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By DORA RUSSELL, Author of ''Footprints in the Snow;' '' The Broken Seal;' " The Track of the Storing' etc., etc. MONTREAL: JOHN LOVELL & SON, 23 St. Nicholas Street. 1949 Entered according to Act of Parliament in the year 1889, by John Lovell 6^ Son, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture and Statistics at Ottawa. % bai JEZEBEL'S FRIENDS. CHAPTER I. HIDDEN. It was a dull, dark night ; so dark that the tall cliffs round Headfort's sea-pent bay seemed but like dusky shadows in the murky air. Heedless of the gloom, a woman, carrying what to her appeared to be a heavy burden, was hurrying, about eleven o'clock, down the steep and nar- row pathway which led from the rocks to the shore. The tide was sweeping slowly in, but so deep was the gloom that she could only hear, not see, the waves break when she got to the shore. Keeping close to the foot of the cliffs, she now almost ran until she came near the centre of the wide circular bay, and then paused to breathe. Having satisfied herself that no one was near, she hastily laid down the burden which she had carried beneath her cloak — a strange burden — a long box, rolled and swathed in a woman's black gown. To this box was tied a small spade, the string of which her trembling fingers now unfastened. With this spade she began digging vigorously in the sand. ^Suddenly a vivid fiash of lightning gleamed across the sky, and for an instant lit up the strange scene. Then a loud peal of thunder broke overhead, and the girl stopped in momentary terror and crouched down. The storm had begun in earnest, and heavy rain commenced to fall. An- other flash, another peal, and with a sort of desperation the girl once more raised her head, and forced herself to begin her work anew. She had but one thought ; to bury her burden deep enough, that it might lie hidden until fhe sea gave up its dead, and the secrets of all hearts were bare. -wi;.. 4 JEZEBKVS FRIENDS, With a kind of shudder she Hftcd the black-covered box, and carried it to the edge of the grave-hke trench; and, after a moment's pause, after something l)etween a gasp and a sigli had passed her i)ale lips, she lowered it down into the hole, and began hastily to cover it u]), pausing not until the sand above it wvis level with the rest. She knelt down and with her hands flattened it; the gleaming lights darting athwart the sky, one second show- ing her figure plainly, and the next vanishing away. Then the fight above grew fiercer ; the storm-clouds warring in their wrath, and the lightning leaping out in its wild play. A moment later and the world seemed ablaze. In an in- stant the girl, kneeling on the sand, with her face now turned towards the sea, saw as in a vast panorama the whole scene around her ; the brown shaggy rocks tower- ing aloft ; the patches of verdure between their crests ; the rents and rifts on the huge rocks. The next all was darkness, and a crash so loud, so ter- rible, that the earth seemed to shake, fell on the listener's appalled ears, who uttered a cry of terror and covered her face. Then she sprang to her feet, and overwhelmed with fear, fled homewards. Just as she reached the top of the cHff another blinding flash of lightning showed plainly everything around. It showed this girl, rain-drenched, white-faced, with rigid features and wide open terrified eyes, to a man wrapped in a military cloak, wiio was walking leisurely, considering the weather, along the path at the head of the clifi's. " Ruth Forth ! it cannot be ! " Then he began hastily to follow the flying figure of the girl before him. She had seen, but not recognised him, but she saw so?neone, and this fact made her hasten on even faster than before. At last she stopped, where he had expected — feared — that she would stop; before a little house in a garden, built back from the roadway. She opened the latch of the wooden gate, and he watched her go cautiously in, and disappear amid the wet evergreens. She did not go to the front door of the house, but evidently intended to enter at the back, and the man watching her saw all this with a feeling of intense anger and astoi^ishment in his heart. ♦"If it had been the other one," he was thinking as he leaned a moment or two on the gate, " I should not have a "it Hec thr( S whin prej << hinj 6 JEZEBEVS ERIENDS, miich, for the sea will likely have swej)! it away before mornii.g, as the tide was coming in ; and even if il hasn't, who can identify a common little spade?" The young sister made no answer. She drew her lips tightly together, and forced back some words she knew would but add lo her sister's anxiety. lUit long after Frances Forth had left her, she lay awake, pale and trem- bling, thinking of the forgotten spade. "How could I? how could 1?" she moaned, in bitter self-reproach, tossing uneasily on her bed. *' And it may be traced— i)oor b'ranics does not know ; if it is, it will kill me, I think. 