The Princeton union., 1891-03-19

Outside, the November day was ending
gloomily and bleaky enough, with a
watery sun going down in sky OF lead,
and the rising gale giving promise to
stormy night.
But in the parlor where Ruth sat,
with it's curtains drawn, the fire blaz-
ing in the CRATE, the pictures and piano,
the table laden with books, it's rich
carpet and cushioned chairs, there
was comfort and cosiness enough, sure
ly. The piano was open, with music
upon it, as ii Ruth had but just ceased
playing; and she lay back in a low
chair, looking into the fire, and think
ing. a handsome face that, looking
out from those rich brown curls, but
thought too grave and pale, perhaps.
a great deal too grave, surely, for a
bride OF one month, and the mistress
of such a home as this. 1t had been
her dream all her life-poor child! she
was only twenty-to escape fr ON
the drudgery OF a governess, and mar
ry rich man. She had attained the
desire OF her heart at last; she was the
wife dwell, not a rich man exactly,
but one who could give her a pretty
home, handsome dresses, delicate fare,
and several servants to wait on her.
He was double her age. He was not
handsome, or talented, or polished, or
desirable in any way, except as far as
his money made him; she had married
him in fit of desperate mutiny
against her wearisome life. It had
been, Marry in haste:-looking at her
as she sat there, you would have said
it was, Repent at leisure.
There was a knock at the front door.
An instant after, her cousin Lena He
witt, rushed in, her whole face in a
glow.
'Ruth! Ruth" was her cry, "only
guess who has come! Oh, YOU can't!
Why, your old beau, Harry Newton!"
She threw herself into seat, this
impetuous Lena, making it creak under
her, and ran on.
Gle came this afternoon by the
train. | was down at the station, and
knew him the moment he appeared,
though it is three years since he went
away. Oh, Ruth! he is just as hand
some as ever he can be; and he is rich,
for he told me so. He said he had
been away making his fortune; and
now he had come back for some one
the G ri l left behind me- he said, to
share it. Amt you surprised, Ruth?"
eyes"
Lena Hewitt looked at her cousin
for he first time, struck by her
changed voice. But Mrs. Foster was
holding up a handscreen before her
face, and Lena could not see the white
change that had pissed over it.
"He asked for you," Lena ran on,
"the first thing, and you ought to
have seen his look when told him
you were married. I declare he SEEM
ed as if you might have knocked him
down with q feather. Married." he
kept repeating, as if he could not be-
lieve his ears; married! Ruth mar
ried?' Yes said I, to Mr.. Hugh Fos-
ter Ruth, really you ought to have
seen his face-it was as good as a
farce, it's blank consternationp
Lena ought to have seen the face
hidden by the handscreen-its ghast-
liness might have startled her. But
she could not, and she ratified on.
II do think he is as much in love
with you as ever; and oh, how hand
some he is! Won't he be prize, with
his good looks, and his new made
riches, for some of US folorn damsels,
now that you are out of the way? l
say, though, Ruth, don't be angry,
you ought to have waited month
longer before becoming Mrs. F. I am
afraid you like Henry better than
you ever did Hugh. must be off now;
Harry's coming to our house to tea,
and l just snatched minute, to run
in and tell you the news"
She was off like q whirlwind. AS
the door closed, the handscreen fell
from before the face of Ruth Foster,
and it was white as the face of a. dead
woman. An awful despair had seized
her in these few moments. What had