CHAPTER VIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 210, 9 July 1887, Page 6

CHAPTER VI II.

A SUHI'IUSIN'U DTSC'OVr.RY. Rury slipped out of tho drawing-room again to take tho poet's mcbsago to Mr Rusrgles, bub she was waylaid in tho hall by Edmund Carpenter, who said that he wished to introduce her to a friend ; and before she was aware of his intention, he had led her back into the centre of the merry group of young people, from whom it was impossible to get away for some time. She felt uneasy and anxious until she saw Mr Whit Held quietly leave the room, and knew that he had gone to meet his eccentric visitor, and then she gave herself up to the enjoyment of the moment, and soon became so absoi bed in the merriment surrounding her that she almost forgot tho amusing episode of a half-hour previous, until a suppressed titter behind her caused her to turn around, when she was astonished and somewhat/ dismayed to behold Mr Owen Ruggles seated upon an elegant blue velvet chair in a conspicuous portion of the room, anl gazing upon the gay and brilliant scene about him'with a face explosive of mingled wonder and enjoyment. Edmund Carpenter, who had remained by her fade, also turned at the same moment, and she saw him give a violent start, while he flushed hotly, and a dark frown settled over his face. He took a step forward, as if to go to the man ; then, suddenly changing his mind, he turned his back squarely upon him, as if desirous of a\oiding his notice. Ruby'b first thought was for her proudspirited sister ; but' a glance showed her surrounded by a coterie of literary people, and she knew .she had not yet espied hor uninvited guest. She then set her keen little wits 'to woik to devise some way of ■entieiug him from tho place, without wounding lain or attracting attention. She slipped quietly away fiom her friends, and gliding over to whore Mr Ruggles sat, asked him\f he had seen Mr Whittield. Yes, ho told her, the poeb had come to him, talked with him a tew moments, and then written hi.-* name in a little book that he had " brought along on purpose." "" I wouldn't part w ith it for a thousand -dollars, mUs,' 5 he "aid, fumbling in his pocket for it to show her. "I come thieo hundred miles to g.-t it, and I'm tho proudest man in the city to-night, (iucss I've left it in the other room, alter ail," he added, lib he did not seem to find it. " I'll get it before I I couldn't leave without saying good-bye to you, mi^s, and thanking you for being so kind 1 saw you in heie, but didn't like to Mep in between you and your fi iencls, tat down to wait until you weie free. I bha'n'b forget your kindness, you may be sure." ** You are very welcome to what little I have done," Ruby replied, smiling; "and now, since you are so fond of Mr Whitiield's poems, wouldn't you like to ccme ■with me and look at some pictiueb which illustrate some of them '!" •Tmafiaidit will put you out, besides you from your friends,"' returned Mr "Rugbies, doubtfully. " Oh, no ; it will be a pleasure," and, without waiting for further objections, Ruby led him back to the library. There she showe 1 him several fine eneravings, amon'j which theie were two or three scenes taken from poems which he particularly admii cd. Ho appeared greatly interested, and while talking about them, repeated some rtaiv/as in his quaint, homely •way, which showed that he both understood and appieciated their peculiar heauty. " I never saw any one more fond of Mr Whitfields poems than you are," Ruby said, smiling at him, after one of these re. citations. " I couldn't help liking them, for my Anna used to read them to me by the hour, during that last year of her life, and when she got too weak to hold the book, l used to read them to her," he said, slyly brushing a tear from his eyes. , " You have a right to love them, then," the young girl ant-wcred, in a tone of sympathy ; " but," as a sudden thought occurred to her, "what edition have you, Mr Ruggles ?" "It is the di'mond, I believe ; it's a homely' Utt!ft book, and it's 'most worn out, but I wouldn't pcvL't- with it for a whole handful of di'monds." . i " Of course nob ; it must be very Sacred to you. But, if you will allow me, 1 should like to give you an edition that is illustrated," Ruby said hesitatingly *, adding : *' I have two, and I know you would enjoy it, while it would please me to know that you had it." *' Well, now, that is what 1 call mighty kind, and I such a stranger to you. I'm sure you've used me handsome to-night, and I sha'nb forget it,' he answered, with an earnestness that touched her deeply. She excused herself for a few moments, and ran up to her own room, where, after taking from her book-case a handsomely fcound volume, she retraced her steps to present it to her new acquaintance. Aj she reached the library door again she found it ajar, while she heard an angry, excited voice say : '* Whatever brought you here, of all places in the world ?" Then Mr Ruggles explained why he had come. *' It was the most outlandish thing I ever heard of," returned that other voice ; ** don't you know any better than to intrude into a private residence like this ? and of