Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-10

"You might trust me. too. Pal"
"But l must not bore you about my i'll
( luck. When Will your mother be in? l
want her help sorely."
''She must be here soon expected
ner at g. -
Carew threw himself into an easy
chair and leaned his head ON his hand
with a responding gesture
you might trust me, too, VAL"
said Ruth, still standing beside him
81 might not be of much use. but it
would be relief to talk of your trou-
bles -
Il am in a hole, an awful hole,
Ruth, he returned. 81 don't see my
way out of it unless Lady Hastings can
( get at your brother -
but he must not see any one, not
even my mother, and you know how
! much he likes her, though she is a STEP
I mother We went up to visit him last
week. yet the nurse, Mrs Somers, was
obliged TO refuse us His mind is much
disturbed and he is ordered TO the sea-
side.
| ''He has gone there. At least he has
| quilted his lodgings in Kensington and
left no address, I"
"That seems very extraordinary.
'Not TO me- cried Val, starting up
to pace 20 and fro-'not to me, consid-
ering who pulls the wires Yes, Ruth,
I will tell you what is wrong. was in
q mess about money some little time
ago had lost heavily on-oh, ON va
rious events that you know nothing
about and wanted desperately to turn
( over a new leaf to exchange with
| Clavering into the Seventeenth (the
regiment is going to India next month";,
to live ON my pay and try to work
round, so put my pride in my pocket.
as had nothing else to put there, and
wrote TO James Hastings He was al
! ways more like brother than a cousin
to me. He has lots of money, too, and
no one TO think of but himself / asked
him for $500 and permission to pay it
back by installments He soon replied,
inclosing his check for the amount /
asked in a letter-a lecture, in fact, but
q kind one felt sure l had come to
the end of my troubles, and even ven
| tured to dream-no matter what OF
course l lost no time in getting the cash
and disbursing it. Some days after /
was asked to call at the bank where
had lodged the check, and the manager
informed me that the Oriental, where
James banks. had returned it, the sig
nature being doubtful. 1t was awfully
shaky. l certainly had a shock; still
! was not greatly disturbed / told the
fellow it was all right; that / lad a
letter from Mr.. Hastings that would
settle the matter; but, by Jove, l can
not find the letter anywherel Must have
torn it upl Then went to Kensington
to James lodgings There the angelic
nurse would not let me inside the doors
She said she would take an opportunity
of representing the matter to her pa
tient and would write to me- So she did
to say that Mr. Hastings was not
| clear on that or any other subject If
James cannot or will not remember the
transaction, ] shall be accused of for
gerry, and have not title of evidence
to clear my character.
| Carew again threw himself into a
chair at the end of this long speech and
covered his face with his hand.
"Surely no one would believe you
capable of such a disgraceful actl"
cried Ruth.
Don't be too sure have not too
good record 1 am considered reckless,
extravagant, quarrelsome, a gambler
and men are ready to believe anything
of a gambler. Nor are they far wrong.
It's the most devilish tendency that ev-
er dragged a man down.
!. ''My mother and / will go to James
and insist began Ruth eagerly
i AYE, but where will you find him?'
interrupted Carew. Even his lawyers
Will not give his address and didn't look
too friendly when 1 asked them for it.
The mere fact of being suspected of
such a disgraceful act will be black
mark against my name forever"
"Val, dear Val, you must not give
up" said Ruth, laying her hand with
kindly familiarity on his shoulder. ''My
mother and / will testify to the affee-
tionate terms you were always on with
} my brother. She stopped abruptly, for
Carew took her hand and was covering
it with despairing kisses
"Why, Val, your troubles must have
turned your BRAIN" looking down at
him with grave surprise, drawing her
hand gently away.
81 fancy they have, or l should not
have been so weak as to betray myself
Do not be angry, Ruth "
81 am not angry, y she said, sadly
drawing slowly away from him.
"Yon must know how it is with
me-" cried Carew, starting up and fac
ing her. Right or wrong, l cannot
keep back the words Though l dare
not ask or seek your love, you know
that all the passion and tenderness of
my heart are yours. "
"How could know it, when you
have been so harsh and quarrelsome and
auan nnl1ind 70 me- Va12,1