The Morning herald., 1878-05-28
CHAPTER K.
aEoFFREY's EXPERIMENT FAILS.

OCUOD6T-UIIHH'j -
low leaves driving along the paths of the
quiet Temple Gardens chrysanthemums, IN
full glory Of red, white and yellow, IN the
borders; children riotipg in the grounds
from which they had been excluded all the
summer, and Geof'rey Chetwynd, grave,
pale and listless, sitting in the deep window
seat of his chambers in Paper Buildings,
idly watching the steamers pass up and
down the river. A law-book lay open on
his knee, but he had forgotten it was there,
for his thoughts had flown, as they far too
often did, to the little cottage at Sandbeach,
and he was wondering what Sibyl was 90.
ing, and whether she longed for the old
happy days together as he did. He had
STAYED on there till Cecil was about again,
though feeble and delicate, but never once
had he said one word that could offend
Sibyl or for which he could blame himself |;
it had been happiness to linger near her,
though hard--yery hard-to part from her
without speaking one word Of love. lie had
given her his address, and she had promised
to write to him if she were in any trouble,
or if she left SandLeach. That was six
weeks now, and no line had come from her,
though he had hoped that any slight all.
ment Of hers or Cecil's would have proved
sufficient excuse to make her begin cores
pondence that would have been his only
pleasure in life. He had been asked by
several friends to 60 to them for the shoot
ing-Sir Henry Temple among the number
but he felt that his only chance of forget
ting lay in hard work, SO he had returned to
his chambers, only to find Sibyls lovely
face between him and his dry books, and
her sweet, low voice forever in his ears in
the silence that reigned around.
81 can't stand this any longer" he NUT
tered at last, shutting up the book and toss
ing it on to table. Il shall 60 melancholy
mad! What device Of an arch-enemy ever
led me to Sandbeachp Would to Heaven !
had never seen her !"
He rose and stretched himself, and startee
as knock sounded at the door.
'' "What an idiot am growing! Como
in" And his servant appeared with two
letters on salver.
Geoffrey glanced at them hurriedly. The
fourished &c" betrayed one as tradesman's
epistle; on the other he recognized Lady
Temples handwriting, and tore it open. 1t
ran:
''DEAR Mr.. CHETwYND: Do you remember
the lovely Mrs Elton who lives at Sand
beach, in whom you took SO much interest?
Yesterday as was driving home, I found
her sitting by the side OF the road, about
half mile from our gates, with her little
boy in her lap, and, on getting out, I found
that the poor child had tainted, having just
recovered from o bad accident. l brought
them here, and the poor little fellow is in
bed to-day, too weak to move, and keeps
CRYING for you. His mother says you have
shown him so much kindness that the child
is quite devoted to you Poor thing she
has told me her sad story. She is not a
widow-her husband is still alive, but such
n bad man that she cannot live with him.
shall try to keep them here for some time,
and little Cecil and Harry are becoming
great friends; but the child really frets for
you and, if you can spare time, it would be
q real kindness to run down here for week
or two. Henry was very much vexed at
your refusing to come for some shooting, as
usual Captain Lee has left us broken
hearted and Millie Dayrell is engaged to
Mr. Digby. l begin to fear Eva is too great
firt to marry. May We hope to see you in
O day or two? 1t would give us great pleas
ure. With kind regards, believe me very
frulV VOllrg, ADELAIDE
With a short laugh, Godfrey laid down
the letter. ..
"Was ever man so beset by tempta-
ton? What am I to do? 1t seems cruel
not to 90 to the poor child when he is i'll
and fretting after me and certainly do
not love Sibyl less for being away from her
more, if it be possible. Perhaps seeing her
with others and recognized as married
woman may be the best thing for me; be-
sides, shall be out shooting all day-and
this life is simply killing me. At any rate
I can come away at any moment.
So argued he, as man VIII! argue that 'ne .
way his inclinations lead him is the right
way, and, sitting down, he wrote:
"DEAR LADY TEMPLE: Your letter arrived
at lucky moment, when the drearlness OF
nv present life had reached climax. am
pining, for some shooting and SO tlety, ana
shall be with you tomorrow. So sorry, TO
hear nv little friend Cecil is i'll again, but
Glad it. has made an excuse for your knowing
more of his lonely mother. | knew her nus
band was alive; he was at school with me-
Kindest regards.
''Yours ever,
GEoFFREY CHETwYNp."
The latter part was meantas blind. Meth
ar Lady Temple nor any one else would sus'
pect him of falling in love with Mrs. Elton
| If he said he knew she was married wo
man, and it was not necessary to say how
long he had known it. The paragraph
about Captain Lee vexed him. He woulc
far rather have heard that Eva was engaged
to him, and not likely, in consequence, tt
prove troublesome. He rather dreaded hel
sharp eyes and ears if she were still at New
land Abbey; but 1t would be good training
for him. He did not wish to betray his low
bv word or look even to Sibyl, and hi
thought he could keep his resolution.
It was getting dusk on the following day
when he reached the station nearest to Sand
beach, where the dog cart awaited him. III
i l i, La. tlath ha nal1ld hardlN