The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-18

| GeOHfey 1olb depressed hS ne looked out.
But Lady Temple greeted him with her
brightest smile when he went downstairs,
and his spirits rose.
at is not a very nice day, is itr" she re-
marked in low tone. 'But we shall take
our sunshine with us, and / hope and trust
it will last your lifetime"
'Thank you," he said, pressing her hand |;
and then he sat down and tried to eat some
breakfast.
He had eaten little or nothing on the day
before, for he was o man on whom excite
ment told strongly, and he was beginning TO
feel exhausted. But it was in vain he tried
first one thing and then another he could
not eat, and was thankful that nobody OBJ
served it. He was glad to leave the room
and pace up and down the terrace outside
the windows alone, trying to map out the
life that Sibyl and he were going to lead,
and wondering whittier she would like him
to take her. Presently, with mischievous
smile on his face, Sir Henry joined him.
Trying to work off the steam, Geoff2" he
said merrily. "Never mind. We've gone
through the same thing ourselves, and can
enter into your feelings. But you look as
white as ghost, man Come and have
something 70 warm you before you start,
and then you and / will walk on, and Ade-
laide can pick us up in the wagonette.
"Very well-but l must trust TO Lady
Temple to bring my portmanteau. I can't
go through the ceremony of wishing every
body goodbye. Tell them l was called
away unexpectedly"
"For the second timer" laughed Sir
Henry. "What an important man they will
think you All, well, they will renew the
acquaintance next season, when you bring
your lovely bride to town with you Lord
Howell is great connoisseur of beauty,
and will be charmed with her. She will
make quite a sensation"
"Yes, if we come to town, but she wishes
to go abroad, believe" he answered hasti-
ly ''she is afraid of being talked about"
"Oh, she'll soon get over that !" returned
his friend. ave can't afford to let you
monopolize such beauty and sweetness.
You must come home for the season."
Geotfrey did not answer, and they were
soon on their way along the snowy lanes to
Sandbeach. Sir Heury's words had caused
him twinge as they recalled TO him the
fact that after this day he could never show
his face in London, or rather take Slbyl
thither. She would be bigamist; and be
knew nothing of Mr.. John Lawrells noble
promise not to interfere He shivered and
his spirits sank lower than before, but still
he never wavered in his determination to 90
on with the marriage. He would not give
up Sibyl, and, eager to put it out OF his own
power, he felt relieved when he heard the
wheels of the carriage behind them Sir
Henry stopped short and waited
by Jove, it is cold !" he exclaimed,
stamping his feet on the hard ground.
Even the lovely Mrs Elton will find it diff
tcult to make pretty bride this morning.
eh, Geof, my boy2"
A man who was passing by gave start
and quick glance at the speaker, and then
at Geoffrey, as he heard the words-a short
man, with his face nearly hidden by black
beard and moustache and wide-brimmed
felt hat; and Geofirey noticed the start and
The look and remembered them afterwards.
But the carriage was by their side now aud
he had no time to think
Jump in quickly" exclaimed Lady Tenn
pie gaily. at is nearly eleven o'clock now,
and We must not be late
They drove on rapidly, Geoffreys heart
beating wildly as they neared the cottage.
The snow began to fall faster now, and the
horizon was of a dark slate color, making
the sea look light against it, while the wind
whisiled shrilly in their ears. The garden
gate stood open as they drew up, and Geof-
frey wondered whether he had misunder-
stood Sibyl and she had gone TO the church;
but he hurried up the path and opened the
hall door. There were no boxes standing
ready, as he had hoped, no Cecil dancing
with delight, no pale, nervous Sibyl, as he
had pictured all was quiet.
"Sibyl" he shouted, his heart beating
against his chest with an underlined dread |
"Here We are ! Are you ready?
nd, m, l,,l r.lI L. IL,
with her usual tact and kindness, that it |
would be pleasanter for Sibyl an coming
out alone to face the party, and stood by his
side
At his shout, Jessie, the little maid came
forward her eyes red with crying, and a
note in her hand
'Please, sir, they're all gone!" she said,
her voice tremulous. 'Mrs. Elton and
Master Cecil and Mrs. Hughes went away at
seven this morning, and amt never coming
back again and when you called l was to
give you this"
Geoflrey held out his hand for the note
like man walking In his sleep Lady Tom
pie, seeing the ashy gray hue that had come
over his face, put her hand on his arm
There will be some explanation in the
note, she said "Do not give up hope
Read it."
He opened it. and his eyes fell on the fol-
towing words but he did not understand
them, or know that he read them;
"Geoffrey, my darling am going away,
and you must not follow me-must not try
ver to see Inc again. You know do it for
your sake more than my own. We could
not have been happy in the life you pro-
posed. shall never love you less than do
how. SDYL"
Lady Temple read it as he did, but it was
utterly uniutelligible to her.
What can it all mean?" she asked Won
ieringly, and then added hastily: Henry,
come here !"
But as the words left her lips Geoffrcy
ELL, like man shot through the heart fot-
ward on his face.
TO BE CONTINUED