The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-02
CHAPTER XXXvI.
MORE BITTER THAN DEATH.

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- the dining room in her hat and jacket.
oWhere are you going" he asked,
sharply.
she made no reply until the two men. his
,orvant and a soldier who had carried him,
Rod left the room. Then, as the door closed
hebind them. she went nearer Audley and
h, saw her face deadly pale, aud her eyes
-.d.rimned and heavy with recent tears.
II am going to Col. Kenyon's." she said,
ma low tone of intense pain.
"You are not fit to go" answered Audley.
"Your father should CO."
.He cannot tell him. Do you not under
standF
made it rather hot for us ALI l tell you
THAT il is. Ruth. ] mean to be out of this
Mace at once; this disgusting business has
settled that question"
She did not speak, but went to the win
dow as if she were watching for something
"How are you going to Sudleym asked
Audley, looking round.
"My father will go with me in cab. Ali
here he is +"
81 must; hushi say nothing to my father.
He is greatly upset"
And when Col. Forth came into the room
Audley thought 1t well not to do so, for
there was look of savage anger ON Forth's
face. and dangerous light glowing in the
pale eyes beneath the shaggy light brows.
The wrong done to his old friend had cut
him to the quick, and had Audley said any
thing to irritate him, he would have turned
on his like tiger.
"Are you readyw asked Forth, brusquely,
looking at Ruth.
YES she answered, almost below her
breath: and without another word, and a
brief nod to Audley, he offered his arm to
his daughter and led her to the cab waiting
outside
II was a boar frost, and each leafiess
bough in the hedgerows was white with
rime and glistening in the sun, as the father
and daughter drove toward Sudley on their
drearv errand, each heart thronged with
the most bitter thoughts. They were quite
silent for some time, and then Col. Forth
said suddenly and savageiy:
81 would rather be going out to be shotr'
And the old soldier would no doubt have
rather faced hundred bullets than have
gone to speak of his daughters shame to
the man who had been the one friend
be had never really cared for, and to
whom he was absolutely indebted to for his
life.
And as they nared the noble home, where
Col. Forth had gone but few months ago
to welcome its new mistress with such pride
and pleasure, a groan absolutely broke from
his bitten lips, and ne put his head out of
the window and hastily told the driver of
the cab to STOP
"Look here, Ruth, can't do i'll" he said
hoarsely, addressing his daughter the next
moment. 81 can't face him until he knows
l'Aget out here, and you go on and tell him,
and I'll follow-it's enough to drive a man
mad to think of itP'
Ruth made no remonstrance about the
- ND nj
quickly got out of the cab and told the
driver to go on.
And so Ruth proceeded on her way, try
ing to frame in words the black and bitter
news she was carrying to the noble-hearted
man who was already bowed down with
grief, but not with shame.
When she reached the hall door she had
scarcely voice to ask the servant if his
stricken master was at home.
YES she was told, ''the colonel was in
the library" and thither her trembling feet
conveyed her, and she heard her name an
nouuced, and as the words Mrs. Audiey"
fell on Col Kenyon's ears he raised his
head, which was lying on his hands on the
table before him in an attitude of utter de-
lection.
But as he heard Ruth's name he started
to his feet, and went forward to meet her
with an eager look on his worn features,
pitiable to witness, and Ruth's tear-stained
eyes fell before his gaze.
He grasped her hand, and knew in a mo-
ment she was the bearer OF Ill news.
Twice Ruth tried to speak, but words
failed her, and she stood there, dumb with
the agony of her soul.
For Gods sake. speak," he cried, in
broken accents. ''What do you known
Then Ruth's tongue was loosed.
II have heard from herr she said, in a
low, passionate, concentrated voice; ''she
has disgraced herself and us-she is with
Sir Arthur Beaton."
Col. Kenyon listened to these words, I'M
derstood them, aud for a moment the blood
rus ed to his pallid face, dyed it crimson,
and then it suddenly paIed, and an instant
later be fell forward with his face prone
upon the floor.
ruth screamed and ran to his assistance,
put saw that he was senseless. She then
rang the bell violently; and 50 it happened
mat as Col. Forth entered the courtyard at
nuoley he met one of the grooms galloping
out OF it In hot haste, and on inquiring
what was the matter, he was told that Col
Kenyon had been taken suddenly and VIC
tlentiy ILL., and that the groom was going for
the doctor.
This news was terrible to the man who
heard IL to the man who knew too well
WHAT had stricken down his friend; and
wAen lew moments later Forth entered
Inc hb airy, the sight there utterly over
Coi. Kenyon was lying on couch, to
winch ne had been lifted. his death-lke
1Mce' white, stony, immovable; and seeing
@B. with hoarse cry Forth rushed for
"ara and grasped one of the cold and
ns[Veless hands which Ruth was rubbing
NlVh spirit, as she knelt, white-lipped, by
us SIDE, while the butler was endeavoring
restore circulationi1 the other.
SoL kenyon's throat was bare, for they
nao taken off his collar and tie, and his
%aStcoat was opened, and he looked old,
Inanged and white-haired, as if the rigid
hano OF death had laid its icy fiagers on
os generous heart and stopped its beat for
NY God Is he goner' cried Forth,
sgaal9g over him, and the butler an
A. Ay. it's killed him, I'm afraid, sir" and
les. Use words were fresh stab to Forth, who
ne held. '' p-0' s- -. ' -S'
NJ "a Hpsh, he will come round" said Ruth
' aul she rose and began bathing his brow
s %t.n water and trying other means to re-
OUT until the doctor came he showed no
sHs Oh life, and with the utmost difficulty
l a'S restored to consciousness; and when at
sesO ne did look in Ruih's face, she under
%I! mat mute and agonized appeal
ne VIII be better alone,p she said, look
rts.r,a. , : !