Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-03

COLONIAL, AUGUSTA. %. ......
OPERA HOUSE, WATERviLLE.. -.
COLISEUM, GARDINER. ........
he CURLY accepted the offer Of the
servant ana went on to make his prep
arations. These made. be sought Ruth.
He found her in strange state Of
excitement Evidently the consul and
his wife had not spared pains to i'm.
press upon her the dangers Of the pro-
posed expedition.
They're old grannies." was Johns
disrespectful comment. Ruth. you
know that without those plans were
helpless to make The Master Key into
what your father wanted it to be. ]
set out to get those plans. and I've not
come this far to turn back"
Il know" she said miserably. But
everybody says it is all fOolishness.
Sir Donald
"Oh. that GUTTER he interrupted.
II know he prefers sitting around max
ing love to you to doing something
really worth while"
There was the glimmer Of a smile on
Ruth's lips as she answered meekly.
Then you don't think that-sitting
around-and making love to me-is-
worth while?"
For moment John stood and stared
at her The blood rushed into bis face.
Then the full meaning of her light
evasion OF his real meaning struck him
like a blow between the eyes.
His heart was filed with love for
her. love that had grown and increas'
ed since the hour when he had first
seen her at old Tom Gallons door.
He had thought that his devoted serv'
ice to her interests. his constant atten-
ton to the slightest detail that could
insure her future happiness. would
have published that love to her.
He was minded to tell her now. to
forego all else in order to WOO her for
himself.
Ruth be began. But some sub
tie change in her manner fr0ze the hot
words on his lips.
WELL" be went on. controlling him
self by tremendous effort and trying
to speak lightly. I'll be of. Thank
heaven youll be safe here"
There was q struggle in Ruth's breast
too Yet the memory Of her promise
b Faversham stlled her.
In that long and terrible moment she
realized that John Dorr was all in all
to her. Yet she was bound to another
who had risked his life on the strength
of her promise to marry him. and she
could not speak what was in her heart
She tried to look John bravely in the
eyes and the tears would come in
spite Of her.
She bowed her head and 30 he left
her. with bitterness in his soul, but
the firm resolve to carry out his self
appointed task no matter what the out
come.
Faversham was as good as his word,
and the old native agreed once more to
risk the hills and guard this stranger
who. he was convinced, had lost his
mind
But his duty was plain and Sir DON
AIDS lnjnnctions not to be trifled with.
That evening the two Of them set forth.
following in the track of Wilkers0n
snd his party.
That John should have departed
without further farewell hurt Ruth
sorely.
1t seemed to mark a definite break
in their frank relations. and she felt
that when he returned with the plans
she would have to receive him on an
entirely new footing the footing of q
business man with his employer.
And while the hurt was fresh she
turned to Sir Donald gratefully. He
had acted most delicately in all their
experiences together. He had proved
his devotion by coming with them to
India and during the horrible night.
mare when their hotel had been the
center Of assault by fanatical natives.
He had accepted her promise without
undue exactions. He had seemed to be
waiting till be ard she could speak
more definitely.
Faversham was by no means dull,
and be played the part of kind friend
during the first days Of Johns alb.
sence.
He knew that Dorr was In love with
Ruth, and he strongly suspected that
her feeling for him had once bordered
on love.
He would tear open no old wounds.
he was devoted. cheerful. always at
her call. but never insistent on his
privileges.
The American consul liked him from
the first and told his wife that Ruth
would be fool If she preferred hare
Drained idiot to solid gentleman with
no nonsense about him and assured po-
sition In society.
Mrs. Reynolds, having been rebuf1ed
when she sought Ruth's condolences.
merely stated it as her opinion that
all girls were alike. dogma the con
sui was too wise to argue.
But he gave Sir Donald the freedom
Of the consulate and saw to II that he
had every chance to visit With Ruth.
Now. the baronet was not only no
d,,iIa ri huf no had boon hroA in