Dire y near the silver tray on which they
lay, and put out a trembling hand to turn
them over
But there were none in her handwriting
For moment this seemed a sort of relief
and yet IL would have ended this gnawing
anxiety, this frightful uncertainty. The
10 ters were all for Audley aud presently
Ruth carried them upstairs, and he looked
at her inquiringIy as she entered the ROOM
We'll, Is there any news" he said.
None" she answered, and she laid the
letters on the he'd.
She has not written. thenn
Ruth shuddered
Col. Kenyon and my father have been
here, she said, in low, panied tone; land
they believe that she has been murdered
that she is dead
scOtfingly. ''Do YOU think that Arthur
BeaCon is dead to p
Il told my father he was not at the fort,
aud he was very angry even at the idea.
OF course, Col. Kenyon has no SUSPECT ln.'
He is fool" said Audley, impatieptly,
ga trustful fool; that woman was an angel
in his eyes-but he'll soon be wiser"
But even Audley, hard and cynical as he
was. felt moved to pity whe later in the
day-he saw Col. Kenyon's face, on whicn
the gray shadow of despair was so plainly
imprinted, He had offered a thousand
pounds reward for information that would
lead to the discovery of his wife, and there
was much excitement among the police in
consequence, and the whole country side
round HeadforJ was being carefully
searched.
'Wby don't they go to the railway station
first!' said Audley to Ruth. ut would be
very easy to fl I'd out what train Beaton left
Headfort by, and if he left alone or with
lady; it would simplify matters a good deal
if your father or the police weat to the fort
to make inquiries"
But he did not suggest this to the gray,
broken-hearted man who sat at his table,
pushing ava the food they placed before
him, and with his head bowed down so low.
Beato1's ma ne was never mentioned, and
Col. Re " had completely forgotten his
exis,e ce; had forgotten everything indeed
but the overwhelming bitterness of his 10 S.
Lulcn was on the table when he and Col
Forth returned to Rlths, and Audley asked
them to remain for it, and hey st4yei, but
Col. Kenyon broke no bread" his grief in
deed was hey md expression.
No news came in all day, and as the
evening gathered in, Col Kenyon returned
to Sudley, though both Audey and Ruth
urged him to remain with them.
But he would not.
81 may be nearer my darling there he
said to Rut i for he was quite convinced
that Frances had been robbed and muir
dered, and probably lay hidden in some of
the fields between Headfort and Sudley;
and not one of them had the courage to
suggest any other solution for her disap-
peagance.
S he went away alone, but Col. Forth
agreed to go over at on to the park if any
thing was discovered; and about . o'clock
in the evening the inspector OF police
C He'd, and asked to see Col. Forth, who
had remained at Ruth's to dinner. The in
spector hest tated a moment, and then asked
Col Forth if there was any reason to sus-
pect that 1.-THE lady had voluntarily left her
home"
Forth started as if something had stung
him, and stared the man angrily in the
face.
What do you mean" he asked.
The in Dec5or then proceeded to inform
him that the man who gave out
the tickets at Headfort station
had sold a frst-class ticket for
London to a lady to go by the IL o'clock
train, whom he thought was remarkably
like Mrs. Kenyon of Sudey Park, though
he was not very well acquainted with her
appearance.
WAS the lady aloner' asked Col Forth,
with trembling lips.
Eyes, she was alone when she took the
ticket" the inspector said; but" he added,
tone of tue porters had Informed him that
"A young gentleman joined her before the
train started, and they left together IN the
same com rartmeut."
"This could not have been Mrs. Kenyon"
said Forth; my daughter had no intention
of going to town.
But all the same the policeman left Maj.
Audley's house feeling pretty sure he was
on the right track.
Col Forth went back to the dining room
after his interview with the Inspector in q
very excited condition Of mind. He looked
uneasily at Audley, who was lying on the
couch, and then ut Ruth and netting in
the expression Of his face struck them
both.
"Auv newst" asked Audley, briefly.
THAT police nan fellow has got hold of
some story-a most unlikely story that a
lady, something like Frances, took a ticket
for London yesterday, to 20 by the II O'Clock
train; but he admits he hardly knows her
bv sight, answered Forth, with agitation.
"An" said Audley, but the monosyllable
expressed much.
"And-and did he say anything elsa!n !
asked Ruth, with gasping breath
'Some folly; nothing certain replied the |
colonel, pouring binsef out a glass OF /
port WITH his trembling hand.
"Why not send over 20 the fort, or 90 |
over, ID ask what train Beaton started |
, f1s.f Ast ao.1iv