1 could Init die." CHAPTER II. COLONEL FORTH. The morning was fine afier the storm ; one of those blue- skied, bright mornings when the air is fresh and exhilarat- ing, and the still wet leaves glisten in the sun. And at eight o'clock precisely, Colonel Forth, the occupier of the little house in the garden in Headfort's High-street, and the father of Frances and Ruth Forth, descended to the dining-room, and frowned severely when he found that breakftist was not as ready for him as he was for breakfast. He was a widower with two daughters, and his marriage had been a mistake. He married a handsome girl for her beauty, and the beauty had soon waned, and the poor wo- man had nothing left to fall back upon, for she had neither mental nor monetary attractions, and the Colonel felt that he had thrown himself away, and was not above broadly hinting this to his wife. Perhaps she took his insinuations to heart ; but she died early, and then Colonel Forth grumbled at her loss. When he had to seek a settled home for them after he left the regiment, he fixed on Headfort, for one reason because he had an old acquaintance living in the neighbor- hood, for another the houses were cheap there, and for a third the place possessed a fort and a small garrison. He had been a soldier all his life, and he felt that neither he n'or the uirls could exist without the fiimiliar sights and before , hasn't, her lips e knew ig after d trem- n bitter . it may , it will )se bliie- xliilarat- And at :r of the eet, and 1 to the ind that reakfast. narriage ■1 for her )oor wo- 1 neither felt that broadly nuations el Forth after he } reason leighbor- md for a ;on. He either he ghts and JKZEIiEVS FRIENDS. y sounds. But lu' found it dull, very dull. Accustomed to active work, a strict (jfficer, and a man who went into the smallest details al)»/iii everything, he did not know what to do with his time in this (juiet ])lace. "A ccjnfoundedgossipping place, too," the Colonel desig- nated Ileadfort, before he iiad been there a coupL' of months. The Forths were indeed naturally much talked of; the girls were handsome, and there were oiher girls who were ready to lling a stone at their new neighbors and wonder what i)eo])le saw in them to admire. " Jiut then the old ('olonel is always running after the men, and asking them to the house," they would say ; and they thus accounted for the fact tliat the officers of the garrison were very frequently to be seen in Miss Forth's j)retty drawing-room. For il n 'as i)retty, though Miss Hilliard, the banker's daughter, wondered how they could contrive to turn round in it. But Miss Hdliard lived in one of the big houses of lieadfort, and naturally looked down on the dimensions of Colonel Forth's small one. But in the meanwhile, Susan, the young housemaid of the establishment, having b/ the Colonel's command rapped at Miss Ruth's door, now returned to the dining- room, where her master sat fuming. '* Oh, please, sir, Miss Rutli said 1 was to say she would be down directly ; but she has been so put about by the thunder; and, please, sir, she sent the key, and said you were to make tea, and not to wait." " To wait ! No, I should think not. Confound it," roared the Colonel, his red face turning to a vermilion tint as he snatched the key of the tea caddy from Susan's hand ; and while he was proceeding to make tea for himself his youngest daughter walked into the room in a white dressing-gown, with her soft, pretty light-brown hair rolled up in a somewhat disorderly knot at the top of her head. "■ I am sorry I am late, father," she said, in a sweet low-toned voice ; *' but the storm last night frightened me so." " Absurd ! Why should the storm frighten you? Ruth, is there no bacon, or eggs, or something fit to eat ? Or am I expected to breakfast on dry bread ? " " I will see about it," answered Ruth, and she went into the kitchen to order her father's breakfast, and after a little while the Colonel was able to appease his appetite ; paus- 8 JEAEIiEVS I'RIENDS, ing once or twice wliilc doing so, however, to look disap- provingly on the i)rctly face o])posite to him. " VVliiit's the matter nit'i you, Ruth, this morning?" he presently asked, sharply, still eyeing his daughter. "You look as if you'd seen a ghost or something, I declare you do ! You are a i)retty washed-out looking creature." "The stoim was so dreadful," said Ruth, while a deep wave of color stole to the white face her fatherwas finding fault with. "'{'he storm? Fiddle-de-dee! What harm could the storm do you? It's cleared the air, and a very good thing, too ; I declare, you girls are no better than cowards." " I am always afraid — I cannot help it." " You got it from your poor mother, 1 believe ; she was one of those nervous, ridiculous women who are afraid of everything. Was Frances afraid, too? " " Yes, I am going to take her breakfast up now."' " Absurd ! girls lying in bed to breakfast, utterly absurd : I like to see girls come down to breakfast in neat morning gowns, and not bedgowns like that white thing you've on." " Well, I'm generally dressed, father, but 1 am late this morning," said Ruth. *' Late ! I should think so," and the Colonel looked at his watch. " By-the-bye, Ruth, I saw Seaforth last night in the billiard-room, and he said he was going to call this morning about you and Frances driving over with him to Sudley to-morrow, so I asked him to lunch ; therefore you had better see about ordering something decent, and get off that bedraggled article you are wearing." Again Ruth blushed deeply, but this time she made no answer. Nevertheless she at once obeyed her father's orders, and presently went into the garden, and began cut- ting some flowers. While she was doing this, a young man in undress uniform rode past the railings in front, and on seeing Ruth in the garden, at once drew rein. "Good morning, Miss Ruth," he said in a pleasani cheery voice, " I'm coming in to lunch by-and-bye, d'ye know ? the Colonel asked me." " I know," answered Ruth, with a bright smile and a blush, and she carried her flowers close to the railings. " What an awful storm we hadlast night," continued the young man on the horse, looking with his smiling eyes at the girl's downcast face. " D'ye know, I thought of you, Miss Ruth, and wondered if you were in a fright?" disap- ?"he "You c you II L deep Hiding Id the thing, , »» >• lie was raid ul bsurd ; lorning ^e on." Lte this )ked at t night all this him to )re you md get lade no 'ather's ;an cut- young nt, and yE/EBEL'S FRIENDS. " You might have been sure I was," answered Ruth. '* Yoti told nie you liatcd it; l)Ut you've got some very jolly llowc. 