The Forrest City times., 1892-04-29
pIDA'S REVENGE.
CHAPTER IT. A wEAET WAITING.

down
 ~when q man himself makes sn appoint. nent.- coHfinaei Abe. s'eTea "a small matter, he should keep l."
 Something must have detained him. said Mrs Moore.
 ~In any czse. be could have sent . mes sa-e,r the husbaud res0in@d-
 Al this uomezs E1th came Into the roo-n- She Iooke1 pala and troubled. and the srnus that she pat upon her face WAS very faint one indeed
 Basil is very la.e.r she szid; -hs VII scarcely have time 10 dress for dinner"
 Il an sfr1sd that he VIII no. dine here .o- night said her father, sArz-zinS his ssczi- ders: 'sf $ somst;nss =soesssry 10 teach the rising generation good nznEerS Rsfh, hos is yidas-
 T have knocked st her dooE several times.r Ruih answered, and she ls stall sleeping
 Barker slowly and solenniy entered ths room.
 Madame. shall keep dinner backg- Nrs Moore looked at her husband, who answered for her.
 No, Barker; Mr. Brza5reth has been 5e- iained Let dinner D. served sE oncs.''
 They went into tae dlni-g--oosr. but din ner. so far as Ra.h vzs concerned. was a mockery. She could ea; nothing The Ssh was being removed when Vida appeared
 My dear eAll.. s=.5 Mr. Moore, rising hu-riediy, .'hos pale yo1 are. Why did yoa nos keep your roOzF
 Being alone grew wez-isonae.- she sad. "ard So came down. No fish, thank you; little wine"
 The attentive Bz-ksr porr-i her out glass of sherry. ard she e-.rk i- Then she looked st Rath s..@dlly ead w.taoG. .slter- IEg.
 Why. Blrdie,r sas sad lyon are pale tco. We have ceased b oe roses and be- como lilies"
 ''Somebody has been detained. .'f said brr. Moore iocosely; sout he will be here by- sna-hyr
 Tn the seIfshness of rny headache" sad Vida, .-I forgot Basil was expected. If he were my lover should ros easily forgive him"
 IL was wonderful exhibition of speaking under extreme difficulties. So intense WAS the pain the effort cost her that she could barely keep from crying cat.
 Basil is not to blame" said Ruth with fash from her blGe eyes.
 ''oh. RutS,'' exclaimed Vida. forcing . lsush. .'how can you look al me 90 fero- cioaslyr believe that you are atheart aper- feet vixen.v
 They all lzuzhei a. this remark: the idea of Buih's being vixen was So very absurd
 Ar. Moore put a finishing touch to the EeUIment-
 .Ru.h is Ike you. Vida Under 3 placid exterior she coneeais most fiery nature She Is Ike some Of those farzway countries where the land is only thin crust that cov- CTS volcano. Yon are terrible creatures"
 The dinner WAS over, and Ruth, with ears upon the stretch. had listened in vain for the sounds of her coming lover.
 Altar time she began to show signs of irritation when a suggestion vas made to accoun, for his absence, and they soon ceas- cd to speak Of him.
 In the orzwiny-room Vida played and sang-never more brilliantly, Mir. Moore sasd-snd Ruth joined her in duet
 Bat what bitter mockery l. was.
 dark cloud lay upon them, and Vida alone knew what lay behind it.
 The first shock of the CT me had passed away, and she was beginning 10 look things h the face.
 l. anxered her to see Ruth pale and dis traught. simply because Basil was away, while she-V ida-loving him more iercely, and knowing he was dead, dared not give vent to one word or look that expressed her love.
 '.It is hard to bear" she thought, but is Is better than to have to look on at their wooing. That must have driven me msd." :" And then she sang another soag-''The Sands of Dee"-one of Mr. Moore's favor ties.
 Sweet music" he said, but rather mel encholy. That poor girl being lost on the sands"
 Can Basil be lost?" said Ruth suddenly.
 .Lcst, my dear ehild-nonsense."
 But he is" said Ruth, rising and holding out her trembling hands. T have feared ii, and know i; nov. Something has happen cd to him; be Is desd-he--"
 And then she fell forward fainting in her fathers arms.
 Mrs. Moore and vid. came to her assist snee, and the bell was rung for pkGbe, her maid A little cold water and some kindly care restored Ruth to consciousness.
 'How foolish Of mer' she said. Eat l was always a weak silly child"
 ''I should recommend little sleep." said Mr. Moore. ''It s ten o'clock, and Basil will not be Eore til tomorrow Ruth assented, and retired to her room, aceompan ed by Mrs. Moore and Vida Then a curious feeling of distaste for her cousins society came over her. IL was most unaccouniable, she thought and pained her, but she could not resist its influence. 'I do not think wlll trouble you to re- main with me. Vida" she said.
 '.It Is no trouble" was the reply. But do not remain, beg of you. Mother will seep with me-" Vida did not insist upon remaining. Sae was growing weary Of playing part that required so much concentration, and stopping down, she kissed Ruth and bade ] her good-n ght. Her salute was no. returned
 Gan she suspect me?p she thought, and then she bade Mrs. Moore goodnight and went wondering to her room.
 Ph0sbs followed and asked if she could be of any service. Vida. with some curtness, bade her go, bn. the giri still remained
 Are you sure cannot do anything for vou niss% she sskef
 Quite sure" replied vi6a-
 "You do look so pale and tired, miss. just ns q yo,t had been our for long icdEk and hsirTicd home"
 Vida turned upon her quickly, almost ferceiy.
 What did you say?' she demanded. Phoebe was a s.mple-looklng country lass, and stared al her in innocent surprise
 Why nothing, miss" she said, T only said you looked as if you were tired" The observation was needless" return ed Vida; T am not very tired, and do not need any hep" ssVerv wall rnfSsD