The morning news., 1889-03-17

that the shadow of doubt had never peared
it. And now she was false to him, going TO
marry another man; and yet she had told
him she loved him still. and had wept upo
his breast and lald uer wet cheek against
his He began recalling the words of their
parting interview, and ma le sure now tnat
she had then been engaged to Aud ey. He
had TO be got rid Of he ought bitterly,
before her engagement was announce to
the richer man. He believed that her sister
and father mad influenced her to break her
faith to him, and he despised her for her
weakness, even while that weakness was
driving knife into his own heart
Easy it is to say we must respect where
we love, easy to lay down rules and max
inns; but a deep passion is as reSistless IN its
D lwer of jov or pain as the waves of the
great sea, and sweeps on by the strenth Of
its own might, though We may call our
selves fools for bending before it. kenard
told himself he was fool to care for
worthless girl, but all the same he did care.
There was great deal that WIS simple,
brave and chivalrous about him, but his
mood was very dark, and he began to Won
der if there was a true soul in all the
earth. He remembered with a curling lip
that his mothec and father had both lent a
more favorable ear to his love for Ruth,
after they heard Frances was going to
marry Col Kenyon. Everyone was the
same, he told himself; aud why should he
make himself miserable because he had
found out that Ruth Forth was but like the
resta
Then another change came over him, and
the anguish in her eyes. as she last looked at
min, flashed back to his mind with such
vividness that he began to pity, almost to
forgive her.
"ft is that worldly wicked sis or of hers
that has done it he began to tell himself,
land the poor child is as unhappy, | dare
say, as l am. l will write to her-Good
heavens! to let her marry Audleyl-I will
try ana op it at any rate. and If she will
let me I'll return to Hesdfort to see her
we had better run away; anything than
this"
And he did write to Ruth before the dav
was an hour older. A few simple earnest
words, asking her to tell him if it were
really true that she was about to become
Maj. Audley's wife, and asking what he had
done that she should Change so quickly to
him.
~You told me when last saw you, dear
est Ruth" he added, "that we must part,
but you told me also that you loved me
still For the sake of that love then, l en-
treat you to write me some explanation of
this, to me, most unaccountable conduct ]
cannot help thinking you nave. bee per-
suaded by others to break faltM with me
L
trust me. Dear r th, l will return to
Headfort Immediately if you will see me
once more Surely between us we can SO -
tie something better than this parting,
which is so hard and bitter to me, and feel
sure will bring no happiness to you
shall impatiently await your reply, and re-
main, faithfully and affectionatey, yours,
"KENARD SEAFORTH.n
He waited two days, and then the swer
a. l., 1t lie .~actlo Il
anxiety during these two days was very
great, and told both on his nealth and APP
pearance. His npther's fond eyes, secretly
watching him, saw that some & eat trouble
was disturbing his heart, but as he did not
speak Of it to her, a feeling of delicacy
| prevented her inquirilg the cause. The
general had told her Of the letter directed
in masculine handwriting, the reading OF
| which had evidently completely upset Ken
| ard, and both parents were uneasy about
him.
But after two days of miserable sus-
| pense all doubts were set at rest. A letter
came TO him in Ruth Forth's writing, and
with throbbi1g heart he read words which
| he knew were final ones.
DEAR KENARD.-I cannot see you, and
| If did it would do no good Please do moi
come to Headfort just now, when my mar
riage is to be SO soon, for, believe me, yoJ
cannot help me. No one can help me, anC
we must try to forget how dearly we hav,
loved each other, for if we NEE
again we must not speak of thes'
things, nor of the happy days that can com,
no more. ] cannot explain my conduct *
you, but, believe me, no word l aver spok'
to you was untrue. Try not to think o.
me u kindly. You would not, I know. il
you knew all. RUTH"
1t was all over then. and, with u bitter
| laugh at his own folly, Kenard flung Ruth's
letter on the floor. She did not wish hin
| to interfere-that was plain enough, h,
| thought-and she should have her own way
He would not 60 near to disturb the wool z
and when he saw her again she would b,
| Audley's wife. That thought stabbed him
| however. keenly as before, and Jealousy
| sharp and cruel filed his heart with burn
| ing pain. He would rather that she haG
| diet for then her sweet memory woulC
have been as a religion to his )ul, guarding
| him from evil things; whereas, now it wa
| a stinging scourge, driving him to seek for
| getfulness in paths his feet had never care6
| to tire ID.
To the surprise and grief Of his mother
| be announced his intention of leaving hom
the same day as that on which he had re
| ceived Ruth Forth's letter He felt, In fact
he could not bear a quiet life with thi
| great unrestfulness tearing at his heart
| strings M s. Seaforth looked up i'll hi
face, and took courage when plainly
saw the ulhappiness stamped there.
"What is it. my dearF' she asked, in he
| quiet way "Hls anything annoyed you
anything about Mi Forthp
The Kenard laughed-a laugh not goot
to listen to.
Mss Forth-Ruth Forth is to be mar
ried in a fortnight" he said, contemptu
ously. "Pve wasted lot Of time, mother
on heartless hIrt"
my dear boyp and his mother starte,
up, and laid her hand caressingly on hi
arm, her eyes full of sympathy and tender
ness.
But the wound was too recent and toe
sore for even a mothers love to heal
81 dare say am well rid Of her." he wen
on in hard, scornful way, quite unusual {
him. Aud ey, whom she is gong to marry
is better Off than | am, and the highes
bidder always wins, they say. However
there's an end of it, and Pm going TO tow
tonight, mother, and think I'll run owe
to Paris for a change"
She tried to persuade him not to 60, bu
he went, though she urged him not to do 81
with many tender words. He went with Z
heart full of bitterness, Of disbel ef in good
Of recklessness, and a fierce wish TO forge
the sweet face, which in spite Of himsell
haunted him night and day.
And some SIX weeks after this, a younG
wife heard two men talking OF him, anC
what they said made the cold sad pain IL
her own heart intensity, and its hidden griei
burn anew.
II hear Seaforth is going to the bad at
pretty quick rate" said one, and the other
answered with a calm smile.
81 am sorry for that, as he was mic,