'I' —1 woiuler ifyou would spareonea rose ? '' Paith laugli d, and Jicr hiugh was sweet and low, like her voice. " Hello ! " This was suddenly addressed to a man in a groom's dress, who was seen approaching up the street at some distance. " Here's my servant, Aliss Ruth. 1 say d'ye think that I might let him take my horse, and come in now instead of after? It's awfully jolly in the garden here, and we can have a chat until the Colonel arrives." " If you like, of course you can come in," answered Ruth ; and the young soldier at once dismounted and flung the reins of his horse to his groom, and having opened the latch of the garden gate, was speedily walking by Ruth's side among the wet lilac bushes and laurels which grew round Colonel Forth's little house. He had a good face, this Kenard Seaforth, whom Colonel Forth had asked to take lunch with his daughters, and whom the gossips at Headfort said he would not object to have for a son-in-law. A '"'ice which, though not absolutely handsome, impressed you favorably as to its owner's character. His features were straight, and his eyes smiling, honest, and clear. He had, moreover, a cer- tain well-bred look, which is not easily assumed. He was tall, erect, and slim, and looked very happy as he walked by Ruth Forth's side, keeping somewhat unnecessarily close to her slender form. An only son of General Seaforth, and a senior lieutenant in the — th Regiment, two companies of which were stationed at Headfort, he was supposed to be fairly well off in this world's goods, and he was a very frequent guest at Colonel Forth's. And it was Ruth Forth, not the beautiful elder sister, whom he admired. ileasanv e, d'ye and a igs. ued the eyes at of you, CHAPTER HI. COLONEL KENYON. The following day Colonel Forth and his two daughters, Ruth and Frances, visited Sudley Park on the invitation ■n i-^ to JEZEBEV^ FRIENDS, of Colonel Kenyon, their escort being Mr. Seaforth ai.d Major Audley. Sudley Park was one of those old ancestral homes, sur- rounded by great trees, planted hundreds of years ago by those whose children's children still live on and own the lard. Colonel Kenyon came of a long line, and around his place hung many memories of bye-gone days. There is a nameless air of dignity somehow about these grey stone houses, where generations and generations of gently born men and women have lived and died. We can buy most of things now-a-days, old houses among them, but they never seem quite the same in fresh hands. Better men may come ; truer gentlemen perhaps; for the time- worn ivied walls may have hidden evil deeds and corrupted lives. But the romance seems to die in the transfer ; the glamor to pass away, when the ancient name goes and the new one echoes under the roof-tree. " He is D good fellow," most men said of Colonel Kenyon. " He is a darling," many gushing women said. " He has a noble heart," the few said who could under- stand that unusual phenomenon. A slight shade of disappointment passed over his face when he recognized Ruth Forth sitting by Major Audley's side, but he at once advanced to assist her from the dog- cart. *'And your sister?" he said, as he helped her down from the high seat. " She is behind with my father and Mrs. Seaforth," an- swered Ruth, and at once the cloud passed away from his brow. '' The sun is smiHng for us, isn't it ? " he said, in that pleasant way of his. " I am so glad that you all have been able to come." Sudley was looking its very best, and Sudley's best meant a fair picture. Frances Forth thought this, and smiled with proud con- sciousness. There had been something in Colonel Kenyon's manner as lie handed her down from Seaforth's dog-cart ; a tenderness, an eagerness, that to her who knew so well how to read such signs, meant very much. He escorted Frances through the house, and as they went down the terrace steps, he asked her if she would like to join the tennis players. << JEZEBEL'S FRIENDS. II rth aid les, sur- ; ago by own the around There jse grey )f gently can buy lem, but Better he time- orrupted 5fer ; the goes and Colonel Id under- his face Audley's the dog- ler down )rth," an- from his I, in that lave been ley's best roud con- [Kenyon's log-cart ; so well as they rould like ** I have kept one of the courts unoccupied for you," he said, "and I thought your were never coming." She raised her charming face to his, and smiled her charming smile. " I am not going to play to-day," smiled Frances. " I am going to be a walltlower and sit under a tree." "But why?" asked Colonel Kenyon, wiio was very fond of tennis, and had set his heart upon playing with Frances. I have slightly sprained my ankle, so I am only going to look on ; but don't mind me ; you play, 1 shall watch you." " No, I won't play unless you do. Where will you sit? " Frances chose her seat beneath 7 great