The morning news., 1889-05-19

OF ItetF 'Oflel JOY, WHICH uSu lducu ia lls
dawn. But they did not speak OF it; Sea
forth, Indeed, avoided doing so, fer he did
not wish to distress and worry Ruth, know
ing that this walk was sort of rest for her
after her long watching and waiting In a
sick room.
At last she said that thoy must return.
for the short winter twilight was creeping
round them, and it was almost dark before
they reached the village. But thero was Il
rosy flush on Ruth'S sweet face, and her
step was light as Seaforth helped her over
the big dark rocks, aud rs they stood for a
moment or two listening to the mysterious
gurCles of the retreating waves IN Tho hol-
lows and clefts below them.
ITS been a good walk; will you come
again ~ asked Seaforth before they parted.
perhaps" answered Ruth, smiling.
Then they shook hands, aud i,uJh re-
turned to her unloved home, and found that
Audley had been frettiug aud fuming about
her absence.
'You have STAYED out far too late" he
said; "it's nearly dark
II walked farther than | intended" said
Ruth, aud so the matter dropped
The next day the doctors allowed Audley
to be carried downstairs, and in the after
noon he had several visitors, and among
them Sir Arthur Beaton, "Seaforth Is
back, he told Audloy, who frowned when
"
arrived
To-day, think " said Beaton carelessly.
who was still staying at Sudley, and Ruth
turned her head away with conscious
blush. for she had not tod Audley she had
met Seaforth on the previous afternoon, as
she knew Audley would be SO very angry.
But she did not ask leave TO so out any
more. She used to 800 Seaforth pass aud
re.pass the house on his way to the postOtltce
sometimes, and once he called on Audley,
but Ruth did not go into the room while he
was there.
On New Years day tho Kenyons called
in the morning and Frances told Ruth the
party at Sudley was to break up next day
And shall not be sorry she added, Il
have got rather tired of Mrs. Heathcote."
She kissed Ruth afrectionately when she
welt away, aud wished her a happy New
Year; and on the following day Frances did
not come to Headfort, which did not sur
prise Ruth, as she knew the guests at Sud
leNwould be leaving.
But the day after she rather expected her,
but Frances never came. About z O'Clock
in the evening, however, while Audley was
living smoking on the couch BY the fire, and
Ruth was sitting reading, n carriage drove
up to tine street door, and the bell rang.
"Whcever can that be just close on din
ner time too" said Audley, looking at his
watch
A moment later Col. Kenyon was ushered
into the room, and after shaking hands
with Ruth aud Audley, he asked for
Frances
Shes not here" ," said Ruth, surprised
"What! not horep rapeated Col. Kenyon
quickly. "When did she leave then; some
low / must have missed her on the road"
"But she has never been here to-day
said Ruth, turning pale.
NNpypr been heTel Good Cod some
thing may have happened then. Sne loft
Suiley at 10 O'clock this morning to come
here-she drove in-whore on earth can she
be"
He, too, had grown very pale, and his
voice was full If excitement, but still not a
Thought of the truth ever crossed hIs mind.
"Sle may be at your fathor'S, or at the
Rilliards,n he went on hastily; 81 heard
her say She was going to call at the Hll-
iard's. and no doubt they nave persuaded
her to stay. But after i5 got dark grew a
bit uneasy and brought the carriage % take
her home. She sent the carriage back tins
morning, and gave no orders TO the coach
man, SO suppO o she was sure would come
out for ner, aud / certainly expected to find
her here
''She may be at the IIillard's " said Ruth
but her very lips had grown white
''Sne must be- answered Col. Kenyon,
,
l'il go at once and seek her
"Bring her back here, falterd Ruth.
"Yes, q right" ard after he had left the
room Ruth had not courage to look in Aud
ley's face
t'Wbat do you think of it:o he asked in a
strange voice
'She must be at the billiards; or perhaps
She has met Lady Hastings, and gone TO
spend the day with her"
"Or with Arthur Beaton, said Audley,
with biting SC IN.
Ruth started, as if he had struck her.
"How dare you say such Il thingW she
cried.
Then she went to the house door, and
stood there listening with beating heart;
and presently she ueard the voices Of her
father and Col. Kenyon approaching, and
she ran step or two forWerd iuto the
street TO meet them.
"Iave you found her?' she asked quickly.
"No,n answered Col. Kenyon, VINO was
quite out of breath with haste "She's not
been to your father'snor Hilliard's / fancy
she must have met Lady Hastings and gone
on to Amherst with hern
''Ask the coachman where he left her,"
said Col. Forth in an agitated voice
1T was John, the groom. sir, brought the
phaet1n back, answered the c4achman, in
reply to Col. KeuyOn's query. Mrs. Koa-
yOu uIOFe bub DDulen uelobll buAS Hipl HiiB,
and / asked John II she had given any
further orders, aud he said no."
"She may be at home now" suggested
Ruth nervously.
mo doubt she is, said Col. Kenyon.
"rhat'5 what I've been saying to Forth.
She would hardly stay to dinner at Amherst
without letting me know. I'll go back
straight now 10 Sudley."
I'm 90 with you" said Forth.
II was settled thus, but before the two
old friends started, Ruth asked them in
low tous to let her know at once if Frances
was at Sudley.
81 feel 30 nervous" she said, with a little
shiyer.
They promised to do this, and they drove
quickly away, and Ruth went upstairs to
the drnwingroom, walking up and down the
half-dark room in state Of great agitation,
and she refused TO go down 10 tue dining
room for dinner when Audley sent for her.
At Just about O'clock she heard a horse
galloping down tine village and then stop at
their door, and she at once hastily descended
into tho hall
The servant had opened tho door, and one
Of the grooms from Sudley stood outside.
"Is Mrs Kenyon at homer asked Ruth,
forcing tue words from her pale lips.
"No, please maam, 1 was 10 tell you
replied the groom, touching his hat, "Mrs.
Kenyon his not returned, but the colonel
aad Col. Forth. ma'am, have gone on TO Sir
James Hasting,."
"Ohw said Ruth, with n sort Of gasp, and
she went into the diningroom, tho door Of
which was open.
Audley, who was within, had heard both
her QUESTION and the grOOm's reply, and be