The Morning herald., 1878-05-31
FETTEREDtYET FREz
BY
AUTHOR CT "CLouDs AND SUNSHINE" cGs-
TELLE's ERROR" ETC.
BAEsRGTT SYLVESTER.


eyening-coming over to see her again as he
had done the night previous. But before then
she had to see John Lawrell-she would not
think of him as her husband--to tell him of
the step she was about to take, and to force
him to keep silent. She was going to sink
to his level, to see him glance at her with
scorn and horror-perhaps 10 heor him
steadily refuse to submit and threaten to
dare all risks sooner than let her so lower
herself and him. She turned faint at the
thought Of it all, as she sat silent and moody
il TIE red fre-light before tea.
Cecil lay on the rug, his fair head resting
on her footstool, and his eyes fixed on the
glowing GOALS. Suddenly he poke.
Mamma, - he said gravely, ''it's great
wonder wasn't killed when l fell down into
the hall. II I had been, you would be tho
mother of an angel now. Wouldn't that be
beautiful?" tg 2'"
mo, my boy'--and the mothers voice
was sharp with pain-"I would rather have
you with me."na. ea
''But," persisted the child, cit would have
made you SO very good, because, whenever
you were going to say or do anything
naughty, you would stop and think No, /
mustn't OF Cecil will be ashamed of me up
in Heaven, I think it would be best for
me to die at once, SO as to keep you SO very
good. y r. ~ g.al l-.,.
sibyl did not answer. Soon he would
have to blush Tor his mother on earth!
Cecil had risen, and, kneeling before her,
leaned his arms on her lap.
II don't think you will have to be changed
one bit when you die, he went on thought
fully, "for you never do wrong, and you are
SO very pretty"
1t seemed to Sibyl that the clear eyes of
her boy were looking her through reading
the mad, wicked infatuation that had been
upon her for the last twenty hours, and she
put him gently from her and covered her
face with her hands, uttering low moan Of
misery. Cecil thinking her head achea,
stroked hsE.1 hair softly, saying, 'Poor
1ramma!". and then stole away to tell Mrs.
Hughes TO- be quick with ten, When be re.
turned, his mother still sat as he had left
her. and, unwilling to disturb her, he sat
down once more on the rug leaning against
her knees. He. little guessed the storm he
had raised--the good work he had done
but the feeling of that little head resting
against her and the sound of those words of
his ringins, in her eals were strengthening
poor Sibyl in her hard fight as nothing else
could have done.
When she lifted her white, weary face
from her hands, it was overt the burden
was taken up and would he carried lr&yely,
unfinchiDgly now. She bhrank away fl m
tire agony of the scene with Gcottrey which
aay before her, but she felt tHat she could
bear it-bear anything sooner than fall rs
she had so nearly fallen. She drank her
tea, though she con.: eat no hing, She lis
tened to Cccil's pGStle and answered him
rliaAy. She heard his prayers as usual,
8, %ltucked him up III his little bed aHd
&ga5Tn she went downstairs and waited for
The sound of John Lawrell's footsteps On The
garden-walk. She could not cYy-tcavs
never came readily to her strong natN4e-
only the dead, dali aching at her h art toli
her OF the misery that had fallen upon her.
She looked at her whito, drawn face ii tao
mirror, and half smiled at the change from
the happy blooming face il had reflected
nbont that time Oh Tie prcccajn" 'ay. She
would hot need to speak 70 IL, G,olitey chat
ftc was not going to he lis wiio. " ~pH,A
discover it tor hlmallr.
A soft tap on the window mN:o har start
violently. With quick step size vout cut
md faced her visitor.
"Come inside" she said ccljlv, IF an
nlone, ana We may be Interrupted her,.'
"No, thank you" he returned Il 3o4j
care to be seen; and WHO is to tell that !ou
lavo not tcle8iopLtd to Scotland l&ro III
regard to my Whereabouts, that yuo my ho
free from the expense Of keeping tue! |
warn you have revolver il my pocket
and I'll shoot dead the first l-4@1 WAC
touches me"
II have not told a living soul Of your
visit" she assured him, smiling scorntully:
II do not care to speak Of you. You used
not to be coward"
'Im not a coward now, he said roughly;
"but know little more OF the tricks and
lies of women than did when we last met
md l don't mean to trust you. Now TO
business. What do you mean to allow me?
You've got it all in your own hands now"
She had thought it all out; she did not
pause OF hesitate.
''I know. But do not care for money
more than I have done. My boy is getting
older, however, and will need education,
and do not mean to stay here. l shall be
moving about and leading more expensive
life, so shall keep half my own money and
pay you thousand year. But 1T must be
on the condition that never see you again.
You can tell me where to pay it in"
"a very good arrangement Perhaps you
are going to be married again, and don't
care to have q first husband turning up. |
watched man enter the house last night.
''You are right" she said quickly. "a
few days later and should have been that
mans wife,"
"Well," he returned with loer, 81 shant
interfere. But, to prevent awkward ques-
tions, you had better tell him your income
is only thousand year instead of two.
Pay the money in regularly once quarter
to Mr.. Frank Lawrell's account at Dillons
Bank, High Street, Manchester and you
will have no trouble with your first husband.
But what ic vour name To be2'