The morning news., 1889-05-05
LALL RIGHTS REsERVEp1
CHAPTER xxx.
A N o V E l..
A HEART STRUGGLE.

+raet for Seaforth had ridden out to Sud
iov to tell them Of the accident, and to ask
,ban, by Col. Forth's wish, to come imme
5iately to Ruth.
She heard them arrive as she sat pale
ooId and silent, not daring to indulge il
homes which only could be realized by
dosth But Frances had no such scruples
She ran upstairs to the room where Ruth
was and caught her in her arms and kissed
her.
aIt is dreadful, isn't its" said Ruth, in 6
half whisper.
81 won't pretend what do not feel," an
swered Frances; 81 always really hated
him, and" she added, sinking her voice
.ff be dies we shall bs safe; we shall have
nothing more to fear"
Still"
NV dear, don't look shocked; I confess
candidly shall be glad to hear his bitter
tongue Is dumb.n
1Gh! Frances. but think of his suffer.
ingsm
Frances, with a darkllng brow; 'but
Puth. how culd you are. | shall ring fol-
some tea
is father here still"
Yes, and Hugh, and Seaforth. Did you
know Saaforth rode to Sudley tc
tell usl He is nice fe low, and he seemed
10 feel so much for you; fancy, Ruth. be
esres very much for you still"
"Hush, don't talk of such things when
"V,ry well, my dear; they say Audley
NAY pull through, YOU know, but the
chances are against it,"
Rutl made no answer; she drank some
tea when it came, and sat listening to
Frances lively wyrds, but without respond.
i1g This crisis IN her fate seemed to her
to- solemn Tor words, so tragic in lis re-
suits whichever way the balance swung,
thq she C uld not speak Of its probabill-
ties.
In little while Col. Forth raped a. the
room door, and came in to tell his daugh-
te:s that the servants wers inuuiriug
W. ether dinner should be served at the
usual time. Ruth shuddered, but Frances
answered.
"Of course; Hugh and 1 are going to stay
Cd with Ruta until we see how il tu ms ouo
with Audley, and for one do not mean to
starye, Tell them TO have dinner ready at
the usual time. and perhaps Seafocth Will
stay
"Oh, no, no. said Ruth, quickly; don't
ask bin, father-you and Hugh are diff sr-
snt'
y agree with you, Ruth; Seaforth is
Civl! young fellow, but on an occasion like
this, only TIE family ought to be present,
wien We cannot tell what may happen any
iaiaute, replied the colonel; and he nodded
70 bis daughters and went aaay.
Aud when the din er hour came, Ruth
refused to go down stairs, and tray " as
therefore sent up to her by Frances, bat she
lef. tie food untouched.
fai AvdiaN was lvlno in tba front he
room over the drawing room, and thsre
was another bedroom On this fat also,
wbcl Ruth used IS a dressing ro III. II
Frances and Co, Kenyon were going to
say, t1ey would need the room Ruth was
in, -yt the d awiug room. she thought
therefore She went noisolessly up the stair
case 10 the higher landing, pausing a IN =
ment or TWO outside the door of the room
where Audley lay SO desperately hurt.
IS she did this moan Of bitter in from
within fell on her ears. Tha poor girl
womanlleSS OF her nature thrilled with
pit. she besitated, then softly turned the
Ia die u the door and went in.
Or. Murray was sitting near the
bed and nurse was il the room also. But
Ru'4 saw nothing but tire ba dagei head
AMI face tossing on the pillows. She
w-lked up to the bed, and Audlev, VIII }
Va ralying from the first sh OK, a
Wn So 3 It was unlnjured, evidently rec
og lzed err
splinter mad struck the lower part Of
Ais face and terribly torn one cheek and the
cnl-; but the dangerous part of hi; inju
rles were IN tie rigat leg, which W 50
shattered that the doctors at once dec ded
on ampuiatlOn, and we're only waiting uu-
q hs strength returned sufficiently to bear
the O Grafton.
IA Ratn bent over the bed, DIR. MURRAY
rose and turned away, and Ruth took
Audieys hand gently in her own, and spoke
TO him.
fear you are suffering very much, f." she
sad, III a voice full Of pity.
he made no answer. He looked at her,
and understood from the expression of her
.ace that Ler heart was full of sympathy
for bis egony.
NAY stay with your she asked.
ne lad not spoken since the accident, and
ue uld not speak now; but he slightly
remain.
Will not leave you, then," she said,
AMI she smoothed his pillows. and wetted
In Lls ! pS WITH some restorative the doctor
handed TO her.
Maj Audey has pulled himself to-
&c uef wonderfully" said DR.. Murray, who
, was good-natured, pleasant-looking
Jouus man. You are all right now,
HayQr' he added, cheerfully. 'Mrs.
Auuley - here will make a famous nurse, |
3. Asail Audley's eyes rested on the pale fair
49, rao5 oi Ills young wife, and he muttere1
,. soluel ing, but the ba dages on the Jas
eTS ~ nls m words very indistinct.
him. -''N'' ''i'ui''s 'i'0oi W
Do-you really wish to stay-with
me at last she made ont.
ieS, lLdeed yes, she said, earnestly;
aHu Vneh Tor moment she turned away
~ ~ LEAD. IL will come back in a minute
s.-e sne auued, and she left the room and went
- - Ine bedl DOM next door, and hinging
aS, sen on her knees, now did pray, earn
80, ooay ana humbiy, to be delivered from
b. Lev me do what can do, what ought
SSo-iet me make him live II | cam
r,;',i' Sus rose from her knees with tho deter
- -'.o strong IN her heart to do her best
" nurse the man hack T., health whosa lifa
W; ~ the bitter burden of her own But the
sIe W MS agony, the knowledge that per-
co.., tI yer presence 5y his bed might be so ne
Hil'.'ort sil 70 him. made her forget at the time
NN We snferings he had caused her.
~ ~ sue went back to hin, aud tended
bs -. f1S Iareiuiiy as loving woman might
.T.'s aeAe. She sat 10 with him during
No., s,. nv night and tried to soothe the cruel
ta,a i1,.l mat racked bis body with alnost in
au.e anguish. And she found S me
h urt IN tue thought that she was d ing
iD., 'uy5. II was better than sitting wait
diss' suuiGg aok the hope that be might
~, Aua Auiley looked al her once or
M, ,t1 almssJ gratefully. Perhaps he re-
ver''.'.lu v-'''ueitu In these grim hours the cruel