The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-30
CHAPTER XIV.
THE RITTER END.

CHAPTER xiv.
THE BITTER END.
While one sister was reaping as she had
sown, the other was spending her quiet
days trying to do some little good; to wipe
away some tears, to tighten some burdens
amongst those around her.
Col. Forth, in his fault-fnding way, had
grumbled to his old friend Kenyon that
Ruth was always going bothering about
among the poor people now" and Col.
Kenyon one day had slipped EGO into her
hand with his sad smile.
my dear, that is for your poor pension
ers," he said; ami Ruth thanked him warmly
and began to tell him some Of the little
tales OF pain and poverty, with which she
was now familiar He Gsteled, sighed, and
turned away.
"Come to me whenever you want money. -
he said; and Ruth had thus been able
really to do great deal of good during the
last six months, and there were many who
blessed her when her footsteps crossed their
thresholds. She used to write and tell Ken
ard Seaforth out in India all her simple
news, and hsregularly answered her letters
but no word of love was exchanged be-
tween these two. though to hear from Ken
ard was the one pleasure of Ruth's life.
Yet she was not unhappy. She was fully
occupied, for one thing, and her dreamy
nature found solace in hundred things
which Frances would never have looked at
She loved to watch the long rolling green
waves, and TO listen to their weird sad
music as they broke upon tho shore, speak
ing to her soul in mystic tongues of strange
legends and strange lands. Her slopes
came more easily TO her brain within the
sound of the sea, and many day, too, in
the summer time she spent hours among the
fields where she had plucked the wild flo wers
with Kenard year ago, and would shudder
as she passed the gateway where Audley
had told her first of his hated love, and of
the unhappy secret which placed her in his
power
Since the morning when she had read
Col. Kenyon's divorce case in newsp apers,
she had naturally thought much of Frances,
but Frances had, as we know, made no
sign.
when am Lady Beaton it will be time
enough, "she had told herself in her cid scorn-
full way: but once or twice since the divorce.
Col Forth had mentioned her name to Ruth,
though it was only to abuse her when he
did So COL Kenyon, however, had never
mentioned it. He returned from town, but
he made no allusion to his reason for going
there, and he had never called at Col. Forth's
house since Frances had left him, though
Col. Forth went constantly to Sudley.
morning after Frances miserable visit to
Sudley, as Ruth was sitting writing in the
little drawing room by the window, she
saw Col Kenyon open the garden gate, and
a moment or two later ne rang the door
bell.
Ruth rose to receive him, and met him in
the hall, and it struck her he was looking
grayer. and that his face was more lined
and haggard even than usual.
SIS your father in?" he asked; and as he
spoke Col Forth, who had also seen him
arrive. came out of the dining room
and shook him warmly by the hand.
'Glad to see you; come in, 'said Col. Forth !;
Kenyon gave no answering word, but 81
lently followed Forth into thu dining room,
Ruth also accompanying them.
But after few minutes had passed Col.
Kenyon asked her to leave them.
''My dear, want few words alone with
your father, "hesald; and Ruth Immediately
went out, all uneasy feeling darting through
her heart as she did so.
And scarcely had the door closed behind
her when Col Kenyon broke the long
silence he had preserved regarding Frances
name.
Forth" he said, in a broken and agita-
ted voice, "you will scarcely believe me
when I tell you that last night Frances was
at Sudley."
''Frances!" echoed Forth, his red face
growing positively pale with excitement;
impossible"
1t is true, :" went on Col. Kenyon, with
deep emotion; ''she came back to the home
she had forsaken to tell me that the man
with whom she fed now refuses to marry
her when he has the power"
Then I'll shoot him r. cried Col Forth,
with an oath, striking his hand violently
down on the table near.
THAT is my right" answered Kenyon;
II have come to you this morning to tell
YOU so; promised this unhappy woman
that Sir Arthur Beaton shall find that-she
was once at least very dear to u.s."
His voice trembled and broke as he ut
tered the last words, and he turned away
his head. unwilling even that his old friend
should see how deeply he was moved.
'The scoundrel the sDeakln cried Forth,
in extreme Indignation. "Wben he induced
that mad girl to leave such home as
yours. not TO have the honor, the decency,
even to marry herl | never heard of such
thing--bus are you sure|
'sShe was in bitter distress, and she told
me that the moment the news Of the di-
vorce reached Monte Carlo, that he started
for England that very day; and Frances
followed him, but he declined to do the one
thing left him as a gentleman"
III mean to call him out; we can cross
over to Calais,n answered Col Kenyon
sternly.
"And if you don't shoot him will. said
Forth. fiercely; "disgraced as she is, he shall
find that the wife and daughter OF two gem
tlemen is not to be treated as wanton."
ssIf | fail then you will take my place.
replied Kenyon, with stern determination.
He is in town, at the Grosyenor; let Us go