The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-11-29

but I,could not keep back my tears
when came home. l am crying out
of pure gratitude. Your kindness has
saved his life, Miss Sibyl. Can I evel
do enough to repay yon?'
"The little fellow is much better
then?'
And the society belle turned away
and with quick movement. t.uched
her eyes with her handkerchief
ale will be no time in recovering
now, the doctor says, and he owes his
life to you, Miss Sibyl. Oh, how can
ever repay you?"
"You can repay me in one way
Marie.-by never saving anything more
about it. Have you been to the At
woods?"
Eyes, Miss Sibyl; I took the WINE
and the fruit as you told me" A..
"And how is Mr.. Atwood?"
Mr.. Atwood was the husband oi
Sibyl's seamstress, a man who haJ
been very prosperous at one time, but
who had failed IN business, and also in
health, until his wife had to take il
sewing for the support of him and then
two children.
Every one knows what support the
needle of one frail woman can give &
family.
They were on the direct road to star
vation when Sibyl Renmere's maid
found out their condition, and reported
the same to her mistress.
Very low, indeed, Miss Sibyl; he
cannot last many g days." answered
Marie .aNal sa} 10 -n srtf - e.
sis there anything else we can do fol
them, Marie?"
"Bless your tender heart, my mis-
tress, you have already supplied all theil
WANTS. Tie doctor says nothing more
can be done for his patient ~
"Order the carriage early to morrow
morning, Marie, and we will call there. -
"> h, you are so good, Miss Sibyl!''
Sibyl suppressed sigh rs she said:
eff those who have enough to spare of
this worlds treasure do not give to
Gods destitute, who shou'd?'
Sibvl returned from her drive next
morning, cast aside her bounet and
mantle when she entered the sitting
room, and, seeing Herbert Taifourd
seated there reading, she flung herself
into a chair, exclaiming:
ooh, dear! I DO not know what TO do
with myself.
Herbert Talfourd half. closed his
book, anl looked over at her half cur
iousty, half pityingIy.
"a victim of the demon ennui. l sup
pose, said Herbert.
Il suppose so.
And Sibyl smothered a little yawn.
you see I have attended to all my
dres3making. and shopping for this week,
and here it is only Wednesday, leaving
me nj the rest of the week with moth
ing to do. There is no new novel out,
and I feel 700 tired-or lazy, if you like
to drive, visit or gossip.
Sibyl uttered this speech defantly.
and half closing her eyes leaned back
in her chair.
"And you have never anything to
think about but shopping, visiting, etc,
Sibyl?' said Herbert, with air OF res
proach.
"Why. of course not.
And Sibyl opened wide her eyes, aud
flashed defiance at Mr.. Talfourd.
"What else should leader of society
have to think about? 1 beg pardon. l
forgot what contempt Mr.. Talfourd
entertained for leaders of society"
"Aud yet," said Herbert, without at
tempting to contradict Sibyl's remark,
"what glorious opportunities for dong
good have leaders of society! Think OF
what an example you might set yonr
ladies', and elderly ladies'. Sibyl. who
follow in your footsteps. You call your
self leader, Sibyl, while you sit here
with folded hands, and the beSgar cry>
ing at yonr gate"
"Well, let one of the servants give
him something to eat. Do you wish me
to 90 down aud answer the knock?'
And Sibyl's defiant laugh filled the
room.
"Oh, Sibyl!'
Aud Herbert Talfourd's handsome
face looked graver than ever she saw it.
sit is not the cry of one, but of thou
sands that rend the air around you.
The starving, the homeless, the dying
are reaching out their hands to such as
you for succor, and you sit here and say
you have nothing to do
II said I was tired, Mr.. Talfourd,
and Sibyl rose; "too tired even to sit
and listen to you talking this morning.
If YOU will excuse me"
"Sibyl!'
He was beside her and had her hand
clasped in his.
81 know how you detest me, for |
have often heard you saying it. but l
speak out, and you must listen to me
this time, for I will never lecture you
again. Sibyl, for the sake OF those who
are influenced by you, you must rise 'o
better life, remember that
"s-Ne life
Can be pure in its purpose, and strong III
it's strife.
And all life not be purer and stronger
thereby"
"And if Mr. Talfourd has finished
his say, I'll have the pleasure OF bid
ding you good morning." and quickly
withdrawing her hand from his clasp,
S;bvI swami from the room