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JEZEBEL’S FRIENDS.
■ ■ ■■ ■ *
A NOVEL.
BY
DORA. RUSSELL,
Author of “ Footprints in tue Snow, ” “The Broken Seal, " “The Track or the
Storm,” Etc., Etc.
ULL RIGHTS RESERVEDA
CHAPTER XXVII.
A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
The aeoouutrof Sir R ibert Beaton’s S'.id
do, death spread very quickly among the
gaosts at Sudley, and it required alt
Trances’ self-command to carry herself as
gailv tnd u. concernedly as she had done
before she heard ihe news.
bhc could nOl in truth put it out of her
mind. She Sal listened to what Sir James
Hastings bad-hai'd about the large income
t’ at Arthur Beat in must haveiaheri ed.and
r e u-^rds.seemed to ring m her ears. S.u>
„ ; il~ to Itutii on the first opportunity
she c jhlwfijS, and whispered a question to
her.
“Have voq heard?” she said.
“AbonWkJ*. on’s brother?” answered
Kuth, looking at her sisier quioaiy, and see
ing very plainly the signs of suppressed ex
, meut writteu on her handsome face.
“Yes.” s -id Fiances, in a low tone; “it’s a
thing, isn’t it? A strange thing, 5 ’
r repeated, and sue moved away, and
Ruth's eyes followed her with so . e uueasi-
A minute) or two later, Col. Forth also
went up to his youngest daughter, full of
the same i filings.
“Have y u heard about Beaton, Ruth?”
he said. “What confounded luck some peo
pie have, to be sure!”
lie may have been very fond of his
brother,” smiled Ruth.
‘Fond! ruboisb. Fonder of sixteen or
seventeen thousand a year, which they say
he has come into,” answered tne colonel.
‘ Still it’s ave y sad thing; Sir Robert*
must have been quite a young man, if Mr
Beaton is the next brother.”
“Well, Sir Arthur, as I suppose we must
rail him now, is a deuced lucky young
m n. that’s all I can say,” said Col. Forth;
,ii -1 this opinion was very generally
though , though not quite so openly ex
pressed.
“A great change for our young friend,
truly.” said the vicar of tieaifort, ap
rroaching the father and ‘laughter, b ■
were still talking of Artbflr Beaton. “But
1 have n > doubi, judging by what 1 have
seen of him, that, be will make a wi e and
judicious use of tne large fortune so uuex
pict • .ly bestowed on him.”
re likely to make ducks and drakes
of t. I she .id ihi k,” growled the colonel.
• N'a , t.ay, my dear sir,” smiled the ur
bane vicar ; “even in the light-hearted ness
i yout.u w.ere ue to spend a little lavishly
a: first, thisrexjubera ce of spirits will soon
wissa av, ami tne duties of his uew pcsi
ti* will r beo .nre clear to his eyes. ”
“We all know what you pa so s think are
r.be.-dudcf of a r ich man,' *aia the colonel,
with his gopr smile; “you had best get hold
of him before your clerical brethren do,
Aotfebv.”
But the Rev. John only smiled benignly.
K’. 1 tud lrauiug on his arm a tall, rather
good-looking, middle-aged woman, whom he
. eseatly introduced to Rutu a.a Col.
aqd tliis lady proved to be very
v iubi.e"; and while sue was talking to Ruth
the vicar had a word to whisper about, h.*r
n tbo colonelL ear.
“Mrs. Dixon is one of the lucky ones,
ai- , .as regards for tune,” tie said, in an
aside.- ‘‘lSue is a widow, a distiur relative
cf my own, and largely endo-ei.”
Ti e o was something about money to
Co],. F rtu—and, indeed, to most of us—
iinri.' ibly attractive. He would uot have
i xiktaia.second time at Airs. Dixon unless
hi- had heard s e was rich, but now he
glawed at her with i is bloodshot eyes, and
th* widow joined as he did so.
‘ hat a charming , iace your daughter’s
is, LpL. Forth,” she said, “and she issobcau
liful ”
“People say she is good-looking,” an
vrenM t colonel, with a feeling or grati
liratioi:, winch he wo.ld rot nave lelt had
t flattering words isoued from the lips oi
ap>or auce.
“There l no doubt of it,” continued Mrs.
Diftni; “and tnrs other sweet creature,”
ii.; le.it her heard a littlo closer to tae
• * >n> .'s, and indicated teat she was speak
s _ ■ f Ruth, who was exchanging a few
mud words, witn the vicar-, “is a daughter
Yes, tho yourge >t; but can I not get
y u an ice ir something;” asked Col. Forth.
“'Veil, lam thirsty, ill admit!” said
Dixon, smiling, uiid a moment or tw
It she was to i>e seen ieaaiiig on the col
stu war. arm, and the middle-aged
r 'Up!e retired together into the house, where
bi most lavish .etre&hments were to be
% was thus left alone with the Rev. ;
who oil' n-d his n in. nil i a-, too t-.u,
eut through tue crowd they encouut red
ar.i Heaforth, with wdooi Rutu had
• vi! exchanged tt few words.
-ce blusued and smiled slightly as they
n -*i asd the you..g man paused, a..d after
s fncaie.it’h hesitation joined her.
“1 have been seeing Deaton off,” he said.
”i ‘Uppcse you know J”
' Aes, v-e Lavo een talking of it; it is a
strai.g© turn of fortune, isn’t it?”
“V* onderfu;; and he seems very much cut
~n * r *h excited. 1 think ho was fond ot ois
br ifter.”
