The Morning herald., 1878-05-28
FE77ERED,YET FREE
aARRETT SYLVESTER.
,urHos OF "cLouDs AND SUNSHINE" eEs
TElIE's ERaoR," Ero.


rio, Giving way before them. ''Sibyl, my
darlino. do YOU not see how fondly, madly,
love you? Do you not know that there is
~ woman in the world for me but you'
Tell me, darling that there is some hope
for me-.that ] may try to make your Life
HAMMER than it has ever been yet!
He was by her side now, on his knees his
orms round her, his face close to hers. But
sho nushed him back with wild look OF
horror and despair.
"Oh Mr.. Chetwynd, hush, hush, for
nitv's sake r she cried, in breathless voice.
r6 rt6o not say such dreadful thing am
married still-my husband is not dead!'
Godfrey sprang to his feet and almost
staggered back. h.. 80
and then stood gazing, pale and silent, at
the glttering moon-path across the sea. II
cnomed to him as If some one had struck
him a violent blow and his senses were reel
SSihvl rose AMI laid her hand lightly on
his arm. saving, in frightened voice: 3.
..Do not look like that! Say you forgive
me. never dreamt of such thing as this
indeed did not. Oh, how could be SO
blind"
He turned slowly and looked down into
the fearful, upraised face, SO haunting in its
loveliness. r,"- ~ Y
"Forgive youp Yes, forgive you,
Thank Heaven, I am the only sufferer Ii
Won had learned to love me in the least you
would have read my feelings and warned
me-"
hot burning flush rushed over her face
as she turned her head away.
1.-THE knowledge that was not free to
care for any one blinded me to everything.
she said. in o low, trembling voice, and
Geoffrev, with hungry eyes reading her face,
knew that he was not the only sufferer.
ssibyl, Sibyl my darling!'
And for one mad minute he held the dear
form close to him, and pressed passionate
kisses on her cheeks and lips. Then he re-
leased her, and she stood trembling from
head to foot, her face buried in her hands: ,
II beg your pardon" he said, slowly ana
vearily IL ought not to have done that;
but it was a short happiness to last whole
lifetime. I will never forget myself 90
She answered him only by silent tears
falling between her fingers. Geohrey
leaned against the pillar Of the veranda and
watched her till he could bear it no loG9er'
"Dont-I can't bear it, Wait tlli am
gone" he said huskiy, and she looked up
Startled. nm
Must you go away? Oh, my poor little
Cecil, what will he do?"
Il will stay if you wish it, he said quick
w., "Iwill never remind you, hy word or
deed of my love, and going away IRON you
will not alter it. No, Will not 20.
II cannot think tonight" she replied
"ny brain is SO confused. Will Ih'iik II
over and you must come and see Cccil to'
morrow. You must decide; you kAo" poO'
t,r than do what is best ind r'@h' 10 20.
But 60 now; I want to get CAIN o''''o lie
wakes" u
"Woll, 7 will go. Good night. Heaven
bless you!' ,,,,
Il, did not trust himself to take 'ier hand
e,.r hardly to look at hrr bnt, with
Quick, firm step, and no backward glance
y, ~ awav through the moonlight and shad'
oys-awny. but not home-nOt back to the
rooms that irresistibly recalled tn uGhts o.
n .,Yy. lie felt as if he should be atlAvd :" i Il
in their narrow wals-as if the ceiling
would come down and press upon his very
Il 6rin.
Through all his life, Godfrey ChcttWyn'
could never look back on that llS 1t WlInou
4 o shudder. Hour a{ter hour he paced along
the sands in the bright light OF the Ear'es
moon, till the advancing tide drove nm VI
on to the shingle, and then he mounted
the cliff and paced along the narrow oea'ei
\ track made by the coastguards.
Sibyl wife and not widow his love 10
her a sin and utterly hopeless Ills MS
impulse was to 60 as soon as day pfoh
whittier he did not know or care--only d
far away from Sandbeach as he could get
4 where nothing would remind him OF ne!
N and her name never by any chance reach ~
ears. But even in his misery his thought
n turned to others, and he thought OF NJ
father and sister left alone, OF little Cecl
asking in vain for him, and perhaps trettln
a himself into fever in his pain and weaE
ness, and Sibyl thinking him heartless an
unkind to leave her. Perhaps she mlSn
n need his help-she was so friendless an
alone-and her husband must be brute 10
n her to have left him.
No: let him fight it out-bear his tortu1
manfully, and crush down his passlona'
A love into a calm friendship so as to be
hand in case she should ever need him.
would be the work of years--perhaps III
time. Just now it seemed to him that neve
4 till the SHOWS of old age had sllyered IL
hair and palsied his frame would his hea
cease to beat faster at the sound OF her Volc
his blood cease to bound through his veil
at the touch of her hand. =,
'But need not let her know"
thought bitterly. ''Surely l am ma
& enough to be able to control al ouI"'i
signs Of my love. If she can but learn !
think that have conquered my ieehn9s:
that care for her only as friendIshe WI
let me be near her--she will appeal, to me e,
her troubles, and give me all the love TIL tn
any man will ever have. 1 must school m n
self to look calmly into her eyes, to hold n
hand impressed in mine, and to reallze ~ , =. ,