The morning news., 1889-04-21

good fortune, was Audleys nearest survIv
ing relation and had for somo time been in
delicate health. The telegram was peremp-
tory Audley wrote, and he WAS on the point
of starting for his sisters house when he
penned the letter 10 Ruth.
"If Mrs. Kenyon will allow you to re-
main at Sudley until my return, think it
will be good arrangement" Ruth read,
with beating heart, ID we may be sure
that both the colonel and Frances were de-
lighted that Ruth should do this.
And Ruth went up tairs and breathed a
sigh Of relief. alasl of thankfulncsS, that
for the next few days at least, She would
not see her husbands face. This knowl-
edge seemed to take weight off her heart
somehow, and her girlish color stole back to
her fair face, and her step grew lighter, and
she was ready aud willing to JOIN In all
Frances plans for the entainment on Col.
Kenyon's birthday.
THAT little woman looks a different
creature already, with the air here,' said
the kindly colonel to his wife, aud Frances
assepted.
II hope Miss Audley will keep very ill for
soms time" she said, smiling; but Col.
Kenyon shook his head at this unSeeling re-
mark
Don't hope the poor lady to suffer long,
dearest he answered, for he ever thought
CONSIDERABLY Of others, and had strong sy m
pathy for all those who pass heavily bur
dened on their way. lst
''Shall we ask Seaforth and Beaton to
dinner tomorrow, Ruths" asked Frances,
later in the day. "He will help to amuse
US"
mo, no." answered Ruth, with a vivid
blush, "don't ask Kenard Seaforth while !
am here, please, Frances; it is only painful
to us BOTH
1--WE must ask him for the 1st, my dear. v
THAT is different, there will be crowd !;
but | would rather not see him until then" "
Nevertheless, two days later she did see
him, for Col. Kenyon announced that he
had asked 'Beaton and Seaforth" over for
days shooting, and to stay all night, and
dine at the parK.
There, you can't help yourself" said
Frances, to her sister, when Col Kenyon
had left the room; my dear, take my adj
vice, and treat him in a friendly fashion,
and it will all become quite easy to you in
a very short while"
And Ruth resolved to try to do this. The
first painful meeting was over, and it is
certainly strange how we become used to
things, and fall into ways we are forced to
| tread. Ruth andlSeaforth met again, GER
| tainly with emba 'rassment, but still with
out the overwhelming emotion of the first
| meeting. They shook hands, and by-and-
by Ruth found herself talking quietly
enough to her old frie d. rne three
men had come in for afternoon tea after
the days sport, and Frances in her charm
| ing tea-gown smiled her welcome; Beaton
| going at once to her side and remaining
there, fascinated beyond the power of his
own will to tur1 a ay.
Presently the colonel, having drunk his
| tea went to have a smoke, but the two
| y yunger men fingered in the drawllg room.
| 1t was thus Impossible for Seaforth and
| Ruth not to talk to each other, and in lit.
| tie while they found that words came tC
| them very easily. They did not speak
| mu IN of past, nor coming days, but Of the
| things around them, though Seaforth did
| once allude to their former intimacy, There
was a stand of flowers close by them, fOr
| Frances loved to fill her rooms with the
| choicest she could procure, and Seaforth
began talking of these, telling Ruth OF
some rare orchids he had seen when he was
| away H.
81 am afraid my taste still clings to the
simplest flowers said Ruth, with smile
''even wild flowers"
II remember you used to gather them,
| answered Seaforth, in low tone.
| All What memories those words recalled
| to her heart! Nay, scarcely memories
| days that lived always imprinted on heT
| brain, when she had wandered in the field:
with her lover. and plucked the scarlet pop
1 pies by the way.
YES, long ago. she said, and her head
| dropped, and he watched the color come and
| go on her smooth fair cheeks.
He looked her for a moment or two
| and then changed the conversation, asking
| her about the party to he given in honor OF
| Col Kanyon's bTthdiy.
you are going to have great dOings
here on the 1st, | am told" he said, consid-
erately.
Eyes, Frances is bent on making it
quite a success as it is Col. Kenyon's birth
day, you know. We are to have band,
aud banquet, and dance, believe, to
wind up with
"Will you keep me a danceP
"Yes, | shall be very glad"
And so in this commonplace strain they
talked, Interrupted occasionally by Frances
soft laughter, and the murmur CT BSaton's
voice He was standing with his back to
them, looking down with his gray expires
sive eyes at the beautiful woman who was
lying back in an easy chair before him, toy
ing with a feather fan. And what were
they sayingl Foolish words of coquettish
testing on her part on his, ardent expires
sions of scarcely veiled tenderness and ad-
mlration, which Frances loved to listen to.
Suddenly she started up and declared it
was time to dress for dinner, and she and
Ruth left the room together, followed a
moment or two later by the young men,
VINO went out on Jne terrace DeIOfe Use
house to smoke cigarettes, both thinking of
the women they had just left, though
neither mentioned the sisters. .,s,ar.
They all met at dinner, aud then after
ward went out into the still dark gardens to
fix about the lluminations on the night Of
the fete. The colo el made joke of the
whole affair, and tried to laugh FranceJ out
Of the idea of the Chinese lamps her heart
was set upon.
"Then / shall not consult you any more, ~
she said, playfully. Mr.. Beaton, You
come with me, and we will fix where to hang
them
He followed her, only too gladly, under
the shadowy trees; and Col. Kenyon, Ruth
and Seaforth, walked slowly behind them,
talking pleasantly as they went, and grad.
u1lly Ruth and Seaforth grew more at
ease.
And the next morning it was the same
thing. Ruth came down to breakfast in a
white gown, and looked so like the fair
young girl Ssaforth had loved and wooed
that the bitter days OF her desertion seemed
somehow to fade from his mind They
stood on the terrace and talked together
with the sunshine falling on Ruth's uncov-
cred head, and it was only whom be parted
with her to return 70 Headfort that the old
gloom stole over Seaforths heart.
~ cannot understand it" he told himself,
restle,sly; "a girl like that to throw a man
over that she cared for-for she did care for
me-because another man had a few more
hundred year and yet she did it,"
He did not go any more TO Sudley until
the day Of the party on Col. Kenyon's birth
day, but Beaton went several times, max