*uoold think he was a young man of
war n fgUngsr’
Seafortb’a expressi n slighly
“He ' be a i . man i.ow,”
uy .ie w*th a l.ttle ring of bitterness
Wwic., n , never formerly to be heard in
■ o:a l< Le Lw will have it all bis own way
-how
; mad# no answer. She raised her
** ■* * v h and looked for a moment in
y IJ -d .and there was something reproach*
lh oii; expression, wnicb i hong a nam
iv iSi aioria did noi understand, yet
" * ■•'-l ms hsart.
;*wo wf. 100 mg very pretty, with a faint
... uon her ci'.eeK?; a.id uer pile gray silk
with silver tin broidery, and a bread
_ ar mid her slender waist, well
•••ted u r delicate and retined appeiranco.
die wui'e al&o a largo hat, witii gray sweep
'. i ra ... y of tbe guests at
ri, ared they admired her most o:
■ ’istors. Scaforth had ai ways dona
t- •' and to-Jay she s- tmod very lovely in
i-isevt*. I] * iinge.ed by her side, an i he
•••-1 the vicai would go away; and the
v cir, w;.o was no fool, began to neiceive
'*;“*• u dth the semi-te.der .smile which
indulged in to guod-looki g young
oue . the upright wife ■ h;s bj*om
w i' not present, he turned to Ruth.
you excuse mu a few minutes, my
•‘ l i Audley#” hu sail. ‘*l see over
. under on*.- of tny parishioners, who, po r
h .v. Doing afflicted with pirtial and •afuesa,
iV * r ‘° \ Ct * uve , received much at ten ion,
1 *•* you beautiful young creatures natural
rnimumi. Ah. ah, jp.>u smile, mv dear
• u! & * a °y out is it not so# It is but bu-
Mature, is it not, Mr. Seaforth? But
y poor parsons must s met lines put our
ae.uiatioua lufco our pockets,” and he
“i* * * hat, and went away,
it- rat..a good iun, the parson, isn’t
h-f suid Heafortb.
rv au.uiog; b alwavk makes me
•align.’
e take a littlo ‘urn; it is gutting
‘ ,t ; r <"■' you to ttauii about, uou .
ytn tumkf
It is h li'tlechill," answered Ruth, and
,i,f *° ,n .? v ' d ou together,goingoi.mg one
f U.e waluh out through thu .awn until
y- ariiu Ulo brojU ir lt r f lofty troei
and"(?‘ C l i"! V ' i , d " ( ? tlle Srdrn. from the j,eru,
■ 'I bellied wlucU the .un had now set.
th,. SetU .“ c <iu ' k - lu f *. at.rt many of
hT' . K . t,J *“ D * “* to “>e house, either to
“ cr . junto little change in
bef..rt the dinn.r h ur, whicu
Ruth did not leave the shadowy, quiet,
broad path beneath the tree* for nearly half
aD hoi r.
Yet there was not a word exchanged be
tween them that the whole comp my might
uot have heard. But there was a subtle,
dangerous joy felt by each, which they
knew, though nei her of them analyzed :t,
that made these moments very precious.
Ad Audley’s absence was also an immense
relief to them both. He had forced this
poor girl to marry him, but he cou and net'
force her to r* .aril him otherwise th *nwith
shrinking dislike.
At last, unwillingly, Ruth suggested it
must 1 e time for her to go iu, ami Se j forth
sow that it only wanted a few minutes to 8
o’clock.
“I suppose,” ho said, smiling, “you will
have to go in to dinner wit i one of the big
guns?”
“Aiv big gun,” answered Ruth, smiling
also, “is, I believe, bir James Ha-tings; so
Francos arranged this morning, at least.”
“Rut you wdl keep a dance for me?”
‘ Yes; I moan to dance very little. I do
not care for it, vou know.”
“The first waltz, then?”
“Very well;” and this having been settled
they wajked together to the house, which
was now fully lighted and the drawing
room crowded.
Ruth went quietly in, and presently fat
little Sir James H istin js approached i.er.
“1 believe that I am to have tbo honor of
escorting you to dinner?” nesaii.
“1 think s ;,” smiled Ruth.
“Is:.all tell my little boy at home that I
have seen yon; I assure you that you have
made quite a conquest of his youtbul
heart,” and Sir James smiled.
“He is a dear little fellow.”
“He is se sitive and affectionate; yes,
yes, I hope a finedispositio
“He told me his lather was a very good
man.”
“Did he indeed?” said the deigbted Sir
James. “It is asto Isbiug how observing
childre 1 are, to be sure!”
But a movement now took place among
tho cotnpan ■, and Col. Ke ivo i, with Lady
Has ings on his arm, led the way to the | a
valion, where the banquet was spread out,
followed by the guests, Frances being es
corted by Lord St. Clair, whose wife was
unavoidably absent.
In the pavilion wealth ana g'od taste had
made everyth! nosl perlect. Thebaau*
tiful hostess and the kindly, genial host s it
smiling among their guest-, and presently
Lord Sr. Clair rose up to propose Col.
Kenyon’s health, and on this, the anniver
sary of his binhdav, to wisn him long
yea 8 of life and itappiness.
“Since last year at this time,” went on
the whiie-haired old nobleman, stnilngand
turning to France.! with his courteous
manner, “my frie id. Col. Kenyon, has
chosen a wife, to who n auy of my poor
words of praise must fail to do j istiee. It
will be enough tho i for me to add that the
name of the beautiful mistress of Sudley
should be joined to that of her gallant and
distinguished hu baud. I therefore propose
the health of Col. and Mi s. Keoyon.”