oak, the mighty boughs forming a green canopy overhead, and the vast gnarled trunk a picturesque background for the fair face as she leaned her bright chestnut hair against it. Colonel Kenyon threw himself on tlie grassy knoll at her feet, and lay there thinkmg how !)eautiful she was, while his other guests exchanged many a subdued smile at his expense. '' He's a fool for his pains," said one : " she'll lead him a fine dance." And there was one young passionate heart among those around rankled with jealousy, as he watched Frances Forth smile on the middle-aged man lying at her feet. This was Arthur Beaton, a young soldier who had but recently joined the army, and who had fallen madly in love, almost at first sight, with the lovely face that Colonel Kenyon also so greatly admired. He was a tall, handsome, dark young man, with marked features, and eyes that betrayed strong, impetuous feelings, and also some high aspirations and aims. " I suppose it's my duty to go and look after the others," &<■ last said Colonel Kenyon ; " yet I never felt any duty so hard." *' I wish it was not your duty," answered Frances. " Do you really wish that? " asked Colonel Kenyon in a low, earnest tone. " Yes," said the sweet voice he loved to hear. '* Well, it won't always be my duty, Frances ; some day we shall have time to talk together alone." Then, after a few more words, he went away to see after his other guests. A minute later, however, she glanced back, and caught young Beaton's eager, jealous eyes. He 12 JEZEBEVS FRIENDS. accepted that look as an invitation, and at once went to her side. " Why did you not come to talk to me before ?" she asked, looking up in his gloomy face. " I have been watching you ever since you came in, wondering if you were going to say a word to me." *' And hovv many words do you want?" said the beau- tiful woman to the eager, passionate boy. " As many as the stars." Once more she smiled, looking at the grey, ardent eyes gazing up at her. CHAPTER IV. RUTH S LOVERS. Ruth Forth was certainly rot a coquettish girl. She was annoyed at the persistency with which Major Audley continued walking by her side, and she saw too that his presence worried Seaforth, whose sweet temper was not quite proof against what he considered Audley's somewhat unjustifiable conduct. And by way of getting rid of his senior officer, he presently suggested that they should go into the refreshment pavilion, and thither Major Audley also accompanied them. " Suppose we go quietly away now, raid so get rid of Audley ? " suggested Seaforth. Ruth was only too glad to comply. The room was pretty full, and Audley did not see them go ; and only when he looked round did he perceive they had disappeared. But by this time Ruth and Seaforth had quitted the Pavi- lion, and were walking in a shady part of the grounds near it which joined a pretty wood. " Has anything been worrying you lately, Miss Ruth? " he asked. *' Somehow you have not seemed yourself — will you tell me ? " A little tremor passed over Ruth's frame, but she did not speak. '* I want you to understand," went on Seaforth, " there is no one I like half so well, and if you could like me a little bit " W.ZEBEVS FRIENDS. n Still Ruth did not speak ; her head fell a HtUe lower, and her small hand tvv'tched, but that was all. '^ And when I get my company, do you think you would marry me? — it would make me very hajjpy." Ruth's breast began to heave and her lips to tremb^ ", as she listened to these words. Then quite suddenly she turned round and faced her lover, looking full at his face with her grey eyes. " Do you really care for me very much ? " she asked. " I really do ; don't you know I do ? " " I have hoped so, I have wished so," and now her eyes fell, '' but " "I won't hear any Mnits.' Ruth," and he bent closer, and his breath passed over her check ; " if you care for me, I care for you awfully, and we'll get married ; no one shall part us now." And these simple words were sweeter to the girl's heart than any other words could be. She sat there beside him, feeling a subtle joy in that near presence ; a sense of rest- fulness and trust in the stronger nature, and in the know- ledge that he had at last spoken of his love. " No one shall part us now," went echoing like sweet music through her soul ; '' no one shall part us now." Yet a few minutes later, a dark shadow was already stealing over hei newly-found happiness. Major Audley had left the Pavilion to seek for Ruth and Seaforth, and, to his great annoyance, could not find them on the crowded lawn. He went into the shady, silent wood, and saw, without being seen, a girl and a young man sitting side by side, saw him stoop down and kiss the sweet up-raised face, and at that sight a pang, fierce, dark and vindictive, shot through Major Audley 's heart. '' Ah, my little lady," he thought, with curling lip, " I'll soon stop all this," and he turned away with a lowering brow, and as he did so, Ruth gave a little shudder, she knew not why. 14 JEZEBEL'S FRIENDS. CHAPTER V. PARENTAL PLEASURE. Without unnecessary delay, Colonel Kenyon visited Frances Forth at her jfather's house, hoping she had en- joyed her visit of the previous day. " Yes," she said, " I am always happy with you." " Are you really ? " exclaimed the delighted soldier. Then, impetuously, " Frances, will you be my wife, the darling of my home ? " '' Yes," she said, drawing a long breath, and turning a little pale. " If your father is in the house I shall