The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-06
BY SPECIAL WIRE,
By Nm. ALEXANDER.

80 -
rcouvrisht 1907 nv tina Author1
"He is. ! may require his services. "
Once inside the door fresh courage
came to Ruth. Half the battle was won.
SIS Mr.. Hastings up3" she asked.
It was now little past o.
mo-" replied the man who had ad-
mitted her. "He is in very poor way"
"Are you his attendant"
II am"
"what is your namsr'
"Johnson.
"Then show me to his room and tell
him l am sent by Mrs Smithson.
Ruth herself was amazed at the degree
Of authority she threw into her tones.
johnson led the way up stairs and
entered large room looking to the
back Of tho house. There, OH curtain
less bed, lay ler brother, pale, emaciat
ed, unshaven, with dull, despairing
eyes and thin, transparent hands lying
listlossly on the counterpane.
james, my dear brother Jamesl"
cried Ruth, springing forward to clasp
his nerveless hands and kiss his sunken
checks, while the tears rose in her eyes.
"Why, Ruth, my little Ruth Why
have you deserted me?"
Deserted you'll Neither my mother
nor myself was permitted to come near
you You have been secluded from us
all, and if you do not rouse yourself
and do as ask you Val Carew will be
ruined"
"Eh? What? I am 10 weak and dazed
I am sinking fast, and food is danger
Gus for me. If might venture on a
wineglass Of brandy and soda and-and
a chop
"You shall have them at once. Why,
James, you are fainting!"
Painting for want Of food" cried q
stout, elderly woman who entered the
room as Ruth uttered these words.
"Beg your parding, IN, but there's
something not right going on. Since
I've been here, now three weeks, the
nurse, Mrs. Smithson, has cut off some-
thing from his diet every day. He's
dying by hinches, he is"
sect him some food directly" cried
Ruth, "and some brandy at once"
The debilitated hypochondriac rallied
when tho restorative was administered
and seemed unwilling to let his sisters
hand go.
You'll stay with me, Ruth. Don't
leave me-" was his cry.
As soon as he had some food she
opened the subject of Val S difficulties
Hastings was greatly astonished. He
denied having ever heard Of the accusa-
tion made against his cousin, but per-
fectly remembered the fact Of sending
him his check for $500, with q letter
of advice and remonstrance, and was
now eager to corroborate Carew's &C.
count of it.
At this stage of the affair the sound
Of voices in alteration outside the door
struck their ears, aud Hastings changed
color.
"She has returned" he exclaimed.
"Mind you don't leave MO. Mrs. Som
ClS 10 NalSlui, S'oNci "oil"i, puo
don't think sho understands my case. "
Tho door opening interrupted him,
and Mrs. Soncrs, in entering, turned 10
face some one behind her without Sec
lug who was in the room.
You have no right to force yourself
into Mr.. Hastings presence He is in -
most critical condition, and it needs all
my care and experience to keep him
alive
CTS my duty to como in to see no
harm comes to my Young lady," said
the voice Of Brett in slow but resolute
tones. "She has every right to DO with
Der own brother"
"Your young lady," repeated Mrs.
Somers in amazement, again turning,
and then porceiving who stood by her
patient 5 bedside. Ruth was startled by