The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-07
LALL IG II T
CHAPTER XLVL
TOO LATE.


pos+on's death He might be wounded,
and she would go to MIN, she, perhaps, had
vao1,ely imagined; but of yon pale hand
sone Young face lying on the French shore
nth balf-opened glazing eyes, she had never
dreamed.
And there was another, too, who read IN
tho naners of the tragic ending to sad
storv with almost intolerable pangs OF re-
morse also EThis was Maj. Audley. He had
hard no hing of Sir Arthur Beaton since
lis interview with him at the sunllt villa
NV the southern sea, and IN Paris ne read
re account of the fatal duel between two
Enclsman near Calais, with all It's sensa-
+ioHal details. 1t was tale quite suited to
French tastes, and the papers enlarged on
II and told how the lover having refused TO
fnIfll his promise of marrying the lady, she
nod absolutely gone to the husband she had
forsaken and asked him to aveHge her
wrongs Then AudIey knew he had sent
Arthur Beaton to his doom; that but Tor
bm he would have married Frances Forth,
and Col. Kenyon's hand would not have
been stained with his young blood.
Ii was a great shock to him; he had al
ways liked Beaton, and the fact that he
had saved him when ne made the mad at
teupt on his own life, had strongly bound
him TO the warm-hearted, brave, generous
vonnp soldier. whose life Frances Forth had
So fatally blighted. Audley remembered,
TOO. how devoted Beaten hid been to him
during his long illness at Headfort; aud an
inte Sc bitterness filed his heart against
Ruth. when he told himself that but for her
treacnery in telling Seaforth the miserable
reason for her marriage, he (Audley) would
never have betrayed the secret of his wlfe's
sister, unless that wife had forfeited all
claims to his forbearance. And this idea
proved so on his mind eager perhaps to
blame some other than himself for his un-
happy interference between Frances Forth
AID Sir Arthur that he actually determined
to return to England, for the purpose OF re-
preaching Ruth with being the true cause
of Arthur Beaton's death.
Ruth had already heard from her father
the sad news, which had inexpressibly
shocked and grleved her. A judicial inquiry
had been made into the case, but it was an
affair of honor, and had been conducted
with perfect fairness, and French morality
was satisfied. But Col Kenyon and his old
friend did not return to England for many
weeks after the tradgedy on the sands near
Calais 1t had in truth so painfully affected
Kenyon, that on his return to his hotel in
the town be had been attacked with severe
illness, and the last sad look in the dying
eyes of Arthur Beaton constantly haunted
him.
Thus Ruth was alone at her fathers little
house at Headfort, with the exception of a
single maid for the colonel's modest income
could afford no larger establishment. And
enc morning, about a fortnight after
Arthur Beaton's death, she had sent this
maid out on an errand into the village,
when ring came to the house door bell,
and imagining it was the maid, she went
into the hall and opened the door, and then
started violently back, pale and trembling.
For outside stood her husbandl Audley
had gone down to Headfort the night be-
fore, and the comments of his former
brother-C Ulcers on poor Beaton'S melan-
choly end had yet further increased his in
dgnation against Ruth, for having indi-
rectly, he told himself, caused so dire q
tragedy And be made no offer of any or
binary salutation as he stood there pale and
wrathful.
II wish to speak to you" was all he said !;
and he entered the house without invitation,
and walked into the dining-room, the
door of which was standing open, and then
turned round and glared at the trembling
woman who had followed him.
You did not expect to see meW he began
bitterly.
mo, did not" answered Ruth. in low
tone
II must congratulate you," went on Aud
ley, ION all the mischief you and your sis
ter have contrived to do in your short
lives"
Ruth did not speak; she felt half afraid
Of the angry man standing before her,
Knowing that she had no protector near.
& 81 suppose you know Arthur Beaton is
dead? But do you know who sent him to his
deathF
You mean Frances, / supposew said
Ruth in falteriug accents.
o" No, not Frances!n answered Audley
loudly and passionately, "but you"
a re- Il! what do you meanp said Ruth in
great surprise. 81 knew nothing of Frances
visit to Sudley until he was dead; had
nothlng whatever to do with it."
u"Ohl had you not?' sneered Audley. "But
what if tell you that you, and you only,
sent the poor fellow to his untimey endp
II cannot understand you; you are COM
pletely mistaken"
Unfortunately I am not. Col. Kenyon
n shot Beaton, did he not, because he refused
Sto marry your sister after she was di.
/ syorcedp
so my father wrote to me" answered
Ruth in Il low panied Tone" after it was al
over"
But do you know why he would no
marry her?" continued Audley, darby anc
wndlctlvely. "He meant to do so. | assure
you, until he heard the disgracefu secre
that you had thought fit to conflde to Capt
Seaforth's ears!"
J What You do not mean to say vol
told him.
VA, Yes, told him. interrupted Audley
bitterly; II told him the whole story
c went to Monte Carlo to tell him. But hac
you not told Seaforth, had you not acteC
so shamefully as you did, it never would
have passed my lips"
Ruth clasped her hands together, anC
stood there, shocked and trembling.
You did thisY she said. Glow coulc
you"
did it to try to save the poor fellow
rom lT great dishonor; and you had forfeited
al claims upon me when you told Seaforth
o0herWlse should not have interfered."
DID not tell Capt. Seaforth the Who'll,
STORY, said Ruth in great distress; ''al
Uhat told him was that you had learn
some unhappy secret of Frances, and tina
your price for keeping it was that SHOULD
break Off my engagement with him, ant
marry you. And l only did this afte
FRANCES had left Col. Kenyon. Oil wh,
why did you interferep
Audley was silent for moment, then b.
said slowly:
Is this true?"
-, Qulte-quite truel You misunderstood
sne words which l suppose you overhear,
~ Longrldge-road. Capt. Seaforth wa
very angry, naturally angry; but he knew
Aothlng-nothing of what the secret was.
AGAIN Audley was silent for momen
or cNo; then he asked abruptly:
nave You seen him since thenr'
Cuse once; ne came to bid me good-by