The morning news., 1889-05-19


cident had so far drawn her nearer 10 him
that she was sorry for him, and had done
her best TO ease his sufferings But il was
weary, weary task, and this Christmas day
was a very dreary one, spent together by
the unmatched pair.
AT Sudley, on the contrary tho old roof
rang with mirth and laughter, for some
former military friends of Col kenyon's
we're staying at the house, and merry tales
were told of bygone days, when the gray
haired owner of Sudley had beeE young and
brown. But not happier-not so happy as
he was now Did two, who sat at his hos
pitable board realize thlS-tWO, who
thought very little of him, and were living
in a dream of excitement and forgetful-
ness Of everything but eacl Others pres
ence2 Yes, 1t had come t0 thistle vain,
worldly, beautiful Frances Kenyon hal al
lowed herself TO drift nearer and nearer to
a danger she affected to disQise. She had
always liked Arthur Beaton, liked his
youth, his devotion and his good looks and
since he had become Sir Arthur she had
liked him better still. She was afraid of
losing him, for one thing; for naturally
there were many fair girls and fair women
also, ready to smile on a rich, handsome
and agreeable young man. And F,ances
was really jealous if he spoke to any one
else, though she was always gaily bidding
him to flirt with this one or the other. Aud
she led him on and on, led him to forget every
thing but the passionate love which intOxl-
Gated him. and overw helmed the nobler in
stiHcts of his heart.
She never paused to reflect on the wrong
she was doing. He was devoted to her, and
this satisfied her; and If for momont She
felt she liked him too well, the next she for
got this, or told herself her life would be
SO weary without him. OF the noble
hearted gen lemAn whose name she bore she
scarcely cared to think, nor of the priceless
gifts she was flinging to the winds. The
foolish woman in her vanity thought more
of young mans love than her husbands
constant affection and trust
And this Christmas day, Sir Arthur had
brought her gift which he had placed in
her hands with some tender words; gift
of rare and beautiful stones set IN the shape
Of diamond heart, and Frances was de-
lighted with it.
7'You know it is symbolical," he said,
looking at her inte 1tly with his gray earn
est ewes.
"Of whatw she said, lightly; but tho
next moment she laid her slender hand on
his. II understand" she half whs7ere5;
and she wore the ieweled heart on her
shapely throat during the evening, and
whel someone admired it she said it had
boen given to ber loug ago!
She went t0 sea Ruth the next day, but
she did not meut!on Sir Aryhur's gif5 to
her.
1--WE had rather a jolly party" she told
her; "the Heathcotes are pleasant people"
and so on.
And Sir Arthur, how did no enjoy him
self" asked Ruth, who wished to give
word Of advice 10 her sister.
Very well, seemiag.y,' answered
Frances, carelessly; II drove him IN Just
now. and he has gone to the fort but he will
be over here presently 20 see Audley."
"He is not going back to Sudl5y again, is
her. inquired Ruth, Gravely.
"Of course he IS; how on earth am / to
amusa Mrs. HeathcJte, AMI Lady Hastings
too, who is going to dine VITA Us to-day,
without any young men|
He seems to he so much with you"
Frances gave a little sarug.
"He is verY NICE he helps to amuse me,
she said and then she began telling RuJh
about the Indian embroidery on Mrs
Heathc1te's DIRE s. and Before Ruth C ruld
say anything more Of Sir Arthur, he ar
rived, and went upstairs for a few moments
to speak 10 Autl5y. who intended the fl st
time he saw him t, Rivo him a bit Of bis
mind about Mrs. KeIyoa.
But this was no, SO easy as he expected
There was a Ger ain reserve in Eea6on
manner that Auiley found very difficult to
break through when he approached the sub
ject of his visit to Sudley
You seem to be the adopted friend Of
the family at last said Au ley, little
scornfully; "take care. old fellowm
Beaton drew himself uD and colored.
"Fhey ere very kind to me, " he answered
coldly; well, good day, Audley, | am glad
to see you so much be.ter;n and he shook
Addley's hand and Went away, and Audey
felt that his Interference had been any
thing but appreciated.
He. of course began to rail at Frances TO
Ruth the moment Beaton was gone, and
Ruth escaped from his hard cutting words
by going out for a long walk by the sea
coast, and the fresh air did her good. She
returned looking brighter, and rs Ssaforth
was not at Headforr, Audley made no OBJ
jectIons when on the following day sle
again proposed to take a walk.
As she went out. strange wish rose in
her mind once more t. 20 down to the bay
She had never done this since the nignt
which had proved the turning point of ner
fate; but she had often looked with a half
averted, shuddering glance from tho back
windows Of the house az the sauds below,
bound in by the wave-worn, rocky walls
down which she had gone in the darkness
and the storm.
And now a sort Of weird fascination and
curiosity drew her footsteps to the very
spot Shs was alone and free to do as she
wsising close TO the sea, and looking to-
ward the steep and shaggy cliffs, beneath
which she had crept with her heavy bur
den.
She seemed to see herself again as she
delved and dug in yon shifting sand. How
many times the sea had rolled and muir
INJURED over the narrow trench since then,
but the secret lay still unbared when the
waves crept back, aud only Audley knew
only Audley-thought Ruth, with clasped
hands and dilated eyes
She stood still few minutes, but pres
emily walked on, going to the very end of
the bav. and then commenced to mount and
cross the vast blocks of rock, 10 which the
brown seaweel chung, and where the sea
flowers dwelt amid the pools Of salt water
that the tide had left. A somewhat danger
GUS rugged path, this, round the juttiug
point OF the bay, at the other side Of which
beautiful sands stretch out for miles and
miles. Ruth meant to g or long walk,
and was proceeding forward with bent
head, whel TO her great surpri she saw
Seaforth approaching her in tho opposite
direction, VINO also intended TO have long
walk by the sea.
They met, both embarrassed and con
fused.
II thought you were at homer faltered
RUN, with blushing checks and downcast
eyes.
II came back last night. only went for
Christmas day"
81 did not know
Are you having long walk-may
join your
"Yes," said Ruth, still without looking up.
fafs min