The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-17


two young people vera naturally anxious
Tor the letters which to them meant 50
much. Seaforth, therefore, first tore his
fathers letter hastily open, and to his Goa
sternation read as follows:
DEAR KENARD-Your mother and
have received your letters announcing your
engagement to Miss Forth, and l may as
well toll you at once that | highly di+ap-
prove Of it. | knew Col. Forth slightly
wher he commanded the til regiment,
an he was not popular mau. His dauGa-
ter, or daughters, also have not q very EN-
viable reputation. remember o3e Of them
IN India, and though she wa handsome,
SNOWY girl she Wa certainly not person
SHOULD "ish to soc my sAH'B wife. Oh are
also IN 10 position t. marcy, n9d l Should
certainly not increase your allowances, even
If ! continued it, in TIC event OF your car
rying ont your gagemeat - bliss Forth.
In fEct, my dear UoJ. l earnestly entreAt
you o Get out Of it ms hlnorably as you
can. Col. Forth is known to be a poor
man, AID I snail gladly advance any sam
in moderatiou) as o honorarlum to ths
young lady for any disappointment she may
feel. Your mother cordially agrees With
me, and she will tell you more Of the India
gossip about the Miss Forths than l care to
ento into.
Trusting you will act on the advice of
one to whom your welfare aud happiness is
Of the utmost Importance, remain, your
atfectionate father,
John K. SEAFoRTH"
This was not a pleasant letter, it must be
admitted, for young and ardent lover to
receive. Kenard Seaforth's affection for
Ruth was strong and true, and was founded
on the undoubted mutual sympathy which
existed between them. de, therefore, felt
very indignant at his fathers words, and
Id
them. But, on the subject of his allow
ance, he was forced to consider. He knew
very we'll he could not live in the regiment
on his paw as an unmarried man, and that
to marry on it was simply impossible.
What, therefore, was he to doc he asked
himself, and his heart answered that st all
events he would be loyal to his love, and to
his word.
Then he opened his mothers letter. This
was very different handwriting to the gen
erals bold strong penmanship. Mrs. Sea
forth was gentle, delicate little woman,
aud her writing was very expressive of her
nature She commenced more affectionate-
ly than the father:
"MY DARLING KENARD-Your dear
father and have both been made very I'M
happy by your last lie ters, in which you tell
US you are engaged to one of Col. F'orth's
daughte 5. Dearest Keuard, l remember
Col. Forth very well, and ne was consid-
cred a most disagreeable man. | remember
Miss Forth also, and l regret to say there
were some very scandalous things said of
her. or course, | do not say they were all
true, but still a girl is seldom very much
talked of without cause. She and l. )rd
Walter Gregille of the Dragons, were ter
riblY talked of at Simla last year, just be-
fore Col Forth retired. This was the eldest
Miss Forth | believe, but still, my dear
yirl
to whom you say you are engaged must
must have had ever before her eyes! Ny
daring boy, a wife from such a family is no
fit wife for you. You are sensitive, proud
and aifectionate, keuard, and how should
you like to have your wife's name spoken
lightly ofg Take the advice, dearest, of
your loving mother, and break OFT this
affair while there is yet time. Your father
Will pay any sum rather than you should be
entangled in such a marriage, for money is
nothing to the misery it would certainly end
in. hope some day to kiss your wifes
face, for we wish you to marry, dear, If you
marry suitably, but | could not bear to kiss
or love Miss Forth. do not like writing
against any one, but feel it is my duty 70
do so in this case, and remain, my darling,
darling boy, ever your loving mother,
Lucy SEAFORTH."
Kenard Seaforth's good-looking pleasant
read his mothers letter. 1t was inexpressibly
painful to him, for he was, as she said, SEN
sitive and it CALLED him terribly that it
should have been possible for her to write
such words. He quite understood, too,
how this could be, for he was man of the
world enough to know that Frances Forth
had probably deserved good deal of what
was said of her
But his feeling for Ruth remained I'M
touched as he laid his mothers letter down,
exactly as it had remained untouched after
perusing his fathers epiStle
at is utterly unjust" he thought. "If
she is not good and pure and true, then Pm
Il fool Bat they admit they have never
seen her; yet they would allow the gossip
about one sister to ruin the happiness of the
other"
But his parents letters put him, to say
the least of it, in a most embarrassing posi-
ton. How could he could 90 and tell Ruth
of their contents, or even hint at themf 1t
was impossible he could do so, he told him
self, after much consideration and thought
how to spare her any pam, he decided he
would tell her that his father for the present
declined to increase his allowance and for
them to marry on his present one, until
he got his company, would be very impru-
dent.
he wrote to ask her if she would meet
him tie same afternoon in some fields
where they had sometimes met before. And
Ruth went to meet him, and as he saw her
coming in her white gown, with the sun
shine falling on her fresh fair face be wonder
ed how people could be so wicked; now they
could blight, or try to blight, young life
by cruel words.
"You have heard from your peopleF' she
said. quickly, as they elias led each others
hands, and she looked up with heightened
color and eager Dyes into his face.
For she understood with unerring instinct,
the moment she saw him, that he had no
good news to tell. he had meant to dis
guise this, and met her with a smile, but
with the quick intuitive perception that
woman WHO loves aud understands a man
feels, she saw all was not well with him,
and Ssaforths eyes fell beneath her ques-
tioning gazs.
"Yes, I've heard" he said; 'and my
father is not inclined to increase my allow
aucs--it has put me out very much"
Buth's face flushed, and cold chill pang
seemed to pass through her heart.
"If it's only about money" she said,
falteringly.
"Of course it's only about money" Sea-
forth replied hastily, as she paused; but If
YOU will wait little while Ruth"
NEED you ask that, Kenard~
AS size said the simple words, she again
looked up in his face, and there was such
loving trust in her expression, that Sea-
forth drew her nearer to him. and kissed
her lips.
you won't MAD marrying poor man,
49, h. bad vnrlN NF