Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-08-07

CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)
T have been thinking, my dear Mrs
Ruthven," said Marsden, as he pulled il
the ponies to make them walk quietly NJ
long hill, 81 have been thinking tha,
Darlington would not make bad trustee
for you. He Is really an excellent fel
low, and not at all bad man of business
though bovine air hangs round him st IL
"He might not like the trouble. and
am really in no hurry"
But it Is quite necessary that yo'
should have another trustee. / begin ID
feel the responsibility rather too much
for me. l should prefer a colleague, be-
cause-Oh, for several reasons"
docs he wish this matter to be settled
before he offers himself to meT' thought
Mrs. Ruthven, looking into the dark-blus
eyes admiringly fixed upon her; and smll
Ing responsively, she said: IF you think
well, pray ask Lord Dorrington."
"It would come better from yourself
You know my brother-in-law is one OF
your many devoted admirers. be will b.
battered by the request"
LAS l shall be if he accepts"
(Which of course he will. often wish
ed l were a better man of business, fol
your sake. / am, or have been, too great
lover of pleasure. l suppose l mus
Were / a man, l should certainly b(
ambitious. l should not like to be second
to any one."
What m awful vista of toll and trou
Die you conjure up; still, you make me
ashamed of myself If l had some ona
near 10 inspire me. / might do something.
| begin to think have drifted about long
enough"
"Is it comng?" thought Mrs. Ruthver
for the twentieth time, as she twisted the
tassel of her parasol round its handle ir
painful anxiety.
"Will you drive with me tomorrow
resumed Marsden earnestly. 81 want you
to trust yourself to me for longer expe-
dition than usual; to a charming village
about ten or twelve miles off. Let US
start early and have luncheon at a priini.
tive little hostelry called the Three Pig
cons Well let the ponies rest, and be
back in time for afternoon tea"
To this arrangement Mrs. Ruthven
agreed. and. after a pause. said sudden
ly, as if speaking out of her thoughts:
'.Do you remember that evening, six
years ago, when we We're all in the veran-
da of my fathers bungalow, and my hus-
band brought you in, and said, This viii
be cousin of yours tomorrow"
"Yes. do-well. What n lucky beggaJ
thought poor Charlie"'
And do you remember my father show.
Ing my ruby and diamond necklace and
earrings, and saying it would puzzle any
jeweler in London or Paris TO show thu
iike!''
Il do, indeed. They were superb"
He little thought" she said. with a
hysterical laugh, that 1 should bring
them to Christian. Iaw-abiding. well-or.
IaraJ nd onIr 70 Ia e,bo
All! Mr.. Marsden, there is little to choose
between the idolatrous East and the truth
telling. spiritually minded West
Too true! So l have always thought
But, dear Mrs. Ruthven, if you knew how
painful the very mention of those unfor-
tunate jewels is to me, l am sure yes
would avoid the subject. If you had not
put them on with the gracious intention
of doing honor to my ball. they would be
now safely reposing in your jewel case
perhaps so, though l am inclined to
thing that SO ingenious and daring n thief
would have got at them anywhere"
He might. Now try and adopt my phi.
losophy, let the dead past bury its dead
and enjoy the living present. l think we
shall have fine day tomorrow. and, for
my part, l look forward to our little expe
dition with the keenest pleasure"
Mrs. Ruthven smiled graciously, and
they talked and laughed gayly for the re-
mainder of their drive.
The morrow rose bright and clear, but
the projected excursion never came of
A telegram from his lawyer arrived In
the forenoon for Marsden, and when hl
ought to have been entertaining Mira
Ruthven at a tete-a-tete luncheon he was
steaming away to London.
Marsden's summons was peremptory.
He could only send a message of fare
well to Mrs. Ruthven, who usually break
tasted in her own room. and assure his
sister that he should return the first mo-
ment he could. With this gimmer o.
hope she was forced to be content.
If he finds anything more interesting
or amusing in or near London we shall
see no more of him for many a day.
know what Clifford is" said Lady Dor
rirgton to her husband. Il begin to sus-
rect he does not intend to marry Mrs.
Kuthven. or matters would not drag az
they do"
Then he is a bit of a blackguard,
though he is your brother; every one be-
Geves he is paying his addresses to her;
do not see how they could think other
wise; and he Is bound to give her her op
ton; indeed"
Nonsense, Lord Dorrington; my broth
sr Is no worse than other men; tried by
your standard, there are few who, at one
time or another, do not deserve the very
coarse appellation you are pleased to con-
fer on Clifford. Still, wish he had more
sense and taste: Mrs. Ruthven is a very
charming woman in my opinion"
And in mine, too: why, 1t is extraordi-
nary luck to find money and fascination
Joined together. The man who gets Mrs.
Ruthven will be lucky beggar-a deuced
lucky beggar."
"Why, Darlington! 1 believe you an
capable of giving me cup of cold poi
son. and trying your own luck in that
quarter" cried his wife, laughing. "How-
ever, all / care for is to see her safely
married to my brother"
Yes, 1t would be q capital thing for
aim. I am not SO sure how it would an
swer for her. Marsden would never be
constant to any woman"
You Judge him severely; at any rate,
Mrs. Ruthven is a woman of the world,
and accustomed to men who are not
saints; she has too much sense to be
ferocously Jealous"
Don't be too sure; fancy she Is about
as far gone after your brother as woman
can be. I saw that long ago. and am
tolerably shrewd observer"
You dear old thing! you are not binder
than your neighbors, certainly; ! shall
write every day to Clifford till l make
him RETURN
We'll, you can try
The evening of the day on which Lord
and Lady Dorrington held this converse
ton Mrs. L'Estrange and Nora had set
tied themselves, one to her needlework,
the other to Q new book. The day had