speak to him at once," said Colonel Kenyon's pleasant tones ; and the next moment a little tap came to the dining-room door. "Come in," cried Colonel Forth, and an instant later Colonel Kenyon entered. " Ah, Kenyon, is that you? " said Colonel Forth, rising, flinging down the newspaper, and holding out his red hairy hand; " I didn't hear you come in." " I've been here more than an hour, my dear fellow," answered Kenyon ; and then with a little effort he continu- ed, " We've been old friends, and good friends, Forth ; have we not ? " " There's no mistake about that," replied Forth. '' But I'm going to put your friendship to a strong test," went on Kenyon, with some emotion. " I am going to ask you to give me one whom I am sure is the greatest treasure of your home, to be the greatest treasure of mine." Colonel Forth could scarcely conceal his delight at the prospect of getting rid of his "treasure." " You mean " he said, and paused. "I mean your beautiful Fran, es ; she has promised to be my wife, if you will give your consent, which I earnestly hope you will do. I love her very dearly, as I have loved no other, and I believe she is too pure and noble to marry me unless she gave me some return." JEZE^RT:^ ERIr..VDS. Il lllow," tinu- orth ; test," jng to jatest re of It the id to lestly loved larry "Good heavens!" thought Forth, "what utter fools men iu love are, to l)e sure." But he only smiled grimly, and then began to consider if il would be necessary to ask his future son-in-law to dinner, and what were tht- probable contents of the larder. "And when did you settle all this? " he asked, after a few moments' retiection. "Only this afternoon. I hoped to have found an oppor- tunity yesterday of speaking to Frances, but could find none. But something in her manner " " Made you think she wouldn't say no, I suppose ? " said Colonel Forth, in a way that he meant to be facetious. "And what about this evening? Will you stay and take pot-luck with us, as you lovers won't like to be parted, you know, even if you run the risk of a bad dinner instead of a good one ? " and again he smiled. " I shall be delighted to stay," answered Colonel Ken- yon, who would gladly have gone without any dinner to be near Frances. In an ordinary way he was a man, how- ever, who liked a good dinner fairly well ; that is he had a good appetite, and he was always pleased to see people enjoy themselves at his table. In the meanwhile, as her father and lover talked of her, Frances had gone upstairs to tell Ruth that Colonel Ken- yon was to dine with them, and to announce her engage- ment. Ruth was reading when she went into the room, and the younger sister laid down her book and looked up inquir- ingly. " Allow me to present to you," said Frances, with a little mocking bow, " Mrs. Kenyon, of Sudley Park ! " "No! is it possible? I believe you are joking!" answered Ruth, starting to her feet. " I am not, I assure you ; Colonel Kenyon has asked me to be his wife ; I have accepted him, and our beloved father has given me his parental blessing^ ! " " Oh ! Frances ! " Ruth caught her sister in her arms as she uttered these words, and agam and again kissed her cheek. Then the two sisters for a moment looked at each other, and both their expressions changed, and with a sort of impatient sigh, Frances shook herself loose of her sister's arms. "It's all done and settled," she said, "and there is no need to speak of what is past." 16 JEZEBELS FRIENDS, And when Colonel Kenyon left the little house, when the moonlight was shining on the lilac bushes and labur- num trees which grew around it, his heart was full of joy and love. " I have more than I deserve," he thought tenderly, looking upwards at the luminous sky ; " but I shall try to make her happy; I pray God as long as I live, that no trouble shall ever touch her life." CHAPTER VI. PARENTAL DISPLEASURE. \rir^ The most unexpected things, as we all know, constantly occur, but certainly Lieutenant Kenard Seaforth received a very great and a very unpleasant surprise when he heard from his parents after he had written to tell them of his engagement to Ruth Forth. He was an only son, and had some reason to suppose himself a dearly beloved one. He had always been on the best of terms with his father, and had never exceeded his allowance, and the general was indeed supposed to be not a little proud of his '' boy." He had therefore written with happy confidence to both his father arid mother. Ruth knew that he had written, and the two young people were naturally anxious for the letters which to them meant so much. Seaforth therefore first tore his father's letter hastily open, and to his consternation read as follows : — • *' Dear Kenard, — Your mother and I have received your letters announcing your engagement with Miss Forth, and I may as well tell you at once that I highly disapprove of it. I knew Colonel Forth sHghtly when he commanded the — th Regiment, and he was not a popular man. His daughter, or daughters, also, have not a very enviable repu- tation. I remember one of them in India, and though she was a handsome showy girl, she was certainly not a person 1 should wish to see my son's wife. You are also in no position to marry, and I should certainly not increase your aUovrance, even if I continued it, in the event of your carrying out your engagemont with Miss Forth. In fact, my dear boy, I earnestly entreat you to get out of it as '(?.; jezb:bei:s friends. 