The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-10
CHAPTER VI.
AN UNwIsE CHOICE.


N"Oh. don't talk that way, Frances"
| This conversation took place between the
( two sisters early on the morning following
| Col Kenyon'S garden party. Frances was
! sill in b d, and Ruth had carried up her
breakfa I, aud naturally told her the happy
news For sic loved Kenard Seaforth and
had been lying awake half the night think
ing of her great joy.
II will try to make him SO happy she
thought, tenderlY; II know | ought not to
marry him, but can't help it, and he will
never know, thank God he will never
know"
Yet once or twice an uneasy memory
crossed her mind What had Mai Audlev
meant when he had said he had kept a
secret for her, and Ruth's face flushed at the
very thought
But no, no he could not know. she de-
cided the next moment. And Frances
would be pleased, and to please her heauti-
fuI sister had been one Of Ruth's most
earnest wishes ever since she was a little
girl.
So with a sweet blush and smile she had
told frances that Mr.. Seaforth had asked
her to be his wife, and Frances was vety
glad,
81 shall have to exert myself, she SAID,
gaily, "or you will actually be getting mar
RE before me-"
Then Ruth explained, Kenard had Of
course to get his fathers consent before
they could think of marrying, aud there
fore they had agreed not to tell anyone
} mt Frances until he had written to his par
ents.
He will write to-day, and then | hope
it will be all settled said Ruth, modestly.
IA d you are quite in love, | believe"
slid Frances, with a laugh.
81 think anyone would care for him, he
is of course far too good for mel don't
know what he sees in me, | am sure" an
swered Ruth, going t the mirror AMI pen
sively looking at herself.
Come. Miss Modesty, that won't do He
cares I you because you are prett girl,
and rather far go 10 on his young lordship,
| believe You have hattered MS want !,
my dear, by snubbing Audey, and sitting in
an adOring attitude TO him."
Il deed, Frances, | have not sat in an
ad)ring attitude. That is very unjust"
said Ruth, quickly; an with So much ell
ing that for a moment her eyes looked as if
they were going to fill with tears.
"All right, my dear; at all events, you
have succeed d somehow in getting what
you wa ted, and | Only wish had had your
luck. And Gen. Seaforth is a man who
holds q very good pCs!ti n, and Seaforth is
an only son, isn't he, so he must be pretty
well Off!
81 don't care in the least whether he is or
not"
"Oh, don't you indeed; wait till YOU
wake out of loves young dream, and you'll
see whether YOU care are mott Money is a
essential of hapni ess; in fact, you can't be
happy without it."
81 coull be happy with very little"
with the adore one, of course, Knocked
Frances; you hilk so now, my dear, be
cause you are in love; because you have had
no experience Of the adored ones little
l. o,-d
grumbling a out his dinners, or throwing
his boots at h servan S head OF may be
yours. When you have had these expert
ences you will KIN w what money IN ans
You will make me angry presently if
you ak like that"
well, as Seaforth won't be badly off, it's
a pity perha Is to u1deceive YOU, and wake
you out of your pretty dreams; you are as
romantic, declare, as that handsome boy,
Arthur BeatUuW
81 hope you are not gong to have any,
thing more to say to the handsome boy.n
"Oh quite understand what is expected
of me-" said Frances, with one of her usual
little slrugs.
"Yrs, ut Just think what Col. Kenyon
is! A man any woman could be proud uf.
"Precisely; and old enough TO be my
father; hut, my dear, | am making no OBJ
j .ctions.n
"And-he is coming to-day, is he noti'
aske Ruth, in low to
"Yes, unless he changes his mind"
HE won't d. that-an Frances-I hope
you will be happy at last
Ard Ruth tenderly kissed her sisters
cheek
Then she left her, after making Frances
promise not to tell their father of her en-
g1gement to MIR. Saaforth.
I'VE don't want it known until everv-
thing is settled she said, and Frances
ag eed and after Ru was gone, she rose
a dressed herself, ald as the morning was
fine. fet strong, te npted to carry out the
half-aupointment tn III she had made with
Mr. Beaton the day be ore.
II suppose it's foolish thing 10 DO" she
reflected; but the poor boy will be 50 dis
appointed, and there can be no harm in
walking down the street at II o'clock in the
day, slielv.n
AID presently she put on her hat and
strolled out into the fresh bright air
Healfort might be a dull place, but it was
no doubt a very beautiful on The sea
waves that lapped round it, brought with
them roses to the cheeks Of the 70 ing, ard
even TO the aged. The broad center 10 eet
this mornin was f led with sunshine, and
dor Headf1rt) looked absolutely gay. There
were nursery maids with pretty children,
two or three girls dressed in light prints and
big hats, q stout matron here aud ere.
soldier was occasionally to be- seen.
Everyone in the place knew Frances
Forth by sight Her beauty and her
fathers position had st once made Der re
markable. and people looked after her now
as she walked on with erect head and
stately stop About the middle of Hig
street, partly to her amusement and partly
to her annoyance, she encountered Ruth,
who was housekeeping.
Frances, you outf said the younger sis
ter, in astonishment.
II am looking for rose TO wear this aft
ernoon 10 fsscinate my elderly swain, an
swered Frances, with little laugh, for she
did not choose 70 tell her sister her real rea-
son.
At this moment, however, young Beaton
in uudress uniform, came hurrying up the
street, and took Oft his cap 10 the ,istsrs.
II could not get away before" he began,
but warning look from Frances stopped
him.
I'VE are out bargaining" she said the
next moment in her Lively way; "Crying 10
beat down peas and potatoes a penny a
pound or so. which is one of the delightful
occupations Of the poor Mr.. Beatonw
II do not think it matters in the least
whe her one is rich or poor,n answer the
young man with his admiring eyes fixed on
her face.