The Forrest City times., 1892-04-29
CHAPTER V.
-HE vArEyrTxr,


 cd Ia the wood the lark skag in the mead oxs. aud the eoT-soy whist.ed caeeTly as he rlCdded acres. the park
 "A br ght, beautiful morning to make one glad. tacnghi Rz;h, ss she opened her window and looked forth. -sGt Basil is away. and there is no srashire for me-
 Ills absence and his slsaee were to her incomFreAeassbla- If detained at home there were messengers te send If Gstsin- ed farther away vas there rot the won 3rozs telegT.N,A ,A-wir. to bring a few words to her? Why should he bs ssieni2 Why should he bz away
 Sas did not 6ozts him: her thoughts never leaned h that direction He was her af- fanced husband. azd she believed him te be lns soai of honor s7G Erusa-ouiy accident CT death could have stopped hls coming or sending message
 The delay of the post experienced n towns o7 S. Valentines morning was nor known ai Go-donfelss. Nr. Moore had e letteT-6ag which was always frat attended 10 al ths pos.-orsce, and on= Of his groons fetched ]. on horxeSack.
 AS Ruth was looking out of her window viisss aching hear. and aim eyes this man came riding up.
 Ruth heard n. thzd of the horses hoofs on the gTe>nswzrd, and hastened down to the hail where Barker was waiting with ths key ready to open the bag and sort the do- nestics' letters from these of the family.
 In inc dark shade of the staircase several of ths younger serFing-ss;sds were waiting in Esxgling expectation of valentines from certain rustic lowers.
 As Ruth appeared they drew back and were silent.
 Anything for me. Barker?' she said with . sadness in her tone that touched the listeners hearts.
 One letter. miss" replied Barker de- ferenfialiy as he solemnly put an envelope on a sa!yer and handed is to her with pro found obeisance.
 Ruth glanced at it and saw that 1t was BzssTs handwriting. The woman-forger, Vida Moore. had done her work too well, and even tn. eyes of love were deceived.
 Al is well" thought Ruth, and over her face there came light that WAS like tie rays of July sun breaking from behind cloud.
 Too impasien. to 20 upstairs she stole in- to a morningroom and closed the door. FiTs. she kissed the envelope and then opened it.
 One glance was sufficient to scatter her joy 10 the far corner. of the esr.h and 70 hlanch the cheeks that for brief time were like the swee. blush rose. The forged words wen: home 10 her heart like dagger. But she did not scream or moan or fall- standiD. erect she read the cruel letter through:
 MY DEAg Mss MooRE,-It Is not with out much reflection that have decided no. to come to Gordcntells again. have s;rug- gled against waning love, and the victory has not been with my desire to be fzfnIui. Ii is better for you and for me that We should not meet again. Forgive and forget
 me. shall be away for some months, and when return l hope 10 find II possible iof
 Us to meet as friends Yours ever sincerely. "BAsIL BBASDRETH-'
 ''False to me, Basil false to mew was all she said. and If ever heart was really
 on the pont of breaking Raih's was then. Bat tears. tha. flow from the safe.y-valve of
 sorrow, saved her, and she sank upon her
 knees by chair sobbing like child.
 She had been there for minute or so
 when the door opened and Vida came in. No signs of sorrow or repentance there The mornings light had brought with It hardness of heart. and her hatred or her
 cousin was as streng as ever. Drawing up quietly. she stood by the back of the chair, looking down upon Ruth with anger and bitter contemp. in her dark, hand some face. She was jealous even of the soT' row of the poor girl. T see have nos done yet" she thought. 'T must rend his very image iron her heart, and leave her soul deserG "Rntai'
 "Whos thereT' cried the startled girl, hurriediy raising her head 'Oh, Vida Vida, is il your .It is me" replied Vida. What has sci you t1 weeping? Basil may come to-day. "co; nc IS raise to me. and er1cl.n soo5ed Ruth. Then ln a moment she was defend ing him: No, he is not cruel. He has been blinded and iured away from me- Do not forget that he is man." said Vida; "and il is .he nature of men to Os false"
 Not BasiI-he was true" May l read that letter?' Ruth gave it to her. and she scanned her own writing with grim smile. As she
 handed it back she laughed bitterly. Ruth. is that the man to weep for?" she asked.
 T loved him-I love him still" pleaded Ruth.
 Even now that he Is false to you?' "YeS; can never forget CT cease to love him"
 What little fool yon areT' said Vida And for a moment the mask had fallen, and Ruth saw the b,ae5er side of her nature. She stared at her in dismay. You must not be angry with him, Vida, " she said; me has not wrongsd you" He has wrony~a us all. Vida answered. 'You must learn to despise him. as do" But she lied. Sle had never loved him more than she did at that moment and her
 dread secret made her burden very heavy to bear
 Ruth, {" Vida continued, you must go to your mother af once and tell her of the in-
 suit that has been offered you" T will not do that" replied Ruth. Give me the letter, then, and let me do it"
 "So will not part with it; it is the last thing l have from him IL is like gift from
 the dying; and yet he can never be dead 10 me"
 How can you be so weak?' said Vida harshly. T say that you must forget or learn to desplss him" And tel you, replied Ruth with unex-
 pected spirit that l can do neither. Ii is no affair of yours, Vida Let me aione.s
 aNo affair of mine P thought Vida, and she stiisd groan that rose to her lips- But, Ruth" she said aloud, ''ny uncle must know the truth ii cannot be kept from him."
 Let him guess 1t" retuEaed Ruth T have nothing to say. It was wrong of me ever to show you tae letter Basil has writ ten. have been unjust"
 Vida was furious, but she dared say no more. Even she gentle Ruth had a spirit