It is needless to tell tuat this toast was
re ponded to with tne warm ’s onthusiasm.
And a glow stole to Col. Kenyon’s face,
and a tender light to his eyes, as he roe to
return thank! for the good wishes cf his
mends a..d ueigubors.
“I heartily thank Lord St. Clair, and all
ray friends,” h* siid, in bis clear, sweet
toned voice, “for tho kind word w * have
just lis.ened to. For myself I shall sav
nothing; I was born amoug-t you, md you
kuow oil my faults and fai.ings, of co irse,
very well,” and no gave his genial l&ugn.
“But of my young wife I must say a word
or two. She is only a stra gar to you yet;
but I hope the day wdl ccmj when sae will
no longer be a stranger, *he i you will all
look upon her as a fiisnd, and vtL ouie h r
as gladly to your h ni *s as she now heartily
welcomes you to her own. 1 trunk t< at 1
had better not siy any m re, lest I am
temp ed to sav too much, but. tins I wJJ a id
—a >j 1 thank God that lam at! *to t ay it
the lappiett birtbdav f my lire.
Last year 1 was a lor.ely man wj u L w
joys if not mauv cares; now I am happier
than 1 deserve, and you know to whuin 2
mi?: ’an l again he took and at Frances,
a .dsat down. And Frances smiled and
cast her bright hazel eye u >on ter p.ate,
and then turned to wuisner some pleasam
words t * Lori St. Clair b nind her fan.
“This must be a proud moment to vou,”
said the supp -s and rich widow, Airs. D.xon,
to Col Forth, whi had carried his atten
tions so far as to take her in to dinner.
“Well, I suppose it ought to t*e,’'he an
swered.
And it was. He glance i round the table,
and tbon at his duu and Ins heart ex
panded with gratification io think hjw wo 1
ho had do ie for them.
•‘Col. Kmyo.i is an old and very intimate
frieud of mv own,” he said; “and thus he
came to marry my daughter, and lan very
well satisfied with t e ma cu.”
“indeed you have every reason; Col.
Kenyon seems a delightful man; they are a
charming couple.”
Mrs. Dixon apparently was a lady who
thoroughly believed i.ha every human s ml
can be effectu iliy as a;l *d by flattery. Bie
plied it on without stint all round, and she
*efta pleasing impression on Col. Porta*#
mind. He had not rece, veci very muen,
poor man, all bis life, f>>r e had neve been
popula , and his daughters did not over
whelm bi:n with soft words. And a > agree
able did they now seem to im that when
t e banquet broke up and the c rnpany
passed through ite gardens, ad alight .ow
with the pretty la:np< that Arthur Beaton
h-.d helped to arrange, Mrs. Dixon was
leaning ■'till on Col. Keren’s arm, though bo
inwardly felt he was mam.-g rather an
exhibition of himself, ar.d would gladly
Lave deposited the lady in some conven.e.it
seat.
The dancing took placi in the dining
rom. w,ica was prepared as a ball room;
and toe < peni .g dance, a quadrille, b-iug
over, Kenard iSeaforth went up to Ruth
ted her promise to dance the first
waltz wuh him.
With a blush and a smile she rose, and as
the two glided gracefully round the room, a
st ange excitement began to stir in IS. a
forth o breas’: an excitement which made
him forget certain rules that he nsd loid
down for his own guua..ce <n r!gird to
Ruth.
“Let us go out on the terrace for a mo
mpnt or two,' 1 he s id, a l * the dance bnishud.
“it is so hot in here, isn’t it if”
And Ruth went w.tb hi and they itooi
together in s.lencti Joiki *g down at the
dark trees, cn which the twinkling lights
sbowti and glowed ill diverse Oul .rs.
I; wus a prot y mg t, and as Seaforth
glanced at toe delicate profile of bu com
panion, h sud ie i resolution eaten*d Lis
heart, and bendinj r. arer to Lor Le said
qiiicklv and excitedly:
••lean neve: unde:stand, Ruth, why you
treated me so!”
ii<: felt her Land tremble on bis arm, but
she answered him, aluioe; steadily:
“I know you can never understand it,
Ketiard; but we m;.ht not peak < f it.”
“1 knu * D.a: wed enoug ; b it why did
you d>it # hy did you turow me ovtrf*
“Because 1 could not help myself; not be
cause 1 ad cnanged.”
T:.e word-* were almost whispered, but
Kenard beard them, a .and a throb of joy
gased through his heart.
“You made me very miserable,” he said,
in a low t ;U‘*.
“My dear,” said Frances* voice close to
them, before Rith c .uli make any reply,
•Tvo b< e.i looking for you; here it a tilo
gram which has arrived, 1 suppose
Ruth turned very pale, and opened her
telegram witu trembling fingers; it was
from J§aj. Audley, to toll her that bis sis
ter had died during the afternoon; and
thus the new- that two souls ba l been
summoned suddenly a wav reached Sudley
when everything there seamed so bright and
gay.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
NEAR RELEASE.
Neither Kenard Seaforth nor Ruth danced
again during tb 1 evening after the nows of
Maj. Audlev’s sifter’s death had arrived.
Flutli went back io the dining room with
Frances, an l sat quietly down on one of the
benches coverevi with red cloth arrayed
against t:.e walls of the rooms, and Ken
ai and foil .wed her, and stood near h*r tor a
while, and then went cut an i walked up
an l and iwa on the t rraco alone, trying of
courae iu vain to solve tho reason of her
conduct t i him.
