The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-17
CHAPTER XIV.
4 HORRIBLE AWAKENINGl

IL was the twenty-second of December;
Christmas was close at hand nova real,
good, old fashioned ''wbite Christmas" for
the snow, though deep, was frozen hard
and crisp, and showed no disposition to 60;
the birds, looking fat and comfortable in
their rufflad feathers, unconsci Gus of how
they were injuriug their own case by appear
Ing so well fed, lopped from window to
window, peering in with round black eyes at
breakfast and dinner-time; the hOllies were
full of berries.
Sibyl, the weary look gone from her love-
ly eyes, q soft bloom on her checks, and
happy smile playing round her delicate
mouth, stood leaning against the mantel-
piece in her cosy drawing room, listening
intently for some sound outside the cur
tained and shuttered windows. She had
put on black velvet dress, as looking less
like mourning than any other black dress;
sprig OF holly, with its dark, shining
leaves and glowing berries, was placed in her
fair hair; soft white tulle was at her throat
ard wrsts-for Geotfrey was coming, and ho
hated to see her in mourning, "to be re-
minded that she had ever belonged TO an
other man." and Sibyl had no thought in
life but how TO please him He was to ar
rive at the Abbey this afternoon, and was
coming to see her in the evening at half-past
eight, he had said-and it had struck eight
more than a quarter of all hour since Cecil
was in bed and asleep, happy in the thought
of seeing his dear "Mr. Geoffrey on tie
morrow.
Suddenly Sihyl started, and the warm
blood rushed TO her cheeks. Surely that
was q mans step outside With wildly
beating heart she went to the door and bent
her head and listened, and then, as the snow
grated again under mans boot, she opened
it.
A man stood there on the Gravel potb in
tho briebt MOONLIGHT scarcelS two Yards off
a man, but not Geoffrey Chetwynd-a
r an of middle size, in ~ big cloak and
n wide hat his features scarcely perceptible
above black curly head but at the sight of
him sibyl Ieeled and leaned against the
d0orpost'
oWbo are vous What do Won waptT
she exclaimed her voice thin and sharp,
her face as white as death.
The man gave short, low laugh.
"Very well done, dame Sibyl,' he said, in
low voice that had ring of satisfaction III
1t; "but your face shows plainly enough
that you know who am. Wives don't for
get their husbands so soon as all that.
Il nave no luSDanu, uubWeTcu 'ClDyii III
the same sharp tone of fear and misery.
"He died two months ago. You are not my
husband l do not know you"
"Perhaps you will say next that you never
were the wife of John Thursto Lawrell, Es-
quire," the man said sneeringly "That
wasn't bad dodge about my death, was it ?
It happened to be my brother Frank that
jumped out of the window but, as my debts
were pressing, and ] had got into little
trouble that would have necesstated my ab-
sence from England thought We might as
well change places, and now, to everybody
but you, ON Mr.. Frank Lawrell We are
sufficiently alike to take each others place.
| Consequently, | shall want small allow
ance from my dear wife"
Sibyl stood shiverin2 and silent. Then
she remembered GeofINy If he met John
LawrelI now, might not mischief occur,
maddened with misery as he would boz
aGo awav now she said quietly. ~ am
exnectino "a friend and I do not want
you To meet. Come again at this time to-
morrow, and will talk to YOU But 90 at
once"
"All RIGHT" and he turned and went away
rapidly, Ills retreating steps ringing out
clearly and distinctly ON the hard, frost
bound road.
| Sibyl listened till tbey died away, and
then closed the door and went back to the