17 e, when i labur- I of joy snderly, II try to that no nstantly received le heard n of his suppose been on xceeded sd to be written mother. people n meant letter ows : — ed your th, and rove of nanded His "le repu- (igh she ]person in no ^e your your In fact, If it as -ivt hono'ably as you can. Colonel Forth is known to be a poor man, ?.nd I shall gladly advance any sum (in moderation) as an honorarium to the young lady for any disapi)ointment she may feci. Your mother cordially agrees with me, and she will tell you more of the Indian gossip about the Miss Forths than 1 care to enter into. *' Trusting you will act on the advice of one to whom your welfare and happiness are of the utmost inportance. " I remain, " Your affectionate father, "John K. Slaforth." This was not a pleasant letter, it must be admitted, for a young and ardent lover to receive. Kenard Seaforth's affection for Ruth was strong and true, and was founded on the undoubted mutual sympathy which existed between them. Fie, therefore, felt very indignant at his father's words, and not at all inclined to be led or influenced by them. But, on the subject of his allowance, he was forced to consider. He knew very well he could not live in the regiment on his pay as an unmarried man, and that to marry on it was simply impossible. What, therefore, was he to do? he asked himself, and his heart answered that at all events he would be loyal to his love, and to his word. Then he opened his moi'her's letter. This was very dif- ferent handwriting to the general's bold, strong penman- ship. Mrs. Seaforth was a gentle, delicate little woman, and her writing was very expressive of her nature. She commenced more affectionately than the father : — *' Mv Darling Kenard, — " Your dear father and I have both been made very unhappy by your last letter, in which you tell us you are engaged to one of Colonel Forth's daughters. Dearest Kenard, I remember Colonel Forth very well, and he was considered a most disagreeable man. I remember Miss Forth also, and I regret to say there were some very scandalous things said of her. Of course, I do not say they were all true, but still a girl is seldom very much talked of without cause. She and Lord Walter Gre- ville of the Dragons were terribly talked of at Simla last year just before Colonel Forth retired. This was the eldest Miss Forth, I believe ; but still, my dear, consider what a sad ex- ample this young girl, to whom you say you are engaged must have had ever before her eyes ! My darling boy, a wife from such a family is no fit wife for you. You are sensitive, t^ yEZEBEVS FRIENDS, proud, and affectionate, Kenard, and how should you like to have your wife's name si)oken lightly of? Take the advice, dearest, of your loving mother, and break off this affair while there is yet time. Your father will pay any sum rather than you should be entangled in such a mar- riage, for money is nothing to the misery it would certainly end in. I hope some day to kiss your wife's face, for we wish you to marry, dear, if you marry suitably, but I could not bear to kiss or love Miss Forth. I do not like writing against anyone, but I feel it is my duty to do so in this case, and I remain, my darling, darling boy, ever your loving mother "Lucy Seaforth." CHAPTER VII. MAJOR AUDLEY. Kenard Seaforth's good-looking, pleasant face flushed deeply more than once as he read his mother's letter. It was inexpressibly painful to him, for he was, as she said, sensitive, and it galled him terribly that it. should have been possible for her to write such words. He quite understood, too, how this could be, for he was man of the world enough to know that Frances Forth had probably deserved a good deal of what was said of her. But his feeling for Ruth remained untouched as he laid his mother's letter down, exactly as it had remained untouched after perusing his father's epistle. " It is utterly unjust," he thought. " If she is -not good and pure and true, then I'm a fool. But they admit they have never seen her ; yet they would allow the gossip about one sister to ruin the happiness of the other." But his parents' letters put him, to say the least of it, in a most embarrassing position. He wrote to ask Ruth if she would meet him the same afternoon in some fields where they had sometimes met before *' You have heard from your people ? " she said quickly, as they clasped each other's hands, and she looked up with heightened color and eager eyes into his face. JEZEBELS FRIENDS, «9 you like akc the off this pay any 1 a mar- :ertainly ;, for we I could : writing o in this er your iRTH. » flushed tter. It she said, uld have [e quite n of the l^robably he laid jmained ^ot good nit they gossip of it, in le same les met [uickly. Iked up For she understood wiih unerring instinct, the moment she saw him, that he had no good news to tell. ** Vcs, I've heard," lie said; "and my father is not inclined to increase my allowance — it has put me out very much." Ruth's face flushed, and a cold chill pang seemed to pass through her heart. " If it's only about money ," she said falteringly. " Of course it's only about money," Seaforth replied hastily, as she paused ; " but if you will wait a little while, Ruth?" " Need you ask that, Kenard? " They were walking i'"* a long, shady lane, " by a corn- field-side a-ilutter with poj^pies," and looked as they went a good looking, hap')y young pair with long years of ]oy in front of them. And they were happy though in each heart was a secret source of