[CHAPTER X.—Deserted.]
OLONEL RICHARD IVEY came back to his elegant home, from his trip to the West.
He had telegraphed to have the carriage meet him at the railway station, but to his surprise it was not there, and so he sprang into a village hack and drove homeward.
It was dark ere he reached the mansion and his surprise was greater when he saw no lights to greet him.
"Why Ruby must have gone up to the city; but she wrote nothing of intending to do so, in her last letter," he said, as he sprang out of the vehicle and paid the driver.
Ascending to the piazza he rang the bell, and soon a light flashed within the hallway, and the butler opened the door.
"Well, Richard, what is the matter, that I receive such a bleak welcome?" he said.
"The madam is away, sir, and has been for some days; but she left a letter for you, sir, and it's on your table with the mail.