The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-14
CHAPTER VIII.
MY HUSBAND IS NOT DEAD !"

Sibyl Elton was sitting in low chair in
the veranda, Just outside the drawing-room
window when Geoffrey entered the garden
that evening; she looked up with a slightly
heightened color as the gate clicked. Her
calm composure was gone now; she was
conscious of certain shyness at mis- ap-
proach, and reluctance to meet the straight
| look of his eyes but she attributed it to the
stmngeness of their position and the knowl
edge that she was doing what the world
would consider incorrect i'll allowing this
good looking young bachelor TO visit her,
living alone and unchaperoned as she was
Il cannot Lelp tit will not last long"
she argued TO herself f-"and Cecil must not
fret himself i'll. He will be going back 10
London soon, and we shall never meet
again. How Cecil will miss him! How
very kind he is! and she ended with 81 h
of which she was unconscious.
Geotfrev came forward wi a smile.
L am 50 glad to find YOU down here, be
said, seating himself on the low wlndow-sIll
by her side. "You must not shot yourself
up too much with him and injure your
health
"He is asleep now, so Mrs. Hughes does
as well as myself she answered; and my
head ached so, longed for Il breath of fresh
| air. How dcliciously cool it is now.
at has been trying day for you, he
said glancing at her pale face and h-avy
eyes. You are terribly fond of that child,
but / suppose it is only natural"
''ffe is Ill have in the world-the one
bright spot in my life. she answered, al
most in whisper. ''When / thought he
was killei this morning, felt as if must
go mad. But Heaven was too merciiul TO
take him"
at is folly to talk like that at your age"
exclaimed Geoffrey impatienty, jeolons
alike If her love tor the living child and
dead husband. "Yol. cannot be more than
four or FIVE and twenty and you talk as if
your whole life we're over, your part played
out. There is more happiness before you
than behind, | Gr'ist
She shook her mead, her face resuming its
usual look of gravity and weariness.
sInpossible You do not understand.
But | do not care to talk Of myself; l am
content to 90 On as I am. Did you ride
into Stlborough to-day? Cecil has talked
SO much about the hook"
Here it is. Il, not think anything can
excel Andersen" and he uniolded gor-
geous scarlet-and-goid volume and laid it in
her hands, pleased with the qualification he
read in her face.
'How good Of you You are too kind to
him. fear he will fret terribly after you
when you go back to London. Are you 90
ing soon"
He looked into her eyes for a moment,
and then ont to sea, where the moon was
making glittering, dancing path across the
81 canno. TELL" he said, in slightly ur
| hat uuill IanbnQ OluEl
more than myself.
5 She was silent for some minutes, water
inc his face then, as he turned and looke
at her once more, she said hesitaunSly:
: 81 think know. | suppose ought I
| wish YOU SUCCESS Mr.. Chetwynd-but q
not" ..,,,
l ''What do you mean? ?" he asked quick
. And she went on hurrledly: -,
E VI beg your pardon--I had no right
; saw it. She may be all that is nice, and SD
is very handsome-only-
She stopped abruptly ;.
J "please 60 on" said Geoffrey, beglnn'n
to catch her meaning, and his voice was
quiet that Sibyl felt more nervous.
sYou know what thought you--that Il
, are you going to ask that dark hand6oM
, girl with Lady Temple to be your wiieT
, He looked at her strangely for minute
: almost angrily, she thought-and then sai'
shortly: ,r-
you know am not; you are not so bin
as all that"
: 81 did not know; have thought so som
: times" she answered gently. "But do n
l be angry, please did not mean % ann'
you" ,,....---
| 81 do not think you could annoy me
5 you tried, he said, his voice trembling wi
the strength of his feelings, and every bi
rier giving way before them: "slpyl !,
> darling, do you not see how fondly mad
love your Do you not know that there
3 no woman in the world for me but yo'
: Tell me, darling, that there is some hoo
for me-that l may try to make your Ii
happier than it has ever been YETI
, lie was by her side now, on his knees, }
! arms round her, bis face close to hers. Il
) | she pushed him back with wild look
! ] herger and dsspair.