Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-13

fectcd and the other with real interest.
''Dear old Kenard," said Ruth, III hope he
Is coming ZONE"
"Hc will be here on the l6 H." rejOined
the bar onet, "and think we had better have
q ariy TO meet him-no wine at present.
Barker, thank you-and l must leave it to
you girls 10 say who we shall have"
Kenar was Abels only son, two years
older than Ruth and, OF course, heir TO the
title and estates. Having been in somewhat
delicate health the doctors suggest d his go
ing abroad, and he had been away six
months, knocking about the Continent"
as or young men say.
His health" SAID Mrs. Moore. lis much
improved. He will make strong man YET"
II never had any doubt Of il, said V da
quietly, "he has little too much mind,
tAat'- ALL"
Il suppose he is clever" said Abel.
'He i shrewder than any Of tie men Of
his age we ku ow,' said Vida.
1t is Il Gaze OF mutual admiration" said
Mrs. Moore; "kenard used to say that you
have to- much brain for woman"
"lis WY Of dealing bow 10 the sex
generally" remarked Eu h. well, l sup
lo,e our strength lies in cur weakness"
Women are at a disadvantage every
way" sad Vida. "Men maks our laws,
give uS our post on, and settle that they
sAall take the lead in everything"
"SomAhody must lead, " h ntJd Mr.. Moore
land do hope, my dear V da, that you ar /.
not going IN for womon's rights and that
4, sort Of thing"
! II am 20 ng in for nothing" she answer.
ed, but the quiet, peaceful, happy life
have hal under your kindly care"
~ have do e anything for you," said
Mr.. Moore, (which am not PREPARED to I'D.
mit--at least, not anything worth mention.
ing, am more than repaid by yorr o,e."
Vida r'qu red all tho self-control she was
nstress of 10 b.de the sting these kind Y
wordS uEconSciousy inflicted. Sle loved
her unce in her way, and was grateful 10
him. She knew her own baseness also, but
passion TIT :ed her OH.
All tAinys went down before 1t. But
tve've hort months ago, and she had loved
Ruth aS tender as If they had been twin
sisters, but now the words that escaped her
lips in The solitu ie OF her room, but half al
hour Def IRE, wer, terribly true.
Yes, she hated the beautiful girl who sat
fac n her, unconscious OF having wronSed
a living being. Basil Brandr tn had come,
and wooed, and won her, W thCut a word or
look 'yond friendship for V .da.
There h d be n no rivalry, no outward
enmity. no struggle for the handsome heir
of Br atwood and its rent-roll of c ght thou-
sand year. Vidas secret was kept we'll
hidden in her breast.
She chat gaily at the dinner-tabc, sang
sweetly in the driwing-room, and later on
sTent tie sweet 20 siping hour with Ruth
before the fire in her bedroom.
Ruth, seat on the hearthrug Of soft thick
otter-skin, with her head resting in her
cousins lap, speaking of Basil's coming "a
one speaks OF tie opening OF new and
Elor Gus existence, and Vida listened with
out a sign Of the volcano raging in her breast
But when al last she was alone il rushed
forth in broken passionate sobs and hot
words, that she on half stiflod as they fell
from her lips. Prone by the fire she lay for
hours. unit only cold ashes in the CRATE re-
manned.
"Oh. would that my love was no more
than this" she said as she stood erect with
her eyes on the dull black hearth; but it
burns-burns! /. tears me, rends me, con-
sumes me. have dreaded this time. have
seen in i the dark shadow of something
am only now beginning to face. lie must
not come here. Perish all things first. Let
there be chaos, but Ruth must not be Basil
Brandreths Wife,"
That night sleep held aloof from her.
All the evening a desperate deadly thought
had lowered over her, like q dusky pail
futtering in the dim starlight. Now it be-
gan to take shape and form. and ere the
dawn came it was tangible substantial
thing
II Gus, awful, but her only resource, un-
less she won d consent to suffer in secret,
ard be strong.
But Vida Moore was woman OF passion
ate mould. and passion is hunger tlat
must be appeased madness that whips
and spurs lis victims on, though at the end
o. the journey dishonor and even death may
lie.