The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-14


completely that she knew if they met he
probably would not speak to her; not
touch her hand nor look one moment in her
face
And the bitter thought that he must de-
spise her, that knowing she loved him, she
had yet apparently of her own will married
another and richer mani To be misun-
derstood is very hard, but to DO misunder-
stood as cruelty as this seemed terrible to
Ruth. For she knew that no idea of the
truth could ever have crossed Kenard's
mind. TO him she must seem false and
tickle, and all her life she must seem SO.
Perhaps after she was dead-and tho poor
gill sighed-for 1t was cold, sad comfort at
best, to wait until the dark portals of the
grave had closed over her warm and throb.
bling breast.
Thcn she remembered how she had
dreant of him the night before her mar
ringe, and how she mad told him in her
dream that It would make no change in her
heart to hun, "none. none!"
1t had made no change; she loved him
now, she told herself, as she had loved him
then, but outwardly it would make every
change.
81 expect he won't even speak to me-" she
thought again and again sadly enough;
but shall see him at least; shall watch
and wait until see him to-day"
in to lunch about half-past l O'Clock, and
just little before that hour she saw, while
standing rather back in the room, Kenard
Seaforth and young Beaton, both in uni
form, pass through the gates of the fort,
and walk down to the village on the oppo-
site side Of the street And she saw Beaton
apparently point their house out to Sea-
forth, and he gave a little laugh, looked
back at the house for a moment and then
walked on O..
And feeling came over her of faintness,
a feeling vague and underlined of disap-
pointment and pain. He had laughed, and
all her bitter anguish had counted as Moth
ing to himl Sho forgot for the moment
what she had been tell Ig herself the whole
morning; that he must despise her, aud
think her unworthy Of regretful thought.
But to see this, to feel that it cost HIM moth
ing to know that she was living here as
Audley's wife, that he could jest about it
perhaps, seemed to her at this moment un
uneM pected blow.
She crept up to her bedroom feeling phys
ically weak and overcome. From these
upper windows she could see right along the
village street, and she saw Seaforth aud
Beaton go on 70 the post office, apparently
post letters, and then turn ack. They thus
again passed the house, and she dist nctly
saw Seaforths face. And it seemed
gether somehow--not like her Kenard-an
older, harder-looking man!
Presently she heard her husband come in,
and she went down stairs, and he looked at
her sharply as she entered the dining
room.
Are you MOI welR" he asked. "You
ara pale as death. Whatever is the mat
terl"
81 have headache; it is nothing" an
A. Al. IL
and tried to eat, but the food seemed to
choke her.
"By-the-by," Audley said, presently, 81
had note from Lady Hastings this morn
ing; it had gone to the fort, as she did not
know our address here. but she and Sir
James are coming to call this afternoon"
81 hope you will be in, then" said Ruth,
''as do not know her9'
~ suppose she expects shall be in, or she
would not have written" answered Audley,
with rather a conscious, self-satisfied smile.
"Well, she's nice little woman, and it will
be pleasant for you to know her."
II remember seeing her at Sudley."
bachelor u as5s. 's ssd 2sas9 & ~
she's pretty, and, what is more knows
how to make herself reeable, witch etert
woman should d. ~ e'"'s no Z ~e'l 20
"And what is he lileyr.uIllAf . ti..71sssoso
Ous NO NO. t1lucu, ,dusWdTbQ sAuueV,
with shrug; and then he got iip and Vent
to the window. .and stood looking out intp
the street. 4-1se 4-' 2orear a.s.Ts !
'.Seaforth is back, y he said q moment
later, without burning round.
Ruth did not speak; she felt that she could
not.
He and Beston are going to dine at
Amhurst tomorrow, l believe" continued
Audley; "at least, heard them say some
thing about it. g.
Glow far is it from hereF' asked Ruth
aud something in the tone of her voice
made Audley look round.
Five miles or So" he replied, with his
eyes fixed on her face; he was wondering
how she would meet Seaforth thinking,
angrily, that she must meet him.
But he said nothing; he began TO smoke,
and Ruth went upstairs to arrange some
fresh flowers in the drawing room, in ex-
pectation of Lady Hastings visit. And
whilst she was doing this, Frances and Col.
Kenyon arrived.
Frances at once ran upstairs to Ruth, and
kissed her on both cheeks.
my dear, how are your she said. "Is he
in better temper todayp
And she nodded to denote Audley.
Eyes, / think he is" said Ruth, smiling,
''Do you know the funniest thing has
happened; who do you think we have just
metY
"Whor
"Seaforth, no lsssl As Hugh drove down
the village, we met Beaton and Seaforth,
and Hugh pulled up to tell Beaton that we
should expect him to dinner this evening
and then he asked Seaforthl"
"And-is he comingp
"Ho hesitated moment and then said he
wouidn
81 knew he was here"
"It's very funny. isn't itl II Audley will
let you, will you come to dinner too? am
sure Hugh will ask him."
Not to-day" answered Ruth, and she
sat down, feeling as if she had no strength
to stand.
But you must meet him, you know,
Ruth it will only be awkward for. few
minutes at first. 1t is astonishing how soon
one gets used to things"
mot everything" said Ruth, family; 81
could not meet him to-day"
"Well, Ishall just be the same to him /;
Hugh does not know you were ever any
thing TO him, and father does not know it's
best just to ignore it, and treat him as an
old friend"
''Yes.p
81 think you had better come to day, and
get 1t over at once" urged Frances.
"No, cannot: don't ask me; l would
rather not 60 out to day"
"All right, my dear, then / shall have the
two young men to entertain all by myself,
but that won't kill me. Well, must be off
now, only came In to have a word with
you, and see II we could persuade you and
Audley to dine with u.s."
The sisters went down stairs together and
found their husbands talking very amlcably
in the dining room. ~