anxiety. Seaforth could not quite forget the letters of his father and mother, and Ruth had her own private cares. Still the sweet knowledge that they loved and were beloved made both find this a pleasant hour. And as they walked on, talking as those talk between whom there is the tender tie the eye betrays, they suddenly encountered at a turn of the roadway Major Audley, who was riding, and who sharply pulled up his horse when he met them. "Taking a country walk, Miss Ruth?" he said, as he raised his cap. " Yes, it is such a fine day," answered Ruth, who felt he was blushing. " Charming for ruralising. You and Seaforth seem rather fond of that kind of thing." " I don't believe you care a bit for the coimtry, Audley," ■said Seaforth, who felt somewhat nettled at the other's tone. " Oh ! don't I? Well, if you'll ride back the mare I'll have great pleasure in walking home with Miss Ruth." *' Thank you, have no wish to make the exchange," answered Seaforth, flushing. " I dare say not. Well, Miss Ruth, I've heard a piece of news — I must congratulate you." " And what is the news ? " asked Ruth, looking up at him. *' That your sister is going to marry Colonel Kenyon. \ met Colonel Forth in the village, and he told me." 20 'JEZEBEL'S FRIENDS. "Yes ; they arc engaged, 1 believe." "She's a very fortun;Ue young lady, then; Kenyon has everything a woman's heart could desire." And lie gave a little laugh. Major Aiidley admired Ruth Forth, and he secretly, bitterly resented " her ilirtation," as he called it, with Suaforth, which alike wounded his vanity and stimulated his love. They had been introduced to her at the same time, and the elder man, in the roving life that he had led, had been accustomed to easy con(|uests. But from the first Ruth evidently i)referred Seaforth, and this angerd Audley, who did not Hke his junior to be preferred before him. And now a cruel chance had flung Ruth into his power. He believed little in men and less in women, and a hard smile crept round his coarse lips, as he thought he could now force her to do whatever he chose to ask her. \ CHAPTER Vni. A TRYST. On returning home Ruth's maid told her Colonel Kenyon was in the drawing-room, and added : — " And please, miss, one of the soldier servants has just left this note for you." Ruth took the offered note in her hand, and immediately recognised the hand-writing of Major Audley. She at once tore it open, and her face grew very pale as she read the brief words. " Dear Miss Ruth, — I have got something to say to you which requires no listeners, so will you be as kind to me to-morrow as you were to Seaforth to-day ? Will you in fact meet me, where I met you with him this afternoon ? I should not venture to ask you this if I had not a grave reason for doing so \ but believe me that I have, for a secret which concerns your sister's happiness and your own has strangely enough come to my knowledge. Shall we say three o'clock for our tryst ? I shall not expect to hear from you, but to see you. With kind regards, " Yours very sincerely, " R. Audley." JKZKHEVS FRIKNDS. •I nyon has .1 he gave secretly, it, with Limulated the same e had led, from the is angerd ed before lis power, id a hard he could r. Kenyon has just lediately ry pale as |ay to you id to me |11 you in ;ernoon ? a grave /•e, for a '^our own )hall we :t to hear )LEY." .-«**. Ruth turned faint and cold while she read Major Aud- ley's note, and she fuiishcd it and then re-read it, she abso- lutely leaned against the banister for support. What could he mean ? 'I'hen suddenly a memory flashed across her brain, which sent a (piii.k dart of violent pain and terror through her heart. She remembered on the night of the storm, as she had struggled up the steep path from the bay, that when she had reached the highest step a vivid flash of lightning had sh(Aved her for a moment the figure of a man approaching her, and that she had fled on more quickly in consequence. Could this have been Major Audley ? And she remembered, too, with fresh fear, something he had said at Colonel Kenyon's garden party ; that he had kept a secret for her, and therefore that sue should not have grudged him a rose. And there had been something in his manner, too — a shade of suppressed insolence, the very recollection of wh'ch now brought a burning blush to her pale cheeks. As one miserable imagt after the other passed through her brain, she heard Coionel Kenyon leave the house, and a few moments later Frances came gaily into the room and held out her white and slender hand as she approached Ruth. "See, my dear," she said, '' part of my price! " Then Ruth looked up and saw the glittering ring on the third finger in token of the troth plight. And Ruth sat still, and thought her bitter thoughts, tried to determine what to do, and could see no way out of her terrible dilemma. If she refused to meet Major Audley, she did not know what ill in his anger he might do ; and if she did meet him, Seaforth might hear of it and believe her to be both false and deceitful. But she was afraid of Audley, and dare not run the risk of offending him. At last she decided it was better to hear what he had to say. And when the next morning dawned, after a restless and miserable night, she still kept to this resolution. Then the question rose in her mind : — Should she leave any message with Frances or the maid if Seaforth should chance to call ? She asked herself this again and again, and finally decided to leave it to chance. She