The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02


shall be ever so grateful"
While she spoke. Ruth Manton's clear
brown eyes were full of loving thankfulness.
AS she ended she REDEEMED. and the bright
eyes dropped In confusion as If she had
said something wrong.
Silence followed. She looked up in sud-
den alarm.
Her guardians tall, quiet sister, Miss
Wiilmott, had risen, and was staring
strangely at her. The suspicion in her COM
panions hard blue eyes brought back the
young girls courage. She smiled and
looked at ease, while she waited for Miss
Willmotts answer.
VERY well: 1 will speak to Michael when
he comes in
Thank you" Ruth said. She gathered
up her writing materials and went out of
the old, quaint parlor. past its open lattice
windows, which let in the scent of hya-
cinths and narcissus, then up the uneven
oak stairs which led to her dainty bed
room.
Seated by the window Ruth laughed then
a sob rose in her firm. round throat, and
she bent her head till her forehead rested
on the window ledge.
IT wish I'd never come 10 Logans," she
thought. what would dear mother and
Aunt Lucy think of me? All. If they had
lived,''
With quick revulsion she asked herself
IL she really and truly wished she had
never seen her guardian.
More than a year ago, wnen Ruth left
school, she had gone to live with her In
valid mother and her mothers sister, Aunt
Lucy, In Kensington. Within a short time
Aunt Lucy died. Mrs. Manton was not
long before she followed her sister, and
Ruth was left alone.
Mr.. searle, her mothers executor and
only surviving friend, told the Borrowing
girl that in accordance with her fathers
will she must in future live under the care
OF her appointed guardian, Mr.. Michael
willmott, at Logans, i'm Essex. small
property which he farmed himself.
"You will find him, I am told. plain,
kindly man, always very busy. His home
IL kept by his sister. I fancy she will make
you very comfortable
The girl had a spirit of her own.
81 prefer to earn my own living" she
said
Gray-haired Mr.. Searle fidgeted with his
eyeglasses. OF all things he disliked mod
ern notions I'm women.
"You are not twenty. Ruth: you have to
remember you are under Mr.. Willmotts
control and guardianship until you are Of
age. You will then come into possession of
your small income. You will not be de-
pendent upon Mr.. willmott in any none
tary sense. I shall pay him for your ex-
penses, and every quarter / shall send you
a small check for pocket money: but IL you
read the copy OF your fathers will which
/ sent you you will find these directions set
down. I add, however. on my own account
that IL you are not happy with the Will
motifs, write to me at once"
Now. at the end of the first year. the girl
had written to Mr.. Searle. II am not hap
by. VIII you and my godmother be good
enough to take me in while / settle my flu
ture plans?''
She knew she could not remain with the
SearIes. He had refused to undertake her
guardianship because good man though he
was. he was cursed with a wild spendthrift
son, pleasant fellow with fascinating
manners. but so cratic in his ways that
Ruth's mother had never permitted David
Searle to visit her. !
1T will only stay a few days with the
Searles.' Ruth smiled and told herself that
David Searle was not an ogre. even if he
should happen to be at home during her
visit.
She had been at first very happy at Lo-
gans and charmed with its inhabitants. Mr..
wilmott, though middle aged, was not
nearly so old as she expected him to be.
She found him, when the first shyness wore
on, a delightful companion, Lately he had
altogether changed; NO more pleasant rides
and walks together.
Ruth had an especial gift for music and
played the violin very we'll; her guardian
had a good voice, and she had often ac-
companied his songs. OF late, when she
asked him 20 sing to an accompaniment
she had been diligently practicing. he an
swered that he was too busy and must
spend the evening in his office. She could
not help seeing that he tried to avoid her.
1t seemed to her curious that her guar
dams sister had also changed. At the out
set Miss Willmott had been as hard as her
own cameo-like face. She had perfect fea-
t6es. distinguished appearances; she was
I'm every way a good housekeeper. But
though the bright young guest found the
arrangements OF the old manor house very
comfortable she decided that her hostess
was repelling. Now the brother an( sister
had exchanged characters. Mr.. Willmott,
in addition TO his cold abruptness, was
sometimes absent for weeks, while his sis
ter's manner had completely thrawed. She
talked pleasantly to the girl. Once or twice
she had kissed her when Ruth said good
night.
Ruth was glad of the change. though she
had little sympathy with Miss Willmott.
Her heart ached for the simple happiness
Of those early days. III she could only dis
cover why her guardian disliked her!
She came at last to the painful conclusion
that she and not Mr.. Willmott was to
blame. She had. she fancied, been gushing
and foolish: her head had been turned by
his kind and ready sympathy. He had
seen her folly and longed to be rid of her.
This idea prompted her to write Mr.
Searle, announcing her immediate return
to Kensington.
She looked out sadly over the green. slop-
ing meadows. ended by woods which Just
now were gemmed with the gold and pur-
pie and creamy white of anemones and
shrinking violets and bright-eye celandine.
Ruth had been in the woods this morning.
and had sighed heavily as she remembered
last spring when her guardian walked be-
side her and shared her JOY at sight of the
exquisite blossoms.