The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-10

4
| Audley-no love, n thing that could make
| our lives happy; and why, therefore, Ould
/ you wish to marry me, when you could
| marry many women who would really care
| for your
"But suppose have a fancy to marry
| you, and not any other woman."
| But such fancy will ss0n pass away,
| surely" pleaded Ruth. "Just think for a
! moment what it must be to marry a woman
whose heart is quite cold to you-whose
hear S not her own to gve!"
| "You cal you have still not got over
| your little tenderness for Seaforth, | sup
! poser scoffed Au1ley, with suppressed bi =
! terness. "My dear child, we all have me
calf-love or other, but you will quito forget
| Seaforth after you are married to me-"
Ruth sho TX her head.
"No, no." she said, ''you do not under
stand; Y III think it was only stupid firta-
ton between us perhap but it was not; we
ca Q for each other very much, and surely
"You seem to forget our bargain,
| think. "
you mean"
81 mean that l promised to keep that lit
| tie dangerous secret of your sisters n GER
tain considerable is; one was that you
should give up Seaforth, which you have
| done; tue other rat YOU should marry me. !"
| Yes, yes, l know; but surely you will
not hold me to this. Oh! Maj. Audley,
have some pity-this secret was no fault of
mine at leaSt-don't make me suffer for
| another's sinW
The poor girl fell on her knees as she
spoke, and clasped her hands in vain en-
treaty, for the hard eyes WATCH d her never
softened.
"You look very pretty" he said, as he
laid his hand on her arm, and raised her
up, but do IT try these Ii tie theatrical
poses on me too often, Ruth, for they have
no effect o me; know your sex too well, !"
he added, with short, harsh laugh. Nov
listen,n ne went on, a moment later, tight
ening his grasp on her trembling arm, ''and
let me tell you once for all that | m an to
hold to your bargain, or won't keep mine.
Unless you marry me, Col Kenyol will
never marry your sister, and cal promise
you that S1aforth's people will never allow
HIM to marry you"
Ruth drew her arm away from his touch,
and made step backward. AID stood look
ing at him in dumb eproach.a
"You must make your choice, them" con-
tinued Audley, and that choice must be
| final"
You leave me no choice" said Ruth.
still looking at him; "you have no pity"
Again Audley laughed that short, harsh
laugh.
as all tina many man would have made
it harder"
at Juld be no harder" retorted Ruth,
with sCrong and passi nate enotiol you
may rec me to marry you, Maj. Audley,
but you cannot force me t. give you any
love. warn you in time, our marriage
will end mi ERA ly."
"All right, III run the risk; then you
will marry me, and marry me so1np
I'VE ~
And l wish to be married before your
sisters marriage with Col. Kenyon comes
eff When is nat t. bep
They talk of it in about a month"
"Then we have no time to lose; suppose
we fix ours this day fortuightP
Fra moment she did not answer; she
clasped her hands, vivid blus dyed her
face, but when she did speak her voice was
full # scorn.
ITS all the same to me-" she said; elf it
has to be, sooner or later can make no diff
fere lce."
"Come, my little lady, that's rather cool.
you know, and ylu m st drop all at kind
Of thing" said Audlry, who was really ter
ribly annoyed by her manner. II think
must add another clause to my bargain,
which i, that you keep civil tongue in
your head. After all, think you might re-
member th 1t a man lnu be f ,irly hard hit
by your pretty facs who is anxious to
enter into your family; considering ali
things"
| or twJ Aud ey also was silent.
He walx, TO the window Of the room
and stood looking out, and doubt crossed
his mind about the wisdom Of his own
conduct. Then be turned round and
looked at her again--so pale, SO fair-aH d
what he called love was stronger than his
| reas IN.
at will all come right by-and-by," he
said crossing the room and TAXI e her re-
| luctant hand, ''u less you are a very head
strong lit lie woman, which / do not tnink
you are Is your father in the house, and
| if he is, can l speak to him and tell MIN we
have tiled it ll'
II will see if he il in" answered Ruth,
and as she turned TO leave the room, Aud
| lev suddenly caught her in his arms and
| kissed her.
"Therel l must have on, j." he said, and as
| the lor girl escaped from the room sac
| drew out her handkerchief and violently
rubbed the cheek and lips which his had
| uched.
she met her father In the hall, for C |.
! Forth was just coming in ON a wax, and
had no idea Maj. Audley was in the draw
ing room.
Father, Maj Audley is in the drawing
room, and wishes TO spelk 10 you" said Ruth
ha ,tily as she passed him.
"Audleyl Is heg What does the fellow
wan.r answered the colonel; but to this
| ttu n mas 20 reply, anu OOl. II run pro
ceeded to ths drawing room, where he found
Maj. Audley.
HAS Ruth told you what have & vt TO
sayl" asked Audley, as the two men shook
| hand.
"Ruthl no" and the colonel's red face
grew redder. "Confounded impertlnence, u
he was thinking, ''to call the girl by her
name"
But his mental resentment was speedily
cut short.
"She and have agreed to get married, ,
continued Maj. Audley, aud ] trust, Col
Forth, you will not withhold your con
| sentP'
''Get marriedr' repeated Col. Forth, in
Intense astonishmelt "Why, / never
thought Of UGH t ing; | did not know
you had any ide Of suca thing, Audley.
"pve admired Ruth for long while, aud
now a happy enough to have gained her
consent; and the i nothi & prevent our
being married nmediately-I mean nc
monetary nsideratiols-as / have some
| for une OF my own
He then proceeded 10 tell the astonishe 4
lionel that Ruth had agreed to marry him
in fortnig t; that he ad an iucom. Of
over a Jh usand year besides his pay, and
that he was willing 10 settle five hundred a
year on Ruth, in the event of his death oc-
| curing before her own, under the condition
| that she did not marry again.