“It must b * something else, it could not
be for Auiley’s mousy aloe,” thought the
young man, and then Ins brow darke led.
“Curse it!—and tint fellow will be c >ming
b .ck again now, I suppose; and I can’t
stand t is sort of thing, that’s the truth—l
must exchange ail go out to India, for I
lik her too well, aid can’t help myself.”
He almost unde up his mind to do this.
He expected his company dad , and when
he git it ho would leave the regiment and
!i ep out of sight of the fa r sad-faced
woman he believed love i him still.
“If she would only tell me the truth,”ho
thought, restle sly; “p rhaus when she hears
lam going away she will and) so; it wil be
wo th while, for to ba near her a* thing* are
now is only pain,” •
Presently he went back into tho ball
room, hut Ruth was no longer there. And
he felt disappointed, thougn he i.ad told
him elf a few mom mes before that to he
near her gave him no ha; pi ness. It did
not, and yet the sweet pain seemed better to
him that to find her gone. He grew weary
of the whirling figures pacing and repay
ing him, of the light jests and aimless
words that fell on his ears.
“What’s tne good of it all?” he said, ira
pitie .fciyto Air. Martin, who wa> in the
same regiment, and wh > had gone up to
hi : and said, “Isn’t this a jolly dance?”
“Oooi?” reoeated Mar in, looking at
Seaf >rt ’ gloomy face m a tonis meat;
“why, isn’t it good to enjoy yourself?”
“If you can, answered tho oilier; and
the good-uatUTed lad. whoso face wa> ciini
ao:i with his exertions, wondered in ms
heart what aad come over Beaforth to put
him out.
Ruth in the meanwhile h id stolen upstairs
to her badroo n, and was aitti gi i the setui
‘darkne&s thinking how dbri iilt and dark
\vas her life. She c mid not hdp caring for
Seaforth, she had always cured for him,
aai his sudden question on the terrace had
male the oi l wound blood a tew. Ah! it
*iad hem cruel, too cruel, this enforc'd
separation, this rending apart of love that
would not die!
And her marriage?— he miserable band
that chained tier, and chafed her, and m ade
i.er days a long struggle co endure wh its.ie
could uot escape, li was a gloomy pictur •,
with one brig t side. Frances was happy,
and for Frances she had inane the self-sacri
fice, the l itternes3 of whica he;* o >vn Heart
only knew.
•‘An l he will be coning hack again now.
I supp >se,” she thought, miserably. “Oh, I
do wish ne would stay away.”
How many a ti ne she had wished this
since Audley had left her! She ha i looked
and felt a d-.ffe eat creature during the last
few days, and her heart übh >rred the idea
of returning tthe old bondage.
“He k ’nwj In t? bin; why does he make
me stay?” sho had asked heraalf again and
again, and sue a herself this question
now.
But while she was t-itting sad and lonely
upstairs, down stairs Frances was receiving
the complirijen sand adulation that her
soul loved, and w.s seemingly a woman
'ta nding on one of the very pinnacles of
good fortune.
“Are vou satisfied with the dav,dearest *”
her food husband had whispered to her as
the evening began to wane and tin? guest*
to depart; and sne Lad said “Yes,” and
smiled, a i the while with a strange u ires
stirring in her heart, when she tho lg it of
whit hid happened to Arthur Heaton.
But. as uer husband’s friends crowded
round her to say good-by, each with a com
plimehtarv word, Frances exerted herself
to bearreeablq to every one, and tried her
best to p it Beaton’s good f rtuna out of her
mind. Presently rfeafortn and young
Martin, who werego.ng todrive home to
gether, went up to her to say go d-night,
and Francs smiled ou them as she had
smiled on the rest.
“CLroe very soon,’’ she said to Sea
forth.
will you say g *od-by to your sister
for me?” hr answered.
“Rlb b? Where is she* I wqnder where
she is?” answered France*, lucking round.
**hu was nowi.e o to ue s?een, and the
young men went away, and when they
were go e, and the rooms were cleared,
Franca* went upstairs to se;k for Ru h.
S m found her alone in the hi If-lark
room, and a.s France! lit some of the can
dles on the toilet-table to lx*k ni herself,
glancing round she saw on Ruth’s face tne
marks of re -ent tears.
“Wnat i iho matter? Are you not very
wed, Ruth ?” she asxe 1. “Seaforth was a .ik
ing for you a lew minutes since to bid you
go d-oy."
“Ton room was hot down s' airs,” an
swered Ruth, “si I came up for a few min
ute** quiet. Are all t ie people gone? 1 heard
th-3 music cease.”
“Yes, tbank heaven, everyone is gone.
Wnat a dny it has been. And ab>u
Arthur Bea"n. I cannot help thinking
about it. Fancy, Ruth, if this had hap
pe ied a few months ago how it would have
changed everything.”
“You mean
“I mean I should never liavo been Mrs
Kenyon, my dear, as you know very well!
Rut it is no g od ralkmg of it.”
“No, iudee 1, France.; and after all what
is he# A good-looking boy—”
Frances did nut sneak for a moment as
Rut i paused and hesitated. She began
a king up and down the room, and then
agaiu un ■ went up to t ie toilet, and looked
at herself long an 1 earnestly in the glass.
“How do you think I look to-day/” she
asked.
• Very well, indeed; your is beauti
ful.”