had seen him yesterday, and they had not settled when they should meet again. Therefore, he probably would not come to- •i JliZEliKL \S IKII.NDS, day; and without saying anything to Francos, who would no doubt think she was going on some housekeci)ing business, she quietly left the liouse about acjuarter to three o'clock, and soon found JierseH" ai)pr()aching the lane where but yesterday she had been so ha])i)y. CHAPTER IX. THE SECRET. But now Ruth did not look at the fields of green waving corn, or the scarlet poppies ; she walked (juickly on wth bent head and fast-beating heart, and ])resently on one ot the gateways into the fields she saw Major Audley sitting on the topmost rail of a gate, smoking a cigar. He threw this away, and jumped down immediately he saw her, and at once walked forward to meet her. "• Good morning," he said, with his hard smile, holding out his hand. " You were surprised to get my letter, 1 dare say ? " he continued, as he joined her, and they walked on together. "Yes," ans"^ered Ruth, in a low, faltering tone. *' But you will be more surprised when you hear what I have got to say," he went on, hitting out at the tall nettles which grew on the roadside with his stick, in a manner which betrayed a certain nervousness very unusual to him. *' I cannot conceive what you have got to say, nor why you should ask me to meet you here ? " said Ruth, pluck- ing up some courage. Again Major Audley smiled his hard, cold smile, but did not speak for a moment or two, as if he were consider- ing what words he should use. " I shall begin then by asking you," he said, quietly, " if you remember the storm last Tuesday night ? " A burning scarlet blush instantly dyed Ruth's face. *' It — it was a bad storm," she said, in a strangely altered voice. " Very. I had been dining that evening with the Fords at Witham, and between half-past eleven and a quarter to twelve o'clock I was walking home by the cliff walk. The i yE/ElUi !. 'S I-KIENDS. «3 1 would keejjing to three ic where waving on w'th I one ot ^ sitting e threw ler, and holding .letter, 1 id they what I nettles manner ual to lor why pluck- ile, but )nsider- juietly, :e. altered Fords .rter to The storm was tlu'n at its height, and the liglitniiig extremely vivid; and as 1 approached the steep path tut through the rock down to tlie l)ay, ti»ere was a tremendous tlash, and this flash showed me very jjjaiiily tlie form and face of Miss Ruth Forth, who was coming up the little path from the shore. Is this so? " " No, no," gasped Ruth, who had listened to his words in momentarily increasing terror. '• Miss Ruth, it is useless to deny this; I saw you as distinctly as I see you now, and I followed you home to make assurance d()ul)ly sure. And I saw you go into your garden, and steal into the l)ack entrance, by the house — ■ and then I turned away — I wanted to know what you had been doing. I thought you had been meeting someone, and I went down to the cliff walk to see." No words came from Ruth's white parted lips. She ceased walking ; her limbs seemed powerless. " I went down," contiimed Audley, in a low concentrated voice, fixing his full light eyes on her quivering face, " and the lightning showed me the way. It was dangerous work, though, down those slippery steps, and you must have great courage ; but I got down all right, and I met no one ; but as I walked round the bay, close under the cliffs, I nearly stumbled and fell over something lying on the sand. Can you guess what that was. Miss Ruth? " Still Ruth did not speak; she stood as if turned to «tone. *' I stooped down and picked it up, and again the light- ning befriended me ; it was the little spade I have seen in your garden; the little spade that last Sunday afternoon Seaforth carved your name on. t have it now." Ruth started as if someone had struck her, and clasped both her hands on her breast. " You understand now why I asked you to come here," went on Audley, with hard determination, " and how, at least, you owe me something for having breathed this into no one's ears but your own ? But let me finish my story ; I i)icked up the spade, and I instantly understood you had taken it there on such a night for some purpose. I deter- mined to find out what that purpose was, and I did." Something between a gasp and a cry now fell on his ears, but the man continued his tale, though he knew he was rending the girl's heart. 24 yEZEBEUS FRIENDS. " I marked the spot with a stick where I had found the spade, and I carried the si)ade away with me up to the Fort, and when I got there I examined it again, and saw I had made no mistake. Then I got a lantern, and carried it and the spade back to the shore, and — shall I go on ? I dug up. Miss Ruth, what you had buried there. I " He stopped, for Ruth had suddenly fallen forward, and he caught her in his arms. " Listen to me." he said, half-sternly, half-tenderly, " and you need not be afraid." But Ruth in her horror and anguish began to stagger feebly on. " 1 asked you to meet me," continued Audley, uncon- sciously tightening his grasp on the small hand, " that I might tell you that ail folly must end between you and Seaforth ; I won't have it, Ruth — you know very well I like you, and you must break with him entirely." *' I cannot ! I cannot ! Major Audley, I cannot ! " "But you 7nust r^ said Audley, passionately, almost roughly, and he grasped her arm as he spoke ; " my bar- gain is this, and if you keep to your share of it, I shall keep