The morning news., 1889-04-21
2A RUSSELL.
tALL RIGRTs REsERHEnl
A N o V E L.

She had begun to play with his feelings
thus, as she had played with them before her
marriage, and Arthur Beaton's old infatua-
ton still held strong hold on his heart.
True, he told himself, she was not worth it
but he also told himself that she had mar
ried Col Kenyon because her father was so
poor, because Col Forth had almost forced
her to do SO; and that she was only now
trying to make the best Of her Ioveless bar
gain.
Frances had said or insinuated all this to
the young mans greedy ears, who had
eagerly drunk in the honied poison. She
had taken him round the gardens the first
day he had dined at Sudley, under pretext
of showing him some comic paper which
was lying on the table in the pavilion, and
she had not wasted her time, for when they
rejoined Col. Kenyon and Seaforth she had
almost entirely resumed her old power over
him.
Aud she liked to think this; to think that
she still held his heart fast in her keeping.
1t excited her, and elated her like wine, and
she had never been more brilliantly beauti-
full than she looked that night; and as the
two young men drove back to the fort to-
gether, Beaton raved about her charms.
She's a dangerous woman," said Sea-
forth, warningly.
But Beaton would take no warning, and
Mrs. Kenyon had chosen to marry Col
Kenyon-say for position and money
she ought now to be content with her hus-
band
"Who says that she is mott" asked Beaton,
sharply, for he was ever ready to take uE
the cudgels IN her defense.
IAN right, my dear fellow" said Sea
forth, good-naturedly, and the conver sation
ended; though Seaforth remembered it
when he met Beaton and Mrs. Kenyon re-
turning from the tennis ground together.
Il suppose she wants to make that poor lad
as miserable as she has made Ruth, be
thought, Indignantly, and he began to feel
the sincerest pity for Col. Kenyon.
But Col. Kenyon was quite happy. He
smiled pleasantly when his handsome wife
entered the drawing room with Young Bea-
ton by her side, and Frances smiled and
nodded in return.
The colonel was still talking to pale,
dropping Ruth who looked So i'll that when
Audley came into the room with Lady Hast
ings he at once noticed it.
"Have you got one Of your headaches,
Ruth" he asked, going up to her.
Yes" she answered, and she put her
hand up to her brow. This meeting with
Seaforth had indeed been almost more than
her strength could bear. And as Audley
stood looking at her, the idea flashed across
his brain that she had bean upset by the
sight of her old lover, and an angry, jeal-
Gus pang darted through his heart.
''If you are not well, we had better go at
once,n he said, brusquely; and presently
these two returned together to the house
they calle their home.
But never was this name given more un-
truly, if home means spot where we can
take safe shelter from the storms, wor-
ries, or pleasures of the world. Ruth was
wearied and tirel out by the emotions OF
the day, and Audley was sulky and disagree
able. They scarcely spoke to each other as
he drove her back to Headfort, and when
they reached AZ, HI h street, Audley took
refuge in a brandy and soda and cigar,
and Ruth went upstairs and lay down on
the bed, and could not restrain her tears.
She wept in the bite ness af hsr heart
over her wrecked life and the miserable fu-
ture that lay spread out in the long dark
vista before her. She was only 90, and she
might live so years, perhaps more. Fifty
years of weary bondage, of companlonshrp
that was hateful to her; bound by a tie
from which there was no released
And Kenard's face-the dear face with
the half-reproachful, Multiplying look it
had worn to-day-rose tauntingly before
her. Ah, she knew that he must have
thought that she was weak, that she was
false; aud yet he was sorry. Ruth under
stood with tuat wonderful instructive
power which is one Of the gifts of lsve.
very nearly what had been passing in
Kenard's heart. And yet she hal scarcely
lookeI at him, and not dared to look lest her
eyes should tell too much.
Her eyes were red with tears, her hair,
pushed back from her burning brow, was
tangled and disorderly, her dress crushed
and disarranged, when she heard her hus-
bands heavy step ascending t1e staircase.
She sprang up and tried to turn her face
away from him as he entered the room, but
Audley, who was still in bad temper,
quickly saw the signs of grief.
80 you have been crying, have youF'
he said, disagreeably. May l ask what
aboutW
"i am tired, that is all" answered Ruth.
"You did not exert yourself particularly
at Lady Hastings, at all events. hate
crying women What's the good of crying
/ ask you thatT
II cannot help it," burst out poor Ruth,
with renewed sobs "Ohi do leave me
alone, Richard. Surely 1 may be alone at
least"
Something very like curse broke from
Audley's lips.
you m ikea nice home for man, 1 must
say" he said, roughly aud angrlly, "and
I'm about sick of it,"
syered Ruth II told you that nothing but
misery could come Of our marriage; | knew
nothing else would Gomez
And you've only yourself to thank for
i'll I've done all can TO make you happy
but you're a cold, ungrateful, heartless
woma1 J. and it's Impossible to please you"
81 will 60 away, then"
Thank you; am not going to allow you
TO make quite such a fool of me as that.
No; have married you-the worse luckl-
but as you are my wife, shall see you
don't make an ass of me, as your sister
seems inclined to do Of old Kenyonl Be
good enough to battle your eyes; and don t
let the servants amuse themselves at our
expense, by saying there has been a row be-
tween us"
And he turned and left the room as he
spoke. and the poor girl fell down on her
knees by the bed, and prayed God she might
die: her home was too wretched for her to
wish to live.
CHAPTER XXVI.
COL. KENYoNs BIRTHDAY.