The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-12-29

1 -ldkc Ine WOrl0 9tre0SurcS-ltS nODIo9t. De9t-
And love will outweigh all the rest!''
And through the easement the moonlight col,
Streams on two heads-one gray. one gold.
/ 3 OUT OF THE TOLLS. e.,
"Sybil."
The girl thus addressed, who had
been standing with her check pressed
against the window, looking out OIL q
sea of pale pink apple blossom, tossing
and shivering In the April winds start
ed nervously. and turned toward the
| speaker face which would have been
happy. ri0nte, but for the sombre gray
eyes that looked out from their mid
! night fringes with 4 hunted, startled
look. pitiful to see in o helpless, wound
| ed animal-much more in young and
| beautift4 woman.
..Arthur will be here this evening, SO
I make yourself as charming as possible.
He will bring one of his friends with
him 10 spend Q week"
who is it, MADAME" asked the girl,
I In low, intense tones, impulsively plac-
ing her hands on Mrs. Vernon's shoul-
der. ..-e.
"He did not say, child" turning her
grave, kind eyes on the white, anxious
face of the girl. ..Why does the men,
tion Of strangers mako you SO nerv-
ous?'
Sybil shivered. answering with sad
voice, which was not meant TO be re-
proachful:
when came to you, a broken
hearted, ife-wearied stranger, you
agreed to ask NO questions; has your
faith failed you SO soon. madame"
my faith was proven when l con-
your keeping, Sybil," answered Mrs
Vernon. trust and confidence coming
gladly back to her eyes. .'Go now,
dear. and make yourself beautiful for
has sake"
The mournfnl eyes grew suddenly hu-
mid as she went softly out. closing tho
door behind her.
). Il am too psle," she murmured.
'IstasdlSg before the glass to fasten a
Isprigy Of mistlafoe ineber< lnxur,ant
tresses, the cream white berries con-
trasting beautifