Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-03-13

fected and the other with real interest.
Dear old Kenard," said Ruth, II hope he
Is coming home."
He will be here on the 10TH" rsjoined
the bar onet, ''and think we had better have
PARTY to meet him--no wine at present
Barker, thank you-and i must leave IL to
you girls 10 say who we shall have"
Kenarl was Abel's only son, two years
older than Ruth, and, of course, heir to the
title and estates. Having boon In somewhat
delicate health the doctors suggest, d hisgo-
ing abroad. and he had been away six
months, knocking about the Continent"
as orr young men say.
His health" said Mrs. Moore, us much
improved. He will make a strong man yet"
II never had any doubt of it," said Vida
quietly. "he has a little too much mind,
that's all"
'Isuppose he is clever" said Abel.
"He Is shrewder than any of the men Of
his age we Know" said Vida.
1T is a case of mutual admiration" said
Mrs. Moore; "Kcnard used to say that you
have too much brain for woman"
"lIls wy of dealing a bow to the sex
generally" remarked Ruth. "Well, sup
pose our strength lies in our weakness"
women are at disadvantage every
way" said Vida. "AIan make our laws,
give VS. our post on, and settle that they
shall take the lead in everything"
somebody must lead, " h nted Mr.. Moore
'and do hope, my dear V. da, that you ara
not going in for womCn's rights and that
3sort Of thing"
II am gong in for nothing" she answer.
ed, 'but the quiet, peaceful, happy life
have had under your kindly care"
II \ /.
Mt. Moore, (which am not prepared to adj
mit--at least, not anything worth mention.
ing, am more than repaid by Your Owe"
Vida r,qu red all the self-control she was
mistress of to hide the sting these kindly
words urconsciously indicted. She loved
her uncle in her way, and was grateful TO
him. She knew her own baseness also, but
passion urged her OH.
All things went down before 1t. But
twelve short months ago, and she had loved
Ruth as tender Y as If they had been twin
sisters, but now the words that escaped her
lips in the solitu lie OF her room, but half all
hour before, wer, terribly true.
Yes, she hated the beautiful girl who sat
facing her, unconscious of having wronged
living being. Basil Brandr tn had come,
and wooed, and won her, W thout a word or
look beyond friendship for V .da.
There Dsd been no rivalry, no outward
enmity no struggle for the handsome heir
of Brarwood and its rent-roll of eight thou
sand year. Vida's secret was kept well
hidden in her breast.
She chat gaily at the dinner-table, sang
sweetly in the drawing-room, and laterOn
spent the sweet go siping hour with Ruth
before the fire in her bedroom.
Ruth seat n on t,a heortbraO ~ soft fhirk
otter-skin, with her head resting in her
cousins lap, speaking OF Basil's coming as
one speaks of the opening Of a new and
glorious existence, and Vida listened with
ont sign of the volcano 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-
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! 1t tears me, rends me, con-
sumes me. l 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
Brandreth's wifer
That night sleep held aloof from her.
All the evening desperate deadly thought
had lowered over her, like a dusky pail
futtering in the dim starlight Now II be-
gan to take shape and form. and ere the
dawn came 1t was tangible substantial
thing
H.d'ous, awful, but her only resource, I'M
less she would consent to suffer in secret,
ard 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
o. the journey dshonor and even death may
Lie.