The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-26
CHAPTER XXXV.
NEWS

And as t! e dull winter dawn crepG over Gh9
oartb and sea, again she heard carriage
drive down the village and stop at the
house door. She hurried to open it herself,
and saw her father getting out of the car
riage alone.
She asked no questions, she could not;
but Col. Forth understood without a word
heng spoken the mute, agonized query of
her eyes.
"She is not at the Hastings" he said,
hoarselv: ''she has never been. Kenyon is
like a mailman He thinks she has been
murdered.
Inns She grasped her fathers hand, and
rnlied him INFO the dining room, and shut
VIZ you don't know anythingm he asked,
Quickly and nervously.
"Father," she gasped out in broken &C
cents, Sir Arthur Beaton-is not at the
Co1 Forth's face, which had been a dull
nurplish color, for he and Col. Kenyon had
been up all night, suddenly grew fiery
scarlet.
You don't think"
"Ohl don't know what to think" said
Ruth, miserably, 'but Maj. Audley
thinks"
Not that she has gone off with Beaton"
asked Col. Fo tn, hotly and Indignantly.
WHAT right has Audley to suppose or sug-
gest such a thing"
1T seems" answered Ruth, in great dis
tress. that he knew more than we did;
that-that-before Frances married, Sir
Arthur cared for her SO much, he tried to
shoot himself when he heard she was
engaged to Col. Kenyon-when he
had what was called the accident wi h the
revolver. YOU know. But it was no acct
dent. Mai. Audley told me last night; he
deliberately tried to shoot himself, and Mai
Auiley ran into the room just in time to
save him"
And why were we not told all this be-
forea What right had Audley to keep such
a secret 10 himself and allow poor Kenyon
constantly to ask this young man to Sud ley,
if there were such story about him as
tlisw
For Sir Arthur's sake he could not tell
it, :"
ct was madness, follv-inconceivable
folly, if this be tru9-for Kenyon ever to
have MIN within his doorsl Good heavens
if she has been such fool! But don't be-
ieve it; vain as e al ways was, | cannot
believe she would be so utterly mad, so ut
terlT worthless, as to leave her home with
Beaton.n
But where can she be1' asked Ruth,
vringing her hands.
Il would rather she were lying dead in
ditch with her throat cut. for the sake of
her purse, as poor Kenyon thinks" an
swered Col Forth, sternly, "than know
she was SO lost, SO disgraced. as to leave the
man who saved my life-the man who has
only been too good, too kind to her, and to
all of us-for youth like Beaton.''
' Z ii
som said Ruth, with a passionate burst of
tear. Eyes, she would lie better deadr"
Had you any susplcionsf" asked Col
Forth uneasily. "BeatOn was at Sudlev
all last week, but l certainly did not see
them much together; did they ever come
here together"
They did sometimes, and spoke to
Frances, and said hoped she would not
make Sir Arthur care for her, and she
only laughed-of course never thought"
How do you know Beaton is not at the
fortF' Interrupted Col. Forth, curtly.
Because last night-after the groom
came to tel me Frances was not at Sudey,
Maj. Audey sent over to the fort to as
Sir Arthur to come here to smoke; and
Maj. Cary sent an answer back thai Sir
Arthur had left the fort in the morning on
few days leave of absence"
Col. F rth', face had paled during Ruth's
'OPIJs dbu IS DSSdI W Wdlh up duu uDWl
the room with ATTY strides.
Its very odd, certainly" he said; "sha
disappeared yesterday morning"
Where did she leave the phR on before
the g DOM drove it back to Sudleyln
y ust near my house, at the beginning OF
High street,
"And-had she anything with her" asked
Ruth, with faltering tongue.
Il asked John, the groom, that question
a
handbag"
Ruth clasped her hands together
Oh. father, she may have been robbed.
and-Oh! she may be lying dead or dying
now!n
Kenyon and l have been up all night.
aud the whole of the road from here to
Sudley has been searched, and Kenyon wa
having the lake dra eyed waen I left Sud
ley he viii be here by 8, and will put the
ease IN the hands of the police, unless"
- Col. Forth paused and hesta ed, and
Ruth could say nothing, for Frances mys.
terl9us olsappea ance could only be ac-
couJed for by a tragic or disgraceful
Ruth
She got breakfast for her father, and
eagerly drank some tea herself, for her
eufoat was parched, and while she was tax
Ing Ihls they saw j. Kenyon drive up to
tuS mouse, and Ruin ran into the hall.
noIdlng out both hands to him as he came
IN.
FOR there was a look on his facs which
would have moved the coolest heart-a look
ol despair so terrible, 50 overwhelming,
tuat Ruth gave a little cry and drew his
'Nd uands nearer 10 her.
fou-have not found herr" she faltered.
lie shook his head.
We shall never find her alive, he sal I, |
~ a hoarse, changed, hollow voice; "our |
parllng IS dead
. huJn stood confused, overwhelmed with |
'le agony Of her own feelings.
nave no hope went on Col Kenyon. |
ga thsre was none in his voice or face. III |
W.. .ue lad been living she would not have let |
'1o pass last night-as / did,
And You think"
mink some fIian, for the sake Of her |
,.louey or her ornaments-but | cannot |
Speak Of it,
ne sat down on one Of the hall chairs as |
spoke, as If uttt rly overcome, and put |
ne Oh MS trembling .anls over his pallid |
gu, at this moment Cll Forth came |
H., W Vhe dining room, and went up to |
lone in beside the fire, my dear fellow" |
- sal ada essiag Ke yon, ami touching |
n ., louder; ''y1u are quite worn out, ald
g. u VIII give you some tea
,vo ~ Kenyon rose without a word. an /
n ~. INTO the dining room, aud Ruth drew
90, a. '"c lalr 10 the fire, on which he sank
~ a.d poured him out some tea aud
7 lght Il 10 him.
Va 4uaak you, my DEAR be I'd. and that
al, but as he sat thara ~ esrnt, ga /