The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-12

will, two Of the servants witnessing It,
the old lady. babe them a smiling good
night.
When her maid went to awaken her
rext morning the stern lines Of the old
face were softened into wonderful
gentleneSst Aunt Hester's" head had
"starped work forever.
~ Killed Aunt Hester!" Ruth sob
bed. ~ wrote her Francis and had
broken our engagement, and the wor.
ry killed her. know 1t did! oh,
auntie, auntie!"
Pallid in her mourning garments.
with the going of summer Ruth droop-
ed like a storm-beaten lily.
"She may be grievin' for old Hes
ter some" was her cousins inward
comment, "bdt it's not all grief for
that cranky old woman that's maxim
her lose all interest in life!"
You ought to make up with that
Francis Arledge, Ruthie, like your aunt
: she said to the girl for the hundredth
time one day in the early autumn.
!. you've got enough to live on your
Stather left you, but you'd Just as well
have more. To think Of all that money
going to those four Hammel brothers,
, and every one Of 'em we'll to do and
not needin' 1t at ALL"
A. Ruth's bloodless face crimsonsd.
y :E-I couldn't make up with Fran
ctarArledge Just for the sake Of mon.
cyl" she faltered, "and he-he'd die
.first!"
]. IN spite of .Ruth.s demurs, the next
week found her In the little town
among the hills where for two weeks
the fox hunters Of the state were to
! hold high carnival.
Evelyn Forsythe gave her a glad
welcome.
I've got Beatrice Cline-she's from
Louisiana, Ruth-the sweetest, pretti.
est thing you ever saw-staying with
ma, and Kenneth Marion and Junius
{ Graf. from Knoxville know them
-end Mildred Lee, and Milan Omef,
rom Maryland, and-and Francis Ar
I9dge!" she added little uneasily.
At dinner that evening Ruth, led out
20 the dining room by the handsome
Highlander. Milan omer. held her
= brown head high, and her soft laugh
rang out
omer. fascinated, never took his
black Eyes from her animated face.
. And Francis. Ariedges sat out the even.
ING hours with Beatrice Cline, evident
u willing aptive,to the lovely Louis
la1isnss Slangourous charm.
And. each day, In the runs with the
hounds, his black horse kept close be-
side Beatrice's bay. The young Mary.
Z hinder rode with Ruth Loren
Arledge e up to his eyes In love
With Miss Louisiana, Junius," Kenneth
Marion remarked at the end Of the
week. Graft laughed. Sure, he's not
3Etyang me- any showi"
And that Maryland fellow keeps
eyerybcdy else away from the little
Loeen!" Marion went on rexretfurly.
4 was the end Of the second week.
md the last run and long one into
the more rugged country around the
5ittie town. About 10 O'Clock Ruth
Ibren, her cheeks CRIMSON In the crisn
III, found herself waiting alone at ne
loot OF q low brush-topped cliff, while
Nueu omer had ridden back the road
3 quarter Of mile to search for an
dnpprtant notebook that had slipped
nom nts pocket.
Sud6en1y. above her she heard n
running horses hoofs alp, ana q biz
blhck hcfse crashed over the cliff NOT
. dozen feee rom her.
Be made no effort TO rise, but his
rider wrenched himgelt free Of BIN.
then fen over byshtm. ? n
Ruth sprsng from hSr saddle aud
~ to the fal1m man. In IN agony.
~ ~ Itf-- " y 49, 49,