•*He was very much up*:et when he cam *
to tell me, poor fellow,” said Fra ces, the
n. xt moment, her mind once rn re return
ing to Beat u:". i >• ay lie wiji bs im
mense l neb—flftee.i or sixteen thousand a
year. Well, one never cun tell w at wiii
happen, certainly. I *uoposo An liey will
coma in for bis sister’- money *.oo# ’
“j am sure I don't know, and I doa’t
care.”
“There w;il be a letter from him to mor
row morning, i aupose, to tell you; how
ever, if you wou’t come down sta.r-, I
•r ink i’ll’ nay good-night, Ru:b, >s this
has b'*en such an exciting day. lam dt&d
tii ed.”
And she kis k d Ru'b and went sway; tut
Rut . sat still long after Le was g. ne.
thinking of her unhappy life, and euucjt
with ail he.' Lor.rt she could L. and any escape
from it.
And the next morning did bring her a
letter fr >rn Audiey to toll t er that fcixsis
ter’s death would i,'.*.r.y louble L.-
income! and uo also told her tt.at immedi
ately niter the funeral he should return to
He idfort.
“Ask your sifter fo drive you there on
Monday morn-tig.” he wrote; “! expect to
arrive about 1 o’clock, a J y,u
must go into mourning of c. ure f r poor
Agnes: if you want money 1 can send you
some; 1 ao i #u on.
Ad with a miserable heart poor Ruth
wa> forced to obey ib • orders. Her black
gowns, whicu she was obliged to wear for one
whom she had never seen, were not more
gloomy than her thoughts as sue prepared
to return to her husband's roof. B >ta Col
Kenyon and Frances saw how depressed
sue was, but wuat could they do to help
her# Not itig, thev told sach other—and
somehow Frances shrank from speaking to
Rutd of ner too evident untiappi iess.
AViMt the day came whoa she had to
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1880.
! leave Sudley, an l Frances dr >va her into
j lieadf >rt. It was a dull, grav morning,
and the ho use in High street looked very
dreary a! the two sisi ra entered it.
“Send out for som * fl -wars to brighten
the room up,” said Frances, lo king
round; “we ought to seem glai to see him,
you know.”
“I don’t want to seem glad to see him.”
answered Ruth; and Frances was kn.f afraid
to say anything more.
She t-taved with Ruth till Audley arrive 1,
an did her best to receive hi npi asantly;
but t.iere was a frown on Audley 1 * brow,
for wheu he entered the room he went up
to Ruth and be it down as if he merit to
kiss her but Ruth turned away her .ead.
He sail nothing, but a angry L>ok
passe 1 over his f ice and remaineu there in
spite of France ’ soft words.
“We were ail so dreadfully sorry,” * e
she said, “that you were away on Hugh’*
birthday; ad still more sorry wh n the sad
ue vs came about your po r sister.”
“It was very good of you,” answered
Audley, curtly. “I suppose you kuow
ab nr Beaton’s windfall?” h < addci.
“Yes. Was it not odd the telegram to
tell him of his brotner’s death was sent on
to him to Sudley at the birthday party too.
Have y.>u heard from him?”
“Yes, 1 had a few lines; it’s an extraordi
nary pieca of luck.”
“And,” hesitated Frances, “did he say
anything about leaving tbo regimen ?”
“No; a word, ho said ho would bo back
hero in a week.”
France* asked no more questions, aid
shortly afterward took her leave, after
|jresi ig Audley tgo teSudloy so n. And
after s io was gone, Audley turned savagely
on Ruth.
“I must say,” he said, “the way you re
ceived me iva- a little too disgust ;g.”
Ruth mad** no answer. JS.io st and there,
pale and cold in her black gown, and cover
even looked in his face.
“I tell you wnat it is, Ruth, I won't
stand it,” went ou Audley, passionately;
“you married me—”
“You forced me to marry you, you
mean,” interrupted Ruth, with kindling
eyes.
“Well, I forced you to nanny m . if that
plea.-es you batter; but .it all even s vou did
marry me, and if this is the way y >u moau
to carry out the contract, I tell you plainly
1 wnl n t put up with it.”
“I wish to leave you; let me go to my
father’s; we should be far happier apart.”
“Then you were happier, l suppose, when
l was avviy?” au.tod Andley, with strong
indignation,
“You kuow very well I am not happy
here,” said Ruth, now looking str.iig.n- in
his angry face; “you must fool, you must
see this, and it’s only misery to us both io
go on living as wo do. My father, I am
sure, will take me in; let me g to iiy.”
He caught her fiercely by the w ist, and
swore a her.
“Go at your peril!” he thundered. “Go if
you dare! And do you think if you leave
me I shall ke.'p Mrs. Ko lyon’s fine sec re;.?
By hea en, I wo ’t thou; if you think ym
c ui make a fool of me, a* you try to do, I’ll
have my revenge, I can tell you.”
Ruth’s pale face grew p 1 r, and there
was a look in her eyes that made Audlsy
feel liali a ha i ed of his Di utai words.
“You bring it on yourself,” he said,
j sulkily; “I’ve had trouble o ough lately,
and to come home and be received without
a civil word is enough b put auy man out.
< o. found it! I wish I had never wen your
face!”
And ho turned in a rage and left the
room, furiously slaratning tho door behind
him.
And Ruth stood still after he had gone,
with a look o' unutterable scorn in 1 el
eyes; scorn and bitter, bitter disiik-', almo t
hatred.
“ This was too much,” she said, thinking,
* ‘to tta reaten Frances!”
It seemed to her the basest meanness, tho
lowest thing he could have said, cud her
contempt was very great.
