The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-16

used to do"
Violet Lindsly heaved q very doleful
sigh.
FUSED to do! All, sybil, we used to be
happy!!' s,,
trying to speak cheerfully-"at least, you
will. There is nothing to prevent it,"
"But, dear Sybil,'' said Miss Lindsly,
sighing again as she thought of Vernon
Aubrey; "you do not know all my anxi-
cites 70 =
"Perhaps not. I believe that the; most
candid amongst US conceal some thoughts
from our dearest friends. ButatSirs1ohn
Lefroye's, you will often meet one who ,iiss
sincerelyeattached to you, and whose affec-f
tion you are disposed to return. Will not
that aid youin conquering your repugnance
to your guardian and his. lady?" --
"f you mean Vernon Aubrey, you are
mistaken faltered Violet. "Should he
come to Sir Johns while am there, T shall
refuse to see him. But he will not do 80.
He will continue to avoid me, as he has
been doing OF late"
Sybil sat silent while: and then, in low,
husky tones, she said, "Surely, dear, you do
not share in the cruel doubts that have
been cast upon Mr.. Aubrey since the death
of Walters?"
"Mr. Malcolm entertains them, and 50
does your father. But they may be mistak-
en-, may they not? ?" asked Violet, eagerly,
her desire to hear Aubrey exculpated gleam-
ing in her fearful, blue eyes.
"If papa has said that he thinks Mr.. Au-
brey guilty, it is enough" said Sybil con-
tracing her brows. ri never contradict
papa. Letus talk Of something else. Your
new maid-do you like her?"
A little irritated at the abrnptness Of her
manner, Violet carelessly replied, "I don't
know. She has only been here for day OF
two, and I have scarcely spoken to her.
she is very obliging and very silent, which
suits me better just now than Aliens cease
less chattering.'
"she is graceful girl, and has quite
refined cast Of countenance," Sybll con-
tinued. "Where does she come from, and
what is she called?''
ri really cannot tell you her place Of res.
idence. am not curious on such points.
Her name is Vyner, Millicent Vyner. Have
we not heard it somewhere ?"
As the reports Of the inquest upon Rob-
ert Walters had been kept carefully from
Violet-who, indeed, had testified no wish
to see them-she had casually heard his at
tentions to Millicent alluded to, and that
was all.
To Sybl the name Of Vyner was familiar
enough; and she shot suspicious glance
across the room at the lady's maid.
Not at all discomposed by this, Millicent
continued her occupation. and did not seem
c1, r1nf q
young lady was at her elbow.
"Your name is Vyner, is it notT"
Millicent courtesied assent, and steadily
met the searching gaze of the dark orbs,
which had been watching her so narrowly.
care you the young person who gave
evidence at the inquest on Mr.. Walters ?"
qucried Sybil.
eyes, Madam"
In spite of herself, Millicent's color came
and went, and her accents were tremulous.
She had not learned yet to hear her tickle
lover spoken Of, without losing her COM
posure.
"And you loved him p commented Sybil,
who saw her emotion. "Poor, foolish girl !!
He was not worthy of one half the tears
that have been shed, and the anxious hours
that have been spent on his account! !"
It was a strange speech, and she turned
away when she uttered it, biting her lips,
and looking as if angry with herself for
having made it.
A close and calculating observer Of every
thing Miss Derwent said and did, Millicent
noted this, and quickly made answer, Mr..
Malcolm does not think so lightly Of his
dead cousin, madam"
These words arrested Sybil's steps. She
came back to the,table at which Millicent
was folding some dresses, and stood a!.sently
rolling and unrolling some ribbons lying
upon it.
"Then you know Mr.. Malcolm p she
said, at last, trying to speak indifferently,
"A little, madam. That is, have seen
and spoken with him about half a dozen
times; enough to know that he is q very
generous, kind-hearted gentleman"
"Lately? Have you seen him lately p
queried Sybil, her real interest audible in
the tones she vainly cndeayored to render
rs careless rs though she was merely in.
uuiring after the welfare Of an ordinary
acquaintance.
Millicent had nothing to gain by de-.
ceiving her, 80 she answered at once, "l
saw him the morning before came here"
Sybil's dark eyes had a light in them she
could not hide, and her hands began to work
neryously amongst the gay ribbons. "ls he
is Mr.. Malcolm well p
The question was simple enough, but the
manner of it betrayed that, despite the fact
of her having rejected him, he still held a
place in her heart.
"Nr. Malcolm is well in health, madam
was her reply.
"But not in mind2 Why is this? Is he
does he seem to be very much concerned
about his cousins death p
"Not so much concerned ut Mr.. Walters
death, as oppressed by Mr.. Walters re-
quest" answered Millicent, furtively watch.
ing the effect Of her revelations on the st:lte-
ly lady who listened to her 50 eargerly.
"What then was this ruqucst2
"Mr. Walters request to his most faithful
friend was the task of avcnging him upon
his murderer"
Sybil Derwent suddenly Hisel one OF he.
hands to her head rs - seized with Il violent
paroxvsm of pain, and her face became SO
CHASTITY that Mlliccnt pushed a chair to-
wards her thinking that she was about to
faint. But she did not seem to see this.
a
ciently to speak, she murmurca, " And will
Charles Malcolm do this? But no. it is not
like him. he would never hunt out and
denounce the unhappy being whose burden
ed conscience is already inhictin5 punish
ment enough y
This was said to herself more than to
Millicent Vyner. who, however. mcaningly y
replied, Mr. Malcolm is one who pnts his
own inclination out of the question, when
he knows that he has 4 duty to perform,
With startled eyes, Sybil sazed at her
mechanically, repeating the words a
duty Is it his duty to do this?" =,
"He was Mr. Walters nearest relative,
she was reminded.
"True, I had forgotten. They were so
unlike that it is difficult to think OF them
together. Yes, suppose he considers 1t
his duty. for by the code of the laws ne
practices, it is only right to drag the
criminal to justice. Every one seems to
forget who it is that said Vengeance IS
mine" Her head dropped on her bosom,
and Milicent could barely catch what she
said as she muttered, "And Charles NAL