The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-16
ALL RIGHTS REsERVEp1

Seaforth's face flushed deeply as be
listened to these words.
Is What do you meang he asked.
Inen Murray told him; he had found
Audley lawfully on" when he had gone
back last night, and Mrs Audley had disap-
peared.
He overheard you talking against him.
ne said, and heaps of folly besides; and the
face
What" cried Seaforth, starting to his
reet In strong excitement.
he Dragged of 1T, and il was true: for
mn, MS servant you know, told me that
ner maid said Mrs. Audley was not fit to be
seen, he had given her such a blow: and the
servants are all thoroughly disguised with
him, and no wonder
Seaforth did not speak for moment: his
Indignation against Audley was too intense
lot words, and he stood pale and painting
while Murray went on to describe Audley's
condition.
He's BRUTE" he said. ''and she was al.
ways too good for him. Poor thing! she's
had no end of trouble"
And she has gone to her father'sw asked
Seaforth, briefly.
Yes, she and her maid; the old colonel
will be in tremendous rage with Audley,
expect, for he's bit of a tire-eater."
Would it kill the cur to fog himgn said
Seaforth, in a low, fierce tone.
MY dear fellow, you can't fog a man
with one leg, who has just scrapsd through
with his life after a dreadful accident
No; keep out of his way, that's the safest
plan"
Again Seaforth was silent. and after q
few more words Murray left him. and then
Seaforth made determination which he al
once acted upon.
he shall not strike her again, if l car
protect her, he muttered to himself. "rI
see Crawford to-day and settle about the
exchange"
Capt. Crawford was an officer at home on
SICK leave, who was very anxious not to re-
turn again to India, and he and Seafortl
mad already frequently discussed the subject
OF an exchange: but now Seaforth haC
thoroughly made up his mind.
The exchange was very soon affected after
this, ana then, to the CONSERVATION of his
parents, Seafort1 wrote to Woodside to tel
them he was going to India almost imme-
dlateiy. This news was a complete blow tc
them, and the general, who was a shrewC
man, at once guessed that his son had some
private reason for this sudden change.
he has got into some trouble, fear" he
said to his wife; .'he has never been the
same lad since that absurd affair with thai
Miss Forth, who married Maj. Audley."
The poor little timid mother clasped her
hands together in agitation
And hoped he would marry Rose" she
said, almost in tears, "and-I believe the
poor girl likes him.
"She1l not break her heart, my dear: but
all the same l think Fll run up to town anc
see Kenard, and find out the reason for this
extraordinary STEP"
And the general did run up to town. " and
saw Kenard. but did not succeed in finding
out the cause of his leaving England. He
| showed indeed SO much reticence that tbs
general was convinced that a woman was
concerned in it, and after some hesitation
blurted out plain question:
II hope, Kenard, you are not going to do
| anything foolishgn he said, and Keaard'.
good-looking face turned crimson under hi,
fathers keen gaze.
Il do not understand you," he answered.
my boy, when man loses responsibility
| and position for woman's sake, ten to one
| he will soon learn to dislike that woman
| This is what mean by doing something
| foolish"
eve cannot judgefor others, father"
"Then am | to understand you mean &c
break your mothers hearth asked the gen.
eral, sternly.
| II hope not" said Kenard, with some feel.
ing; but on the whole the interview between
! father and son was far from satisfactory,
| and the general returned to Woodside in a
very irritable condition of mind.
| And after he had left town Seaforth dis
( patched telegram to Headfort. 1t was adj
dressed to Mrs. Audley at Col Forth's house
and when he had sent it Se4forth felt as if
| he had taken step in life from which there
was no return.
1t reached Ruth after she had been
about three weeks with her father, and
caused her much agitation and pain. II
| contained only a few simple words. but
these to Ruth seemed full of meaning.
81 am starting for India almost immedi.
ately, and shall come down to Headfort to-
morrow purposesly to see you l will call
about o'clock.
"KENARD SEAFoRTH."
To an ordinary reader there did not seem
much in this, but Ruth felt as she read the
| lines that great crisis in her fate had
come, and that she was about to be called
| upon to answer the question which Kenard
had asked her in Longridge road And a
struggle took place in her heart-a struggle
| strong and deep-for she loved Kenard with
! a love she was powerless to resist; but for
| the sake of this very love she told herself
she must bid him go! Ali it seemed very
hard and bitter; these two had been so hap
| by and so fond, and would have chung to
each other in veal and woe with the faith
| fullest affection. And by no fault of their
| Y,
they had been forced to part Aud the
sting left iu the wound was that their sepa-
tion had done no good. Again and again
| Ruth repeated all this as she sat with Sea-
forth's telegram clasped in her trembling
fingers And he would be there
| in a few hours; in a few hours
she would have to part with him-or
would he stay if she asked him?-ah, if he
would only slayi
Her father was going to dine with Col
Kenyon, and left early in the afternoon,
and Ruth sat alone in the drawing room
with fast-beating heart. Four o'clock
came, half-past four, and just about
o'clock the little garden gate i'll front of the
house clicked, and Ruth started to her feet
and saw Kenards tail, slender figure passing
down the garden walk, and the next mo-
| ment the bell rang.
Then she heard him ask for her, and a
minute later he was in the room, and pale
and trembling they stood and clasped each
others hands.
prPRR VII