“I wish either he or I were dead!” she said
aloud, and then sat wearily down, and
presently she heard Audley leave the Lous*,
and looking up as he passed the windows
she siw that he bad put ou bis uniform,
and that he went ' raight to the fort.
He did not come i.i f-r luncheon, and
ltubli spent theafteruo n alone. There was
some heavy gun practicing going on at tli*
fort, ad th t loud boo u .ig s uind o:ca. ion
all foil ou her ears. About 4 '’dock th re
seemed a Tremendously loud explosion, so
t at Ruth rose and went to the window, and
a few minutes later a soldier ran out of the
fort gates i.i h>t haste. Then another fol
lowed, and another; and people began to
gather round the gates, but worn prevo ited
from entering by tho sentry. Presently a
<1 ct >r, wb > u Ruth knew hy sight, ct i*•
running down the village with the soldier
wn had evidently teen hent for hnn.
Something had happened, apparently, at
the fort, for Rut i cod i see the grave feces
outside, and trie excitement of these gath
ered round tne gates.
She stood watching, and h* she did so
Kenard Seaforcti came hastily ou r of the
f rt "ates, and straight to tho door of
R ith’s house. She heard tho bell ring w,th
a fa;t.-bcati g heart, and a minute iater he
a rue quickly up the stairs, and entered tha
drawing s to n, and held out his hand for a
moment without speaking.
Ruth noticed ha was very pale, nnd that
there was a shocked look o.i his face, and
she to undjr tand tuat somethiug
dreadful had occurred.
“There has been an accident at the fort,”
began Heaforth, with a sort of effort. “The
artillerymen were practicing with the bg
guns there, and one has just burst, from a .
overcharge, I suppose, ad I regret to toll
you Maj. Audley is hurt.”
Rut i never spoke. She fctood there with
wideopau eyes, iiiteuing to Seaforth’s
wor Is.
“An I I ran to tell you,” he went on, “be
cause they are goi ig to bri. g him home
i and 1 thought it would be a
less shock to you if you Knew; it’s a terri
ble thing—noor Martin!”
“What!”'
“He is killed outright, poor fellow; but
M ij. Audley is onlv wounded, and the two
doemrs are doing ell they ca i for him.”
“And—Mr. Martin u dead. How terrl
ble!”
“ V r es, poor Martin and two ar'illerymen.
Maj. Audley aid Mv; iin were standiog to
gether watching th-. practice, when the
gu i burst. Ah, hern they aie, bringing
him out, C ine away trom thu window,
itu.h.”
He to k her hand and pulled iur back as
he spoke, wr.i’.e the body of her husband, j
lying on a stretcher ana c rerad with a I
mil*; ary cirak, us face ul o reing covered '
with a handkerchief, on which Llool stains [
were visible, was borne by four soldier:-* ‘
throu ;h tnu sympuiiizing group collected j
round the fort gate . Two doctors wero :
a.s * with him, cno ho*dmg the wrist uf the >
wounded man.
Ruth stood w ith blanched fac * and parted
lit i*. grasping Beaf rib’s* ca: l wui.e he wan
earn’*l into the house, nnd then when th3y
neard the snl<tiers begin io ascend th j stair
case with tneir burd -n. S-aforth hastily
shut the dr wing room door.
“No, n he said. a Ruth mutely indi
cated she wi-Le: t .io met- ihirn. “You
must not see t.i n r.t; be is uncon
•c;ous; the doct i' o.d not w.su you to
boo him, I am su:w.
“St.il I must -*d Rotb, with her
dry lips, and m.o op a#d too door; opened it
on a tsrrit.e *igLt.
: he soldiers Lad j ut paused on the
landing i y trio drawing r *om io <i, a 1 the
handkerchief over Audie v‘ l 'nr l, * i s.i pM |
aside, and Ruth *h a scarrod and bleeding
ma#-; but only for a moment.
“K-ep Mrs. Audiey away, Heaforth,” ■
Dr. Murry call'd out, as soon a his eves ’
fell on K .tb’s pale, horror- tricken face; *
and Sualorth needed . o second bidding
“You must coin hack,” he said, and he >
drew her firmly way, and again shut the ;
room door, ad Kuih same duwj on a seat
and covered t er fa v with h*r hands.
“Oh! tms is dreadful!” she suid, “too
dreadful I”
“Yes, but you must not give wav.” an
swered Heaforth, very kindly and gently,
for ne was deeply moved. “He is badly
hurt, but wuen hi* wounds are dressed he
will look quae different.”
Ruth gave n sort of moan and started to
h r fed, in u . u Iden agony or sell-reoroach ;
th thought had flashed across her inin<l
that she h <1 wisbenl him dead this very att
erno >n. and now he might die!
“And that other young man,” she asked,
presently, i:i a low excited tone, walking
backward and forward with irregular stops.
“He was at Frances’dance, wa* ho uot?
And now, and now—”
“Hush! Don t think of it. Would you
like me to send for your sister and Col.
Kenyon'!”
“Yes, please. Oh, Kenard,” and Ruth
caught hi* hand, “ass them to let me go to
him -to and what l ran.”
“Yea,” a-id f.r a moment ho held her
hand fast in his; “but wait a lit to while,
jus: until th i doctors see wuat wdl be best
io le done.”
Hht d.J not speak again. She sat down
one > m re, cola, pale and faint, and a few
minutes I iter Col. Forth, wdo nad Litard of
the accident, came into the room.
“ This is a bad business, Ruth,” he said,
and he went up and laid his hand with t*oin <
kindness ou her shoulder; “but they say ho
may pud through.”
