The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-05

ooh, Ruth, l forgot to say I'll telt
graph the moment I find any traces.
Then lowering his voice he Whispered
"Forgive me for disturbing you wit
tho avowal that escaped me. I shoul
have mastered myself, but the touch c
your hand-do not trouble yoursel
about me, dear Ruth-goodby." And b
was gone.
What did Val want?' asked Lad
Hastings, with slight frown.
"Oh, to say he would telegraph a
soon as he found any trace of James"
eyes, Of course he will. Why, Ruth
my love, are you so shaken?" For Rutl
had thrown herself into chair an,
burst into tears.
Thenex day and several more brough
no comfort
Lady Hastings solicitor wrote grave
ly. The case, he said, looked serious
He had put detectives on the search
but it was difficult to get clew to thu
missing invalid. Messrs. Lindley
Draper, Mr.. Hastings men of business
did not deny their knowledge of hi
whereabouts, but would not reveal it.
They seemed quite convinced of Cap
tain Oarew's guilt and the extreme i'm
portance Of keeping him away from hi
suffering relative. Meantime Carew
wrote seldom, and Lady Hastings be-
came quite alarmed by the altered looks.
The profound depression of her daugh.
ter Ruth's extreme anxiety betokened q
degree of interest in the unlucky Val
that woke Lady Hastings doubts and
fears Carew had been SO much with
Ruth when she was mere schoolgirl
that the idea of her forming any attach.
ment to him beyond q friendly sisterly
feeling never occurred to her mother,
and, although she had always liked her
stepsons kinsman, Lady Hastings by
no means wished to have him for a SON
in-law. Her common sense suggested
the wisdom of not seeming to observe
too much. Nevertheless the week fol-
lowing Carew's visit was most purga-
torial period both to mother and daugh.
ter.
The Sunday after Ruth had wandered
ont into the strip of pleasure ground
which interviewed between the house
and the open fields on the west. Here a
seat under fine old oak commanded o
wide view over the rich landscape, and
Ruth, too preoccupied by her own pain
full thoughts to heed the beauties OF air
or earth or sunlight, sat down to brood
over her fears.
From this reverie the sound of ap-
preaching footsteps reused her, and
looking up she saw MacDougal ap-
preaching by path that led from the
front entrance.
MacDougal was humble friend, and
Ruth had always been accustomed to
see and talk with him. He was curl
Gus, thoughtful man, fond of what he
called improving himself" by study
and gifted with an imagination decid-
eddy Celtic in its coloring, a man Of
dislikes and few strong lik-
ings. His gratitude to his late patron,
Sir Edward Hastings, had been deepen
ed into devoted affection toward his
widow and daughter by their great
kindness toward his only girl, whom
they had taken with them to the Ri
viera during the previous winter and SO
checked the beginning Of the fell dis
ease which threatened to fasten upon
her.
Ruth was pleased to see him ap-
proach. She liked to talk with him, for
his views were quaint and his express
sions original.
Good morning, MacDougal," she
said kindly as he drew near.
"I've made so bold, Miss Ruth, as to
come round here, for l saw you sitting
by yourself as l came across the fields. "
"I'm glad to see you. Sit down. You
have something to tell me?''
eyes, l have, men," taking a rustic
stool and seating himself at distance,
with the instructive respectful good
of highlander.
II was away to London yesterday. I
nave to go now and again to look after
! bit of money l have put away for my
grille. I was coming down tho Strand,
going back to Waterloo station, when
Who should I ruiz against but Khodja,
Mr.. Hastings Indian servant.
"MacDougal, did your cried. Ruth,
'lasping her hands in mingled hope and
ear that struck him with "a sense of
important being at stake.
eyes, mem, I did SO. He seemed in
hurry, but he stopped to speak and was
,lad to see me. You'll mind how we
orogathered when he was down here
asst spring with Mr.. Hastings. I
bought you had likely gone away
lomc. said l.
1.-the evil minded one sought to send
ne out of England said he, but |
net, by accident, a man from my coun-
ry who kept me with him-a good
nan, with plenty of money!
ut seems that the nurse that is with
ir. Hastings found fault with Khodja
nd has bewitched the poor gentleman
o that he can only speak as she lets
lin and is like one that eats opium.
)ne day Mr.. Hastings ordered Khodja
ut Of his house, and the woman gave
lin money to go. He was bewildered
nd did not know what to do until he
ell in with this countryman Of his.
Its curious story, but it seems
his man is somehow connected with
he nurse, whose history Khodja knows
little. She is half caste, and the
Iindoo-I can't remember his name
ad come from India to find her, so
Ahodja has been with him since trying
D find out where she had taken Mr..
hastings. He had only just found out
hat day and was going hot foot to tell
he Hindoo.''
"Oh, did you get the addressf" cried
.uth, laying her hand on MacDougai's
mn, hor great, dark eyes wide open
With eagerness. "a. - b es.