The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-07-14

LNC nCHu OF Dy Oh, lrOu1 WuOSc MAiGC ACSh
the life-stream was slowly yelling. Her
face of Charles Malcolm, who was bending
over her. and vainly striving to chafe
a little warmth into her neryeless hands.
Ghasty as the dying girl he gazed on,
Mr.. Dcrwent uttered d wailing cry, and
staggered back. How came Sybl there3
And was this his doing2
He had not seen her enter the room,
neither had any one else marked her en-
trance, so absorbed had they all been in
listening to the charges made by Vernon
Aubrey, and so boldly refuted by the
wretched man, whose last and worst deed
Of all convicted him.
Sybil, confused by the drug she had
swallowed, had been scarcely alive to the
actual meaning of Millicent Vyner's warn
ings, when the latter was compelled to
leave her. But rs by slow degrees her
mind became clearer, she was able to COM
prehend what wls occurring.
In that. interview with her father, to
which Milliccnt had listened at the win.
dow, she hadstcrnly reprobated hisattempt
to wed the innocent Violet, and had even
declared her resolve to interfere at all haz-
ards if he persisted. Finding that she was
neither to be cajoled nor menaced into 81
lencsy Mr.. Derwent pretended to yield the
pnint and she left him, hoping that her ar
guments had prevailed, and that he would
forego his designs.
But he stole into her chamber in the
dead of the night, and with a smile upon
his lips, which q determined ring in his
suppressed tones contradicted, he forced
her to swallow what he termed sedative,
to calm her excited nerves. He watched
beside her until the narcotic began to take
effect, and then left the room, exulting in
the thought that he had silenced her
until the opposition she menaced him with
would be unavailing.
AS Syblls senses returned, and she re-
called these things, she started from her
bed. She comprehended now that he had
given her the sleeping potion to enable him
to marry Violet in spite of her. Had she,
indeed, slept too long to prevent it?
Coming swiftly down stairs, she pushed
her way through the group of servants
who, alarmed by Sir John Lefroye having
sent for the police, had gathered round the
door of the room where the bridal party
had assembled.
The first person on whom her eyes fell
was Charles Malcolm, and she paused, faint
with dread for she recollected Milhcent's
assertion, that he came to fulfil Walters
request. The next moment, she saw Violet
fly into the embrace Of Vernon Aubrey, and
her father, white-lipped and nadly re-
vcngeful, slip his hand into his vest.
She knew what he carried there; she
guessed his fell purpose; and, to save the
unconscious lovers, she threw herself before
them,
This generous action was done 80 rapid
Ir, hat. - 1ox- lol
at their feet that they knew the danger
from which they had happily been rescued,
or to whom they owed their safety.
When Sybil heard her fathers exclama-
tion of horror at the sight before him, she
attempted to raise herself. "Bid him como
to me,' she murmured to Charles Malcolm,
when she found herself incapable OF the ef-
fort; "I must speak to him before we are
parted for ever"
Accordingly, his captors led him to the
side of his dying daughter Great drops Of
agony stood on his brow; the agony of that
awful moment was almost more than he
could bear, but he did not speak; not even
- when she held out her hand with a smile OF
forgiveness.
&"Fatner, we have not loved each other as
weshould have done, and perhaps the fault
OF that has been, in great measure, mine.
have been too impatient, too reserved, to
gain that influence with you that gentler
nature might have acquired"
"Nay, my child, you may speak freely
those truths TO your murderer that you
would not utter to your father he answer
ed. somLrely. "Say at once that you have
always recognized the villain in Inc, and SO
dcspised me-
"Hush !" she said. "It was not I who
should have judged you. I should have
tried whether my loving words aud tender
caresscs would not lead you to purer courses.
Yet, however, may have erred, say that
you forgive me-"
'"Ihis is mockery," was the hoarse re.
eponsc. "Is it not who should plead for
pardon2'
But Sybn could say no more. eff my
death should teach you to repent" she
began; then, with quivrring sigh, she
slid from Vio!et's arms, and for q while
they believed that all was o9er. DIr. Der
went, who seemed stunned by the conse-
quences of his crime, and careless what be-
came Of him, was led from the room, and
those who had come to assist ut o gay bri-
aal, were glad TO escape from a scene 80
different to anything they had anticipated.
Sybil revived sufficiently to request
parting interview with Charles Malcolm.
Perfectly conscious that her hours were
numbered, she no longer concealed her
long enduring affection for him, though she
deprecated the grief he testified as he threw
himself on his knees beside the couch on
which they had laid her.
81 had notdcemed that in your heart You
still cherished so fond remembrance Of
me-" she murmurcd; "but it makes these
last hours OF my sad life less bitter"
"1Vould to Heaven I could save you," he
groaned. "My dear one, be more hopeful,
and try to live for my sake"
Sybil sighed.
"For what would you save me? For that
overwhelming shame and public disgrace
from which Heaven is mercifully removing
me?"
"No one shall ever dare to associate dis
grace with your name while live" Nal
colin exclaimed. "It shall be my care to
shield you from every harsh word or look"
But Sybil shook her head sorrowfully.
"Iou would spare me this, and all else
if you could, l know; but you cannot hush
the busy tongues that will spread my
fathers crimes throughout England. You
cannot close your eyes to the misery it
would infiict ON your proud spirit, if it
were known that you had connected your.
self with the murderer Of your coasin.'
"You shall live for my sake, my dearest,
and we will 60 abroad, We will ASSUME an
other name, and all these things shall be
forgotten
She heard him with sad pleasure; but
she know that this would never be, that
her hours were numbered, and she would
not permit herself to regret it. Her love
for Charles Malcolm was that pure, self,
sacrificing affection, which her sex alone
can testify. She had renounced the
happiness of becoming his wife when
chance revealed her fathers true character
to her appalled, eyes. From that moment
she may have been said TO have parted
with every hope and Joy that makes life
swaot to thn vounr and bo1utitu1