The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1889-06-08

He was q fine portly man Of fifty, with a
handsome head, which, with the exception
of his iron-grey hair, showed no rayages Of
time. Mrs. Moore was five years his junior
and would have passed for forty. She arose
as the cousins entered and surveyed them
with marked approval.
What is it chat we heard at the theatre
about the two roses%' she said:
zone like the roses when June and July meet,
The other the opening bud sweet May dis
closes,
Both so unlike and yet alike in this
You are two rosess
Mr.. Moore laughingly helped her line by
line with the quotation, and just as he finish
ed Barker the butler entered and announced
dinner. There was nc company that day,
and the husband gave his arm to Mrs. Moore
and led the way.
Il have had letter from Kenard,V said
Abel as the soup was passed round
Vida and Ruth looked up-one with af-
fected and the other with real interest.
'Dear old Kenard, said Ruth Il hopehe
Is coming home"
HE will be here on the 16th," rejoined
the baronet, .and think we had better have
party to meet him-no wine at present,
Barker, thank you--and / must leave it to
you girls to say who we shall have"
Kenard was Abeps only son, two years
older than Ruth, and, of course, heir to the
title and estates. Having been in somewhat
delicate health the doctors suggested mis- gO-
ing abroad, and he had been away six
months, knocking about the Continent"
as our young men say.
'His health" said Mrs. Moore, lis much
improved. He will make strong man yet"
Il never had any doubt of it" said Vida
| quietly, "he has little too much mind,
that's ALL"
! Il suppose he is clever, said Abel.
"He is shrewder than any of the men Of
his age we know" said Vida.
''It is a case of mutual admiration said
Mrs Moore; "Kenard used to say that you
have too much brain for woman"
'His way Of dealing a blow to the sex
generally" remarked Ruth. ''Well, | sup
pose our strength lies in our weakness"
"Women are at a disadvantage every
way" said Vida. "AIen make our laws,
give us our position, and settle that they
shall take the lead in everything"
Somebody must lead, hinted Mr. Moore,
''and do hope. my dear Vida that you are
not going in for women's rights and that
tort of thing"
Il am going in for nothing" she answer
I'd but the quiet peaceful happy life
| have had under your kindly care"
''If have done anything for youu said
/ MI. Moore, (which am not prepared to adj
nit at least, not anything worth mention.
] ing, ain more than repaid by your love"
\ Vida required all the self-control she was
mistress of to hide the sting these kindly
words unconsciously inflicted She loved
her uncle in her way, and was grateful to
| him. She knew her own baseness also, but
/ passion urged her on.
| All things went down before il. But
twelve short months ago, and She had loved
Ruth as tenderly as if they had been twin
sisters, but now the words that escaped her
! lips III the solitude of her room, but half an
hour before, were terribly true.
Yes, she hated the beautiful girl who sat
facing her, unconscious of having wronged
a living being. Basil Brandreth had come,
! and wooed and won her. without word or
look beyond friendship for Vida.
There had been no rivalry, no outward
enmity, no struggle for the handsome heir
OF Briarwood and its rent-roll Of eight thou
sand year. Vida's secret was kept we'll
hidden in her breast.
She chatted gaily at the dinner-table, sang
sWeetly in the drawing-room, and later on
spent the sweet gossping hour with Ruth
before the fire in her bedroom.
Ruth, seated on the hearthrug of soft thick
Otter-skin, with her head resting in her
cousins lap, speaking of BasiTs coming as
one speaks of the opening of new and
glorious existence, and Vida listened with
OUT Sign Of the evoleano raging in her breast.
But when at last she was alone, it rushed
forth In broken passionate sobs and hot
words, that she only half stifed as they fell
from her lips. Prone by the fire she lay for
hOurs, until only cold ashes in the CRATE re-
mained.
'Oh, would that my love was no more
than this" she said, as she stood erect with
her eyes on the dull black hearth; 'fbut it
Durns-burns! 1t tears me, rends me, con-
Snmes me. have dreaded this time. have
seen in it the dark shadow of something
am only now beginning to face. He must
not come here. Perish all things first. Let
there be chaos, but Ruth must not be Basil |
Brandreths wifew
That night sleep held aloof from her.
All heevening desperate deadly Thought
had hOyered over her, like duskv nall
tuttering in the dim starlight Now It be-
gan to take shape and form, and ere the
dawn came it was tangible substantial
thing.
Hideous, awful, but her only resource, un-
less she would consent to suffer in secret.
and be strong.
But Vida Moore was woman of passion
ate mould, and passion is a hunger that
must be appeased a madness that whips
and spurs its victims on, though at the end
Of the journey dishonor and even death NAV
lie.
CHAPTER II.
A BITTER BARGAIN.