The Morning herald., 1878-05-30

did not feel sad or inclined to weep, put
hard, reckless, defiant And worse than her
own misery was the terrible blow she, was to
deal Geoffrey-a second time to thrust him
back as she had on that summer evening
long before.s But then she had been scarce
ly conscious of anything but deep pity and
a warm liking ;-now she loved him madly-
so mady that her only thought was how she
could hide it from him.
"[ cannot, will not give him upF' she
cried, painting. This man is no husband
of mine; lie has lost me- given me up of his
own free will lie is dad to the world, and
% shall be dead.to me. / will marry ,Geoffrey
in.spite Of him, and dnre him to come for
ward. He said he had done something for
which he must leave England. I will threat
en- to betray his secret if he betrays mine.
All, here is GeofIrey!" !"
She trenbled like an aspen as knock
was heard at the door, and turned even
whittier than before then the door opened,
aud Geoffrey entered closed it carefully be-
hind him, and in another moment was hold
ing her so tightly to him that she could
scarcely breathe, while Lie rained kisses on
her checks and lips. ggruf
"My darling. how cold you are!" he ex-
claimed presently 'And shaking from
head to foot! Are you ill?" and he looked
anyiousv into Tho lovely face,
''No not ill-only cold, have been lis
tening ior you at the front dcor, and have
only just come in. How late you are !!
What has kept your
sDinrer was late Eva Dayrell is not so
WELL and has gone back to her room, and
Lady Temple kept us waiting in conse-
quonce. I have not seen the poor girl yet
They tell mo she is very much altered-so
pale and quiet. I cannot fancy the lively,
blooming Eva pale and quiet"
''It is no improvement" answered Sibyl
quickly, tho maddtuing thought darting
through her brain that he might turn to Eva
for consolation if ho learned her own hor /
ble secret-"but, if Captain Lee does not
mind it is no nobody else's affair. She
must Sucoumb to such deTotion as his poor
fellowp tt..' '.-..'
Then she talked on, and laughed SC
brightly in her determination not to think
that Geoffrey was more in love than ever,
and could hardly tear himself away.
'Sibyl, my own darling" he murnured,
as he kissed her flushed upturned face, 81
feel as if I could never leave you again. II
is so terribly hard to be away from you,
never to hear your dear voice or see your
sweet face from morning till night. Why
should we waltz Why let empty scruples
stand between us and happiness! If any.
thing were to happen now TO- part; u.s. l
should blow my brains out. Why Will you
not be my wife at once--say the day after
Christmas -day-and let me take you BACK
with me to town. VIII youf I..,.
One arm was round her; with the other
hand he gently strclked back the soft WaVy
hair from her forehead, looking down at her
so fondly that she turned away her eyes.
Her heart beat I'LL it nearly choEed her, her
breath came thick and fast as she struggled
with the terrible temptation struggled, but
in vain! On the ORG hand lay life OF per-
feet happiness with the man she Worshlpped
on the other, loneliness and worse than
wdowhood worse far worse than anything
that had gone beforo-and Geotirey heart
broken man, or dead by his own hand lie
should never never know. The sin should
be hers and hers only. She would not
think-would not pause
eyes, l will" she said shortly, and Geof-
frey almost started ut the change IN her
| voice, and looked anxiously into her face, =,
"My darling, am asking too much!
Surely you have no feeling left for that
scamp?' and the dark look of jealousy came
into Lis eyes once more.
mo. no. no |" she cried, hiding her face
on Lis breast. ooh, Geofreg, I hate his
very name! Let me be your wife at once,
and take me away, right away out OF Eng
gland, that l may forget everything and be-
| Gin . new life with you. This is tie twen-
| ffv-sccond-four days more! No. something
NAV happen. will marry you tomorrow,
| tomorrow" !"
Godfrey laughed such a ringing, happy
laugh. ,,,,.
i wish I could, you dear, impulsive little
| thinr: but there is the license to get and
the ring, and [ mus make some settlement
on you. Suppose trrn out scamp after
all. Can you trust me Y"
She raised her eyes to his face, and there
was depth of expression in them that ne
could not fathom, but she did not speak.
! Some feeling--he knew not what--sent O
twinge of pain through him, happy as he
felt. =,
"You have infected me with the same
feelings, you little witch, he said lovingly
T shall know no peace till you are actually
nv wife. But nothing can part US now,
can there?"
Nothing, nothing! Good night, Geof.
frey, my own dear Geoffrey" =,
She lifted her head and kissed him for the
first time, and then broke away from him,
and Geotrey, trea ing on air, hardly able to
keep from singing aloud in his great happl'
ness, went back to the Abbey.
| CHAPTER XIV.