Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-01
CHAPTER NIL
ANorHER LETTEil

How Ruth managed to keep her secret is
not easy to say, but keep it she did, and hid
the Joy that dubbed In her heart like the
warm water Of q geyser, only finding full
vent at times when she was alone.
And Vida kept Is too, and the effort re-
quired on her part taxed her sorely.
She had trouble to hide in the place OF
Joy, and with an ever-aching heart she went
about with smiling face
How was it possible for Basil to be alive?
And if alive, and we'll enough to write,
why could he not return at once?
Vida knew that he was, IL living, true to
Ruth, and herein lay the great puzzle. Be
ing true, why did he keep away?
Then at times Vida w0uld think that the
letter was jest, but she could not call to
mind anyone on whom she could with the
least show of reason fix II.
1t was all puzzle, a problem, the solving
X which might bring ruin upon her.
but they shall not triumph over me-"
she thought. II may die, but will leave
aching hearts behind me-"
1t was bitter feeling, but passion is q
soil in which deadly things will grow; and
Vida's soul was more like fair garden Ger
which had crcpt the deadly nightshade and
the poisonous aconite.
Ruth shall die, she thought, and steeled
her heart against all promptings of mercy.
TO this end she spared Phoebe, and kept
the deadly potion she had purchased at
Carpingdeam as weapon to use in the end.
Meanwhile she watched and waited for
the unfolding or events.
A month passed, and there was nefurther
sign from Basil.
Vida grew hopeful, assd Ruth Respondent
litte-but not much, for hope and trust
were things that were part of her nature.
Basil has promised to come and he will
come, surely" she said.
Kenard wrote to Vida double letters, one
Of which she could show t. Ruth and the
other keep for herself.
With bitter contempt, Vida read the out
pourings OF his ingenious heart.
THE love of man wasted, she said. ut
Is nothing To me; why should IL be so? Basil
saw nothing in me, Kenard everything, and
! must love the man who loves Inc not Ii
is the way of woman's life"
IL was late in November when one day
there came another letter for Rath, directed
in di -guised hand as before.
1t was from Basil, and written much In
the same terms as the last.
She was 10 wait and hope, and believe In
him, and he would soon be with her.
"My letters" he wrote, "are posted 70.
me, far away from where am, and, 1t may
be, near home. Sometimes the horrible
thought comes over me that they are not
sent at all, but i cannot think that those
trust can be so base.
''Oh, Ruth, Ruth, my darling, your image
Is ever before me by day and in nv dreams
at night pray that time may speed away
and bring me to you.
or course she showed this to Vida, and
put her anew upon the rack.
All doubts were dispelled; Basil was
alive, and so far all her SHINING had been
frultless.
She smiled on E1th, and congratulated
her, but when alone she raved and sobbed
IN the agony Of mad passion, and the bit
serness of her heart increased.
II would kill BOTH" she groaned, "but
that would be too kind. One shall live and
suffer-"
December was we'll advanced, and the
shortest day was at hand, wksn startling
news came to GordOnfells.