The morning times., 1895-08-13
One Cent 45a, f5a
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RUTH DID NOT SAY NO."
And Yet She Kept the word She
Pledged to George wilm1t.
Continued from yesterday Evening Times.

Continued from yesterdays IS Evening Times.
Mind, my dear" remarked the clergy
man, grayely, ''if you loved any one else,
not for moment would advise this. Then |
1t would be sin; certainly a very serious
wrong"
But you see do not" said Ruth, who
during the consideration had been building
up the man from the youth she so vaguely
remembered, and, wOman-like creating an
ideal
Besides, was there not something flatter-
ing as well as romantic in the fact that,
though it financially made no difference TO
him, he was anxious 10 marry her from the
remembrance of her as a child ard a sight
OF her photograph?
Thus one bright morning, nervous in re-
gard TO where she was going, the big,
strange Unknown; regretful at leaving hold
OF what she knew and the friends who had
been so kind, Ruth stood on board the Al
thea as II steamed out of Sydney's beaUi
ful harbor She had so many friends there;
la England she had but one of whGmshe was
aware-Aunt Priscilla, whom she remem-
bered as a bright, sharp, energetic little
woman, slightly eccentric and with VIII
OF her own.
Gayly went the Althea, golden shone he
sun, ard Ruth, after the first day or so, be-
gan to experience and enjoy the strength
and elation of spirits produced by the sea
air that carried its ozone into every fiber
There some nice people on board, with
whom Ruth speedily grew on sufficiently
good terms 10 prevent her feeling lonely
There were one or two OF the opposite
SEX and young, who were quite ready
| 10 have helped cheer her voyage; but Ruin
kept them civilly at arms length She
| regarded herself as next door To being en-
! gagged.
So passed the days, when the Althea let
off steam at Cape Town, where they were
| to stay the night, and to be off again the
! next morning That next morning brought
| two passengers on buard-an elderly col
onist returning to home and friends TO
| enjoy his fortune made out of sugar, and
| man who, one might surmise, had yet to
make it. from. It's, pauCity. OF his luggage
and general get-up.
The style is good, but the material
poor" criticised Ruth. Il wonder who
he is? a gentleman, that is certain;
clothes cannot make nor conceal that.
What pleasant face he has II he has
not a fortune. the loss does not appear to
trouble him"
Just then the object of her criticism,
coming forward, tripped over a rope and
his straw hat, falling. off, went roIln g
along to Ruth's feet. Really there are oes
casions when iBauimate things appear TO
become sentient bein Is and slyly tai
part in human sayings and doings.
or course, Ruth stopped the hat that 1t
should go No further. picked it up and
restored it to its owner, who was pro
fuse in thanks He certainly was remark
ably good-Iooking, with so pleasant an
expression that it made him far above be-
ing handsome. How his smile Iightened
up his features, especially his eyes.
On board ship, where one is seeing every
body in their class each day, this little
incident was an Introduction. The next
time Ruth met Mr. George WtlmOu they
exchanged bows and smiles. The second
time be ventured to address her, and the eli
max was reached when they found them
selves seated as neighhors at dinner
That did it Before she was aware Ruth
was listening attentiveIy To the you az fel,
lows amusing description OF Africa, and
was talking quite fIueatly herself OF
Australia Wben-she rose aud went Cn deck
she abruptly awoke to the cons sciousnessthat
she had spent one OF the pleasautest hours
she could remember for she did not know
how long Indeed, there was peculiar
something about this hour which made il
different to all others
My dear mademOiseIe, you have guessed
the truth already, of course. She had founC
at last her affinity, and so had he Neither
could have helped, il, any more than ont
can help getting the Influenza
Ruth, seated on the deck in her deck
chair detected her eyes wandering often tc
teh broad stairs leading from the saloon
When ne came, would he find her out:
Then she calculated to herself
absurd, Why should he? How CouceiteC
I must be to imagine iti At the present N O.
ment, dare say, the oulythiug he isthiHking
about is his cigar
But at that very instant, as q denial o
her surmise, which had small truth in it
George Wimot's head appeared level wit
the deck, then the entire man. Just
moment, for forms sake pOss IDLY, he
stood looking across the waters, OveI
which ran the quivering reflection of tn
moon, then, throwing the butt of hi
cigar over the side, approached her.
The moon is q good friend To lovers ant
lovers embryo. 1t gives them means o
starting conversation, Aand somehow th
moon is in affinity with Cupid. And so
= and so-they talked; until, it must b,
owned, other passengers began TO look
: some to smile good-temperedIy, others t
= toss their heads and think of 1.-THE foI
wardneSs of the fin de steele girls
Ruth OWNED nothing of this, all OF whiCl
she was conscious was that she was passin!
: a very pleasant evening. When she 90
into her berth that night, after CHASING
Intellectually a couple of cOckToaches, sh
fell asleep, thinking of all she had said
but Chiefly what he had said, and for tn
: first time forgetting to count the days be
, fore the Althea would reach port.
The next morning the meaning Of tina
: new feeling she was experiencing bega
to dawn upon her, first with q little thro
of delight, then with a culver of fear. Ha
she not more than half persuaded hersel
she was in love with him? And now sh
) was falling in love with this, she feared
, rather impetuous stranger-a man sh'
had known only u few hours.
Her cheeks went crimson al the thought
. !