Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-01-23


against the inclinations of her tortured
and rebellious heart She little guessed
how, as the days rolled by, Theodore Dar-
| leighs little courtesies toward the beauti-
full young governess were to arouse a mad
ness of jealousy within:
"He has learned to love herl and he
would have cared for me some time if he
had never met her. She has fascinated
| him as she fascinates every one. Even
my staid brother is infatuated with her.
There is nothing but misery.for us all, and
it would never would have happened had 1
revealed what l knew of her past and sent
her away" Ruth murmured bitterly to
herself one evening as she again sat by the
ivy-framed window, watching the rising
moon swinging like great white jewel
between the hands of golden clouds
At that moment there were hesitating
steps near her, and she lifted her troubled
eyes to look upon the colorless face of Miss
Eldridge.
II have something to say to you, some
thing to tell you, Miss Avery" the gov
erness began timidly.
~ know have forseen it for some
time; he asked you to be his wife, Ruth
returned coldly and YEARLY.
eyes; but it is not of that which / wish
so much to speak-it is of my past" the
other responded chokingly.
Ruth was silent
81 can not be his wife. and / am going
away" the governess continued in slow,
piteous tones. "And you will tell him
why-after l am gone-after you have
heard the story of my pastf'
II know the story already" Ruth re-
piled, less coldly.
She was touched to woman's quick sym
pathy by the anguish of the colorless face,
the entreaty of the midnight eyes.
"You know my past and yet you have
kept silence-you have allowed me to
remain," the governess exclaimed in won
der.
II have tried to be your friend" Ruth
said family. 'But you are asking of me
now more than l can do. You must tell
him your story yourself"
There was sound of some one approach
ing, and Miss Eldrige, weeping piteously,
glided hurriedly from the room. The per
son approaching was servant bringing
Ruth letter. She started as she glanced
at the postmark and recognized the PEN
manship. The letter was from the ac-
quaintance who had made the terrible
charge of theft against the beautiful gov
erness. 1t was frivolous, chatty epistle,
and Ruth perused it indiferently enough
until she reached the concluding sentences.
Then her face whitened and her eyes filled
with tears.
"0f 0fcourse, you remember the lovely fan
1 thought was stolen" was what Ruth
read. "well, my. dear, only the other
morning I actually found it slipped be-
tween the silk and lining of the dress I
wore that day. I remember now putting
it there myself, although at the time was
sure left it on the garden seat. hear
that poor Miss Eldridge is with you, and if
you like you can tell her l awfully sorry
fer my stupid forgetfulness and the un-
pleasantness l caused her."
Ruth could never define her paramount
emotion of the moment; it might have
been indignation against the frivolous
woman who could so unfeelingly discuss a
terrible injustice towards an innocent girl;
it might have been gratitude that she had
spoken no evil of the accused governess,
and 1t might be mournful satisfaction
that'Theodore Darleigh was to be spared a
pang of grief. Just then Mr.. Darleigh
himself stepped across the threshold of the
parlor. With her face flushed with tears,
she advanced to meet him.
"Miss Eldridge has told youf We must
prevent her going! Here is her vindica-
ton; and oh, Theodore, I am SO glad for
your sake" she said TREMENDOUSLY, almost
incoherently, as she extended the oppor-
tune letter toward him.
Mr.. Darleigh looked mystified.
'Ifi is anything concerning Miss Ell
bridge which will keep her here as your
brothers wife, / shall be well pleased" he
said "Chester is half distracted with the
fear Of losing her. But do not know why
you Dc Bldu ioi my
sake, Ruth"
"But / thought-oh, Theodore, i
thought it was you who cared for her, you
for whom she cared" Ruth stammered.
"Did youf" he smiled. 'My little girl,
supposed you understood long ago that l
loved only you; that / never have loved
any one else"
Ruth lifted her eyes in one feeting
glance, and in that glance her lover read
all her hearts sorrow, her hearts gladness
and hearts reply.
"There are few who could have kept the
secret of that unhappy affair as you have
kept it, he remarked once, some time after
Miss Eldridge had become Chester Ayery's
wife.
Ruth blushed rosily.
at was something I heard you say once
long ago that influenced me at the crisis,
am afraid" she confessed. "Your words
about speaking evil, with or without cause,
of others, were echoing through my mind;
it was loves teaching, Theodore"
''But l had given you my love before
made that cynical speech" was bis earnest
.lrr