“Have you >een him, futhorf’ she asked,
iu a rambling v >*co.
“Thed ictors won’t let anyone into the
room at present; but I bavo soon Murry,
and t iev say ouo of ins legs will have to be
amputated.”
“Take me to him, father ; please take me
to him,” m varied Ruth.
“ily dear, you couldn’t do the least good,
.a ai wo non arc only in the way in a caaa
like thifi. K>'ep yourself quiet, and I’ll send
for Frances.”
“1 will go upst airs and see ho v he is get*
ting on,” said {Seaforth, and ne lefi the
ro m for the purpose, and Ruth was alone
with lier fat lie.* for the next few minutes.
Then Seaforth returned.
“Ho is rallying,” he said, “and they will
perform no operation to-day—until his sys
tem recovers from the shock.”
“I w ill go b. side him, then,” and Ruth
roe as she spoke.
“No,” .-aid rieaforth, “the doctors posi
tively forbid it. Dr. Murry told me to t* ll
yo it: at at-present you must not see him.”
“I should like to go into the next
room, then,’’said R ifh, in a faint voice.
“Fattier, hclpuio into the next ro in.”
“Col. Forth t ok her arm, and fi and her
iuk> the sparo bedroom, which was ou the
same landing as the drawing room.
*T.I send for Frances,” lie said again;
“and I’ll got you some wiue, Ruth, or some
thing.”
But she shook her head.
“1 would rather be alone,” she said, and
so the colonel left her; and wnen he was
g >uo Ruth rank and >wn o i her knees, with
clasped l auds, her mind absolutely torn
witho inflicting feeling*.
If tie were to ifie she would bo fre<,
would bn happy—hue no, no, she must not
wish him to die—should she pray that lie
might live? She tried to frame the words,
but her lips faltered and refused their ut
terance. She could not say “Oh! God,
spare him,” hi cause she knew it would be a
fais< prayer, praying for what she did not
wish! Aud yet it was so terrible, this sud
de:i Kiimm ms; aud lie had been so well and
full of sir uigtb.
And it hung on a balance now, she knew*;
a moment might turn the scale, and the
mysterio -s breath of life go forth from the
maimed body of the man lying upstairs
close to the portal* “wo call death.”
fT(> BK CONTINUED. 1
MEDICAL
i* (Prickly Ash, Poke Boot, and Potassium.)
CUKES
SYPHfLiS
Primary, B<*condary, and Tertiary Syphilis,
Hyphilitio Eruptions. Scrofula and Bcrofuloua
Eruptions, Ulcers Mtid Old Sorca, Klieuiiiutisni
and nil diMmseu of tho blood; all those that have
resisted other trci*! iriout yfidd steadily and
surely to the wonderful power of P. P. P., the
groat Blood Purifier.
SCROFULA
Is stHmpurity *>• the Mood, producing Lumps
oi SweMitf' Itunntnu bores on tho Arn ,
r Feet. f. <r tho our** of which use !’. P. K,
tLcorcatoHt Mood mcdictneon earth. All then©
d:sr. eH vield readily to the power of I*. T. P. #
giving new nfc and new strength.
euoe poison
Cured :n na worse form; scructinies in eaars
v:th Erysipelas, where the patient wan in Eter
ualfidin urd given up by the pbysi* lans. In some
fuh is Ulcer* broke out till the party
*a? a mast* of corruption: a bottle of P. P. p. was
procured, at. 1 the diabase yielded quickly.
illiEliiJlTiSi
Ar.d in all Affectn nsefthe Mood. P. P.P stands
ah.ne Hti'l unrivaled end seme of ns cure*ate
really wonderful.
I! you suffer from anytbinglikeflyphilis. Rcro
.#n]a, blood Poison, Ulcers, OM Sores, ltheiiiua
tiHfn or any disease of tho blood, bo sure and
give I. P. P a trial.
P P P. {Prickly Ash. Poke Rootnnd Potassium)
isi.o t patent iu.dicine like the many ou
the mar Set. I’* formula is nn every bottle, thus
giving a guarant* >• oi it: purity an l wholctonie
jjp.hH that no other Mood purifier does give.
For fc&' j by all druggistA,
Ltppman Bros., Wholesale Driifrgistii,
Solo Mnuufacturcrs ami Proprifetors,
Lippmau Block, Favannah, Ga,
SAW PALMETTO PREPARATIONS,
“Elixcr' 1 and “Sitcharraltd OX"
A Most Reliable R*m* ly fr the Treatment of
ail ihaoabe'b of the
THROAT, LUNGS, CHEST, ETC.
PREPARED BY
SOLOMONS & CO.,
DHUWHSTS. : SAVANNAH (iA.
B, -t-ABBOT
j;
Removes)
CORNS. / V Xvj^v 'ah,p; .
Bunions
*ND WARTS, VVITHQUjTr PAINI
(.AUDI'S TOOLM.
GARDEN TILE
—OK—
Border ‘Brr’iclls:,
GARDEN I 10.—’E.
G-a3T<d-032L Tools
tniuTmm sons,
155 Brough; on Street.
SUMMER DRINKS.
(CHAMPAGNE. Bur eels*.-i, Faust an 1 Na-
J t.onai Txport Beer* on ice. tne be*; la the
market
J. H. K. BARBOUR,
C orner Barnard and New Houmoo Streets.
Ap" i.NT> wil ior THE DAILY
•Jti Udt SISiO NEWb ooe week. deUvered
y it.) hl) part c* the city Send your ad
-Altu r cent*, to the Businesa
extice and un vc the papei deiiarod reguiariy.
