The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-07

Hastings up. She'll be calling on you, Of
coursein
II suppose sou said Frances, with a little
shrug; land shall be an amiable sister, and
ask you to meet ner, and fiirt with stout lit
| tie Sir Jamesw
That would be cruel. You might dis
turb his serenity, and he is really worthy
little man; most obliging husband"
What sarcastic creature you arel
shall begin to be afraid of you"
| You need not be-" said Audley, looking
| straight in her face with an expression
which caused Frances To drop her bright
eyes, for she understood the covert meaning
that he meant to convey to her.
Yet she said nothing of this to Ruth
when they returned TO the drawing rom
together. 1t was clear, fine night, and
Frances openei one of the windows, and
went cut on the terrace in front of the
house, and Ruth put her arm through her
sis. ers, and they walked up and down dis
cussing many things-the capabilities OF
their houses, their servants, their horses,
but not speaking of their husbands. not Of
the secrets Of their hearts.
Aud presently the rec men joined them,
and stood smoking and chatting, and a
looker-on would have said happy family
| group was presented to his gaze. Yet there
was but one amongst these five content, and
this was the genial, geaerous-minded host.
| Col. Forth's discomfort was chronic, and
therefore unreasonable under the circum-
| stances. but the other three-Audley
| Frances and Ruth-were each thinking of
| his or her grievance, as they stood there in
| the still night. But "the heart knoweth his
| own bitterness" and we laugh and smile
over dead hopes and vanished joys
4
Soon after breakfast next morning, the
men went out with their guns, and Frances
| retired with her maid to consider euchant-
| ing tea gowns, gorgeous dinner gowns, and
other feminine attractions and vanities. 1t
was bright day, and the sun tempted Ruth
out into thu grou lds and she crossed the
| well-kept lawn, and went on with bent head,
| thinking of the past. And it was bat nat
| ural taat the never-to- be-forgoi ten hours
that she had spent here on the afternoon OF
Col. Kenyon's garden party, wnen Kenard
| Seaforth had first spoken Of his love.
| should now recur to her mind with vivid
| distinctuess. Brief time had passed slncs
| then, yet it seemed to Ruth as thou IN year
Of anguish had dragged their slow course
| over her breast since she had met Audley
| by ire field of uncut corn, and he had told
her that all her fond hopes must end.
They had ended, and she was Audley's
wife, and all that had made her life worth
living for had passed away. 1t was unut-
| terably weary to her; a life of consta 1t
| struggle and revolt against the fate he had
| forced her to accept, the bit erness of which
was not Iessened by each passing day.
And Audley saw this, and it chafed him
| so keenly that it made his tongue bitter
| and his ways hard, even tyranAical. He
should have got on better wit Frances,
who would have understood how to hu nor
| him, and have fattered HIM with pleasant
words, which, though he might not have
trusted them, would still have been pleasing
to his ears.
But Ruth made no pretense of affection
she did not feel. She gave him cold duty,
noChing more, and avoi led quarreling vita
him if she could, though may time he
stung her to retort. No happiness had
come of this marriage, and she had warned
him that none could me. His heart was
bitter with disappoiatment, hers over
shadowed by great regret.
And thinking of these things, she went
on TO the green and shadowy wood, beneath
whose shade Kenard's first kiss
had pressed her lips. She reached
the spot where they had sat to-
| gether, dreaming as pure and sweet dream
of love as ever stir ed the hearts of youth
and maiden. We know how these sweet
hopes ended, for her in cruel shame and
pain; for him in bitter anger and diSappoInt-
ment. .-.- ..-
"And we might have been so happy, )" she
sighed, 1--WE were so happy-it is too sad,
too sad!'
She leaned her head against the trunk of a
tree as she thou mt this; tree on which she
remembered he hal rested his haId, and
something ike a prayer-a prayer for him
-faltered on her lips.
"But Frances is happy; Frances is safe"
she reflected few minutes later; lit is use
less to regret and she land her { zee against
the tree, kissed it, and turned away; and as
she re-entered the grounds she met Frances,
who was looking for for.
"My dear, wherever have you been 2" said
Frances. II have ordered the ponies, and
want you to go with me into Headfort, for
some things That Jones requires"
"Without Col. Kent on o. asked Ruth.
"Do We need Col. Kenyon to help US to
choose some reels of colored thread!n an-
swered Frances, with high laugh. my
dear, do not DO stupid"
II only thought that perhaps he might
like t. go with you after lunch"
'But then, you see, I like to go without
him before lunch, and so make Jones and
her reels the excuse. In fact, want little
change, and it will be jolly you and NE 90
ing together. l wonder il we shall meet
any Of the men from the fortT
"But ara you not afraid TO drive the
poniesP' said Ruth, after a momeat's ST.
lence.
mot bit; the groom will be with us.
What harm can come to usF
X tn made no further objections, and
presently the two sisters went into the
courtyard, where they found the carriage
and the ponies waiting FOR them. Frances
was rather proud Of her diving, though
she hal had very little practice of late AID
tney speedily found themselves pa sing
swiftly along the roadways, and before long
they reached Headfort, Frances driving
rapidly down High street, and pulling up
at the small linen Diapers shop that was
situated in its midst.
As she gave the reins to the groom, both
she and Ruth recognized at the same mo
ment tall, slender figure ia undress uni
form who was advancing toward them. 1t
was young Beaton; but when he saw
Frances, his pale. handsome face, VITA the
deep scar across his CHI elk, suddenly flushed,
and then grew white. He stopped,
hesltsteI, and was about to turn back, so
as to AVOID meeting her, when Frances
Jumped lightly from the carriage, and
went forward toward him with out
stretched hand.
How are youi l am so glad we have met
YOU size said; Maj Audley told us you
were back"
But Beaton could find no words TO answer
her. He was pal fully agiated, aud The
rush Of feelings, which swept like a whirl-
Wind through his heart, made hin dumb
But be took her hand, AMI looked at the
beautiful face which had alreldy cost him
30 dear, and Frances saw there was no
change in his dark ay eyes
''You know RuLh-Mrs Audlevn she