The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-04
BY Special Wire.
BY Mrs. ALEXANDER.
Copyright. 1897. by the author. /
(Continued.)
BY Mrs. ALEXANDER.

tCOQLlnuGu.J
Once inside the door fresh courage
came to Ruth. Half the battle was won.
sis Mr.. Hastings up?'' she asked.
Il was now little past 9.
s'No, p" replied the man who had adj
mitted her ''He is in very poor way"
"Are you his attendant
81 am. - "
f'What is your nalne?''
s'Johnson. "
"Then show me to his room and tell
him [ 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 a large room looking to the
back of the house. There, on curtain
less bed, lay her brother, pale, emaciat-
ed, unshaven, with dull, despairing
eyes and thin, transparent hands lying
hstlessly on the Counterpart.
''James, my dear brother James!'
cried Ruth, springing forward to clasp
his nerveless hands and kiss his sunken
cheeks, while the tears rose in her eyes.
"Why, Ruth, my little Ruth! Why
have you deserted me?'
Deserted you! 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 az I ask you Val Carew Will be
ruined -
"Eh? What? am SO 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
tYou shall have them at once. Why,
James, you are faintingl'
"Fainting for want of food, " cried a
stout, elderly woman who entered the
room as Ruth uttered these words.
"Beg your parding, m, but there's
something not right going On. Since
I've been here, now three weeks, the
nurse, Mrs. Smithson, has cut of some
thing from his diet every day. He's
dying by hinches, he isl
sect him some food directly cried
Ruth, t'and some brandy at once. -
The debilitated hypochondriac rallied
when the restorative was administered
and seemed unwilling to let his sister S
hand CO.
"You'Il stay with me, Ruth. Don't
leave me, was his cry.
AS soon as he had some food she
opened the subject Of Walls difficulties.
Hastings was greatly astoniished He
denied having ever heard of the accusa-
ton made against his cousin, but per-
fectly remembered the fact of sending
him his check for $500, with letter
of advice and remonstrance, and was
now eager to corroborate Carew's ac-
count Of it.
At this stage of the affair the sound
of voices in alteration outside the door
struck their ears, and Hastings changed
color
'sShe has returned" he exclaimed.
''Mind YOU don't leave me. Mrs. Som
ers is a careful, clever woman, but
don't think she understands my case. y
The door opening interrupted him,
and MRS. Somers, in entering, turned tc
face some one behind her without see
ing who was in the room.
'sYou have no right to force yourself
into Mr.. Hastings presence. He is in a
most critical condition, and it needs all
my care and experience to keep him
alive"
cts my duty to come in to see nc
harm comes to my young lady, said
the voice of Brett in slow but resolute
tones. "She has every right to be with
her own brother. "
"Your young LADY, repeated Mrs.
Somers in amazement, again turning,
and then perceiving who stood by her
patients bedside. Ruth was startled by