* .
AT.TMAYER 8,
.ALTMAYER'S
Bill of Fare
FOR WEEK ENDIJJG_
SATDRDAY,SAY i
7c.
80 grow Purest Household Ammon is, 7c. per
bottle.
3 ’>C.
fl.ono yards StripM ami Checked Crash Towel
ing, 3}*<\ per yard.
sc.
5 cases Printed Chalk ’s at sc. per yard.
25c.
1 i'OO Turkey Rod Table C >vers, with Frmged
Kd„o, 25c. each.
61c.
1.000 pieces E.npire Dress Ginghams, per
yard.
15c.
100 dozen Gent*' Ttalbrlggan Half Hose, full
regular, m.U. clocked, price 15c. per pair.
4:C.
600 pieces White Oorded Dimity, 4e. per yard.
25c.
1.000 down Ladh s' Black, Colored and Opera
Hhatlos Silk and Lice Mitts, full length, isc. per
pair.
25c.
1.000 dozen Ladles' Lisle Thread Hose, in
Fancy Stripes, dowu to 35c, per pair.
97c.
10 down Ladles’ Pure Silk Vest*, In Black,
Blue, Cream, Pink and Cardinal, worth $i 50,
price tins week 97c.
50c.
25 pieces of our 75\ All Wool, Winch Cash
mere, IS different shades, price this week 60c.
48c.
60 dozen dents' Flannel Negligee Shirts, do* n
to iSc.
oOC.
6,000 Gents' Pure hulk Scurf** Silk Lined, the
r-rular W juu. •y, p:wo this week .150., or
inrce for si
10c.
One Grand Combination Lot Torchon Lace,
pure I,men and hand made, 1 to 4 inches wide,
price 10c.
15c.
One Grind It Cambric, Na iiM<>ok and S\i*“i
Embroidered Edging, a Job, price iVj p-r yard.
Parasols. Parasols.
Overstocked. Overstocked.
Must Unload. Most Unload.
Ail Parasols marked down 25 por cent, lower
than iHr t week'll price*.
$1 25.
o;.e \> • W inch Gloria Hilk Puraaoia, with Oold
Ifnnrilet, £i kC.
In Boys’ Clothing
Wc bate ftnyt.,in fr *rn a Linen Suit up to a
fine three-piece Velvet lire:** r*uit.
$1 25.
One Special kind for this week Boys’ Check
and Stripe Suits, mac* i to 14 yearn, price f l -‘ft;
worth $. 30.
39c.
A eoun’er filled with Ladies' Mus||o Under*
wear, iucludin< Skirts, ( berms •(>. Drawers,
Niiftt Corn" Covers efc., etc. Some
trlr. me! with Lace, some with Embroidery.
r i‘nn Tucked and P am; noun worth lass than
t ?3c.; price this week 90c.
Shoes for Ladies
Shoes for Men,
Shoes for Boys,
Shoes for Misses,
Shoes for Youths,
Shoes for Children,
Shoes for Infants,
And a.l 25c. to $2 per pair
lower ti.an same goods can
be purchased at regular shoe
store -.
OTIS
PRY GOODS.
/ a *(j|
(Successors to GRAY & O’BRJEN).
— ” 1
ALL,' h: if ITIOK
has been reached this spring in the Ele
gance and Beauty of the New
ft ’• 7/
Goods offered in the
DRY GOODS LINE
EXQUISITE TASTE
,dV O.' .
licen displayed to make every department of the bust,
ness more attractive than ever brfore, and the novelties
of this season will not be excelled in a docile of
years. In this auction it ia only by a visit to
(
Christopher Gray & Son
That tho full truth of the above statement can be realized.
IN THE COLORED SILK DEPARTMENT
We have the rarest and choicest novelties in China and
*
Japanese Silks, Plain and Fancy Silks in every shade.
BLACK SILKS
Manufactured and furnished to our order and warranted ia
every respect. In Black and Colored Dress floods every
th ,ng new and desirable on this side of the Atlantic will ba
found represented. In
WHITE GOODS!
Laces, Embroideries, Parasols, Fans, .Gloves, Hosiery and
Notions we oiler the hand omest lines we have ever been
able to show. Taken as a whole, or in detail, we challenge
the country to match this spring stock, and an examination
of the goods will convince anybody that they deserve aJL
we have said of them.
■> ,T V
HOW IS THIS FOR LOW?
V-iTJt*
5 eases of 8c White Check Nainsook at sc.
5 ba'es of Fine Sea Island worth 7c at sc.
100 dozen 40 inch Towels, worth I2ic, to be eloaad
out at s|e.
A big drive in Plaid White Mulls at 10c; worth 15c.
Hosiery Drive —Children’s regular made, solid colors,
at 121 c; worth 2 r >c.
Hosiery Bargain Ladies’ Balbriggan Hose at 25bj
good value for 50c.
A Glove Bargain— A lot of Ladies’Colored Lisle Gloves
at 1 he; worth 05c.
Ladies’ Ve ts —A big diivc in Ribbed Vests at 25c;
worth 50c.
A drive in Surah Silks at 55c, worth actually 65c.
A drive in Prin'ed China Silks at 15c; very cheap at 65c.
A drive in White Spreads at sl, $1 25 and $1 60
especially.
A.l t ent ion, Ladies.
We have just the article for you in the way of a one.
Button Jersey Jacket, in all colors. Just what you wand
for Tybco.
f-IT*Mail orders receive careful attention.
(Successors to GRAY & O’BRIEN).
5