Year: 1874

/


father you must say that"


Will you not appeal to him for me?


sobbed Ruth.


as she went out of the room.


Several days elapsed without Ruth
seeing either her father or Mr.. Walker,


when one bright morning, as she was
reclining upon her bed, her father en-
tered the chamber, and commanded her


to prepare herself instantly TO marry
| Caleb Walker.


"All is prepared" he said harshly 4;


g get up instantly and dress yourself


Let me hear no murmUr."


| At that moment couple of servants
entered the apartment, bearing num-
Der of boxes, whilst Mr.. McTlwain
placed a magnificent necklace of pearls
upon the dressing case.


"There," said he, els q present from
your future husband"


Half stupefsd, Ruth attempted to
demonstrate.


"Don't speak" said her father :;
g marry Caleb Walker or leave my
| house."


He turned on his heel as he spoke,
and quilted his daughters presence.
| Overwhelmedsswi4h grief and despair,
the unhappy girl could not maintain
| the resolution she expected to command
in the moment of her need. PassivelY
submitting to the fate that had over
taken her, she was docile under the
| hands of the waiting maids, who began
| to array her for the bridal.
During the performance of the cere-
mOny she appeared more dead than
alive, and it was likely when Walker
saluted her as his bride, that she started
as if from a dream. They proceeded
| direct from the church to the house of
the bridegroom, where a splendid din
ner awaited them. Ruth desired to be
conducted to her chamber, and locking
herself in, left Caleb Walker to enter
tain the bridal party as best he could.
In vain did her step-mother and sister
solicit admission. She refused to suffer
them to come into her presence. Sud
den indisposition served as pretext for
her leaving the company, and her hus-
band had presence of mind enough to
put the best face upon the matter.
When the guests had departed, Caleb
Walker ascended the stairs with slow
step and thoughtful mien, and tapped
at his wife's door.


&c Let me in" he said in low tone.
"1 have something say to you that
will not displease you"


Ruth opered the door, but averted
her eyes. Her husband OWNED what
was passing through her mind. Seating
himself near her, he spoke in the tore
of a man whose soul is penetrated with
sorrow.


do not make yourself unhappy, :"
he said. Hear me patiently. IF I
tell you that I repent having married
you, you will not perhaps believe me !;
vet it IS true. I was made to believe
by your father aud step-mother, that
your affections were disengaged, and
that you had no aversion to me-that
you would dispense with those atten-
tions customary from lover to his
batrothed, but which the difference of
our ages, and my consciousness that
nature had dealt hardly with me, rem
dered me averse from Offering. Too
late have discovered the cruel decep-
tion your father has practiced upon me-
Still it is in my power to render your
fate less wretched than you anticipate.
Bear the name of my wife, command in
my house, dispose of me and my for
tune as you please. Before Heaven, I
promise you sOlemnly to live with you
only as a brother, until you can receive
me as the husband of your choice"


He ceased speaking, and sat gazing at
her, awaiting her reply. The force of
truth is always irresistible. Ruth
dried her tears. and extended her hand
to him.


"I accept your offer" she said.
'and thank you for your generosity 1
will try and repay yyur kindness. You
have daughter, that child shall be my
care. But from this hour will see my
fathers fac5 no more. I forgive him
the wrong he has done me, but can
never willingly behold his face. As to
my step-mother and her daughter, as
your wife, forbid their presence for an
instant under this roof"


"YoUT wishes shall be the law of my
house" returned her husband fear
not, you shall be implicitly obeyed.
hands with her, or even looking at her,
Caleb Walker left his young wife alone,
and descended the stairs.


The following day she met him with
cheerful countenance; and a few days
later his daughter, an interesting child
about four years old, was brought
home. Ruth was naturally q very af-
fectiOnate woman. Estranged from her
nearest connections by the base dacep-
ton they had practic-d upon her, she
needed an object upon which to lavish
her tenderness. and soon found it in
little Effie, who became Dqssionatelv
fond of her.


Time flew by, and Caleb Walker kept
his word strictly with his beautiful
wife. He did more he was incessant
in his endeavors to render her happy.
Two years passed away, with scarcely
any change in his domestic relations,
except perhaps that Ruth was more
confidential with him, and at times
evinced more tenderness towards him
than she had hitherto done. Effie was
her darling, and she appeared to love
the child with so strong and passionate
an attachment, that Mr.. Walker often
marveled at it.


One day, early in spring, Caleb Wal
ker informed Ruth that he had taken a
country house for the summer. This
was welc ome news to Ruth, and she be-
gan to prepare for their removal. Three
weeks later, they were comfortably in
stalled in their country residence. It
was a moderateIy-sized farm house, hav-
ing an abundance of shade trees and
fruit surrounding it, and Ruth began to
busy herself among the plants and flow
ers as soon as the weather permitted.
The place was near enough to the city
to allow Caleb Walker to make dailv
visits thereto, if he had occasion to do
so.


1t was in the month of July, the
weather was intensely warm, when one
morning Caleb Walker set out for the
| city, to be absent all day. Late In the
1 afternoon Ruth took Effie bv the hand
and wandered into the adjacent wood to
| seek for some roots she desired. So in
| tent was she upon the object of her
/ &C Il, ha
| hsavens growing overcast until the storm
! was NEARLY unnn them Ihen IL was