The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-05
HEARTS OF Cold;
The Heiress Of Maple
Leaf Farm.
GENEVIEVE ULMER.
OR,
b Y
CHAPTER TX.
THE LETTER

Ralph Prescott stood SPELL Douno,
overwhelmed. He knew the woman In
that room; he had met surprise most
startling; he had recognized the false
nurse as the last person in the world he
had ever expected to see in those SOM
ber habiliments.
1T is she! What does it mean? What
can it mean? Oh, this is bewildering,
improbable"
She? Yes; the ono woman in the world
who filled his minds thoughts to the
exclusion Of all others. She-Ruth! the
disowned, the wife Of another, the heir
ess OF Maple Leaf Farm.
There could be no doubt as to her
identity; there could be no mistake;
there was no need Of second glance.
The same pure, soulful eyes looked
forth, only trife sadder than OF yorei
the fresh bloom Of roses on the pearly
cheek was the same, only trace OF the
canker Of care had paled it almost I'M
perceptibly. Resolution compressed the
hps slightly, anxiety brooded on the fair
brow, but-Ruth Elliott was there!
What did it mean2
From wonderment to flashing suspi.
oil on the thoughts Of the enrapt lurker
passed rapidly.
Ruth Elliott was here, had been here
bor over q week. She had passed the
cynosure OF curious eyes with her iden-
dty unguessed; but had hot Geohrey
Forsythe known her-had not he possl-
bly, even suggested the disguise!
II Co. In the bewildering jugglery
Of surmise, doubt, and speculation Ralph
Prescott lost himself.
Here, indeed, was mystery-a mys-
terry with O motive, surely-a motive
that had made Of timid, shrinking girl
Q bold, resolute woman. For sweet
loves sake she had undertaken q mon
strous imposition; but why and where
fore the tangible issue Of 1t oil?
Its beyond mel can't understand
It," breathed the lurker. But ] will
know. Where there is secrecy there is
mystery, where mystery, a plot. l
thought myself o master hand, and this
girl-she has outwitted, defeated,
crushed me utterly"
He drew back from the window as he
saw that she slept. His sinister face
n1pressed every emotion in the gamut
OF O scheming rascaPs mind-avarlce,
suspicion, love, hate, vengeful persist
ency.
For an hour he ruminated alone In
the garden. Night influences were
about him. The brooding clouds all in
spired him to subtlety and plotting.
He approached the broken shutter
again. Ruth slumbered.
Il will act with caution, he muttered
Rrimly. "A sudden conformation might
precipitate fight. I will watch and
l.,4 + hot
tinued presence here means. l must
know her scheme. I must balk its out
como, if possible. The letter she was
writing!-that may reveal all: II l
could only get glimpse at that"
Prescott approached the unshuttered
window Of the vacant apartment. The
door Of communication with the adjoin-
ing one was closed securely. Ruth
slumbered profoundly.
slHe was an adept at sneakinG into the
house after late hours, natural burg
lar, too.
With his pocket-knife and rusted
piece Of hoop, he forced the catch and
pried up the window sash.
The next moment he was in the room.
On tip-tee he advanced to the stand
where the written sheets lay outspread.
Eagerly he took them up. His elfish
oyes scanned their contents.
The Joy of great gloating exulta-
ton came into his eyes as he read the
story Of q woman's struggle for the
right OF woman's faith in loved ones
6delity.
For the letter told all-it cast light on
darkness. it constituted the history Of
as singular an exploit as ever fell under
tho eyes of mortal man.