all times upon such an occasion as this ? If you must have tho man's autograph, why on earth couldn't you go to the hotel where he is stopping to get it ?" ** I didn't know where he pub up, Edmund," replied Mr Ruggles, in a humble, hurt tone, " and I didn't think anybody would begrudge me a sight of him. I did not know as I should ever have another chance, and -and I've loved him for years." " Pshaw ! that is all maudlin sentiment. What do you suppose this company must have thought to see such a guy as you are in yonder drawing-room ? - in (hat coat and tJiow boots ! Man ! man ! hadn't you any vu.i<j .' ' and Edmund Carpenter's tono was obnoxious in the extreme. " Really, Edmund, I consider that I look very respectable," responded Mr Ruggles, with some show of spirit. "To besure, my coat isn't hacked down to a point at the tails, and my shirt-bosom isn't all out of doors. But as for my boots, they'll outwear a dozen pair of yours. The young lady, Miss Gordon, hasn't acted as if there was anything out of tho way about my clothes. She has treated me just likeNiiny of the rest of the folks. "

"Well, for Heaven's sake, don't let*. her know that you aro anything to me," was the irritable rejoinder ; " and if you'll take my advice, you 11 make yourself scarce as quickly as possible." " But the young lady is going to give me a book. She'd think it very unhandsome of me to leave before she comes back," objected Mr Rugglea. "I'll make your excuses to her, and if she is very anxious for you to have the book, I will send it to you by mail." J " I guess I shan't go till she comes," replied tho man, doggedly ; " and I take it j as rather hard, Edmund, uhat my brother's I son should bo ashamed of me, and say such cutting things to me." " My father was not your brother," was the haughty retort to this cluhn of relationship. "\\ ell, we were brought up together lik( brothers, if we did not have the same father, and I am sure I loved him like one. l>y the way, where is your brother, Walter ?" "1 have no brother. Walter Richardson became apprentice to a carpenter after my father's death." " What ! Didn't he have any of the property ?" "Why should he? He had no leyal claim upon any of via." "Then theie was no will. I heard so, but I couldn't believe it, for I know that Ralph loved the boy, and it was not like him to leave him unprovided for. We didn't get your letter in season to come to the funeral, so I've never \vv\ the chance to learn how matters weie settled ; but I suppose you will see him well started in the world." " Indeed I shall not," replied Mr Carpenter, decidedly. "Walter Richardson is nothing to me, and has aheady been benefited at my expense more than he had any right to expect." " And you made him give up college ?"^ " Well,"' said Edmund, growing warm in the face over the reproach implied in the man's tone "I thought it was time he began to do something for himself, i ottered him a place in the oflice, but he refused it and m cat to work as a carpenter ; so 1 let him go his own way.*' " Well, well, I am sorry, for he is a pioinisin<r young man. I did think I'd go out to Forcbtvale to make you a call and \ ask about him, to-morrow." ] " I — 1 have an engagement for to-morrow and .shall not be at home ; but Mrs Coxou will bo thuro t o entertain you, if you care to go out to the house," Edmund re tin nod coldly. " Whoie can I find Walter ? ' Mr Rugglei, asked, in a grave tone. i "I belio\e lie lheb with a man by the name of Wa\land ; though I've hcaul he is in the oitiee of Conant, the aichitect, some of the tune." % j ' It is too bad he couldn't have finished his education," remarked Owen Ruggle?, J reflectively " You'd better adopt him then and let him go on," retorted young Caipenter, j with a sneer. i " That's not a bad idea, Edmund,'' said his companion, in an eager tone. The young man gave a little scornful laugh at tin-*. " Perhaps you imagine Walter wouldn't gain very much by the transaction," remarked Mr Ruggles, dryly. " You haven't heard, may be, that there's beea a coal mine discovered on the old farm'" "No !" replied the young man, a note of eager interest in his tone. " Yes, sh, and a valuable one too, besides indications of oil in various spots. I've known it for years, and, little by little, I've been buying- up all the land west of me, that I could get hold of, and I've got it for a mere song, for it wasn't considered good for much. There have been a great many people who\e thought Owen Ruggles was ] a little cracked in the upper story for : wasting his money in such a way. But I j reckon, since a shaft was .sunk this fall and j the black di'monds have been pouring out as fast as they could be carried off, the boot has pinched t'other foot." " Really, Uncle Owen, you astonish me,' returned Edmund Carpenter, in a tone that had changed perceptibly. " 1 don't see but you bid fair to be a rich man if that is the ease. I suppose you'll be forming a company, and 1 shouldn't wonder if should want to take some stock. Perhaps I will run up to Redville and look into the thing before the snow flics." " Ahem ! I guess I shan't have an ' engagement,' and I'll show you round with pleasure. I don't know about the ' company ' though — I ain't so poor a<s I might be, and I guests I can manage the thing for myself for the pre«enfc," was the dry respoivse. Ruby nearly laughed outright at this shaft. She had been waiting for an opportunity to enter the room Lo give Air Ruggles his book, but upon discovering that tthc conversation was of a personal natuife £he did not like to intrude. She had not meant to be $ listener to anything not intended for her ears i but she kept hoping they would s,tflp so'that slio could so i n ? an^. tliw§ heard what we haVQ rooorrie.^ A good deal had been revealed to her that she had never suspected before. One thing particularly surprised her, and that was that Walter Richardson had been a protege of Edmund Carpenter's father, and that he had been heartlessly sent adrift upon* the world since his friend's death ; hie education cut Bhort, and his prospects darkened by one who should have been a kind protector and counsellor, while the insight which she had gained regarding the would-be suitor was not calculated to increase her respects for him. She made a bold venture, however, at this last pause in the conversation, pushed the door open, and entered the room. Mr Ruggles' face lighted with pleasure at her appearance, and Edmund Carpenter, though he started slightly as he ' f became conscious that the door had not been I securely closed, approached her with a most affable Bmile, and remarked : " Really, Miss Ruby, I have had quite a surprise this evening in finding my uncle, iMr Ruggles, is a guest here, while he informs mo that you have shown him a marked favour." Ruby could with difficulty control her countenance at thia unexpected speech, for a few moments preview ohe had heard him begging that the man would not claim kinship with him, and now he "was actually calling him " uncle" in his presence in spite of his being such a " guy-" Mr Ruggles's round grey eyes also twinkled with amusement at this sudden change in the young man's deportment, " I am sure I was very glad to oblige Mr RuggleV Ruby answered, somewhat coldly, and then she turned to her new friend, adding: "This is the n ok I told you about, and I am .sure you "lioy it, for the illustrations aro very fine. loase accept it with my compliments." " It is very good of you, miss, to take so much pains for a rough old man like me, and I sha'n't forget it of you. I'm afraid," he added, in an apologetic tone, "that- I haven't done just the right thing to come here to-night, where there is such a company of high-toned people. I hope you'll forgive me for taking bo much of your time, and ask your brother, too, to excuse me for — for being so bold." " I am very glad you came, Mr Ruggles,"

Ruby answered, cordially ; and she xoas glad for several reasons. It had shown her what a noble nature could be concealed beneath a rough exterior, while she had also discovered that broadcloth and polished manners may sometimes cover an unfeeling heart, a warped and despicable character. 11 Pray do not feel uncomfortable because you came without a special invitation,*' she continued, wishing to reassure her guest, for she saw that he had been keenly stung by what Mr Carpenter had said to him. " I know that my brother appreciates your debfrc to see our friend, while I heard Mr Whitfield say that he did not know when he had been so honoured." "Did he say that, Miss Gordon?" Mr Ruggles interrupted, his good-natured face all aglow. "Indeed he did. Ho thought it very kind of you to come so far just to see him, while I am very happy to have been instrumental in securing the interview for you ; and,'' the young girl concluded, with a charming smile, "if ever you come to Philadelphia again, I hope you will make me another call. I promise you that I will give you a cordial welcome." "Thank you, thank you, miss," Owen Rugglos said, with a tender light in his eyes as they lingered upon her fair, sweet face, " and if you'd like to come up into the country for a week or month, when hot weather comes again, mother and I will be right glad to see you to our place Redville. It's right on the Aileghany River, and lots of folks come up that way to spend the summer. We've a comfortable place - 'taint like this," ho added, glancing around him, "but it's clean and roomy, and we'd be proud to do our best for you." "Really, sir, you tempt me strongly," Ruby returned, with animation, "and you need" not he surpribcd if I take you at your word, and come to make you a little visit next summer. I should like to know Mrs RuirirlcH, too."' " Well, now, Hike that; it shows that you ain'c a mite set up because you've always been rich, and lived in this line way. Hea\en bless you, Miss Gordon! You've warmed my old heart with your kindnChS to-night, and you may be sure I sha'n't forget it,"' the man earnestly responded. He brushed a tear from his cheek as he turned to leave the room ; for the attention he received from this beautiful girl made him feel his own childlessness more keenly than usual to-night. Ruby accompanied him to the door, where bhe bade him a friendly farewell, and then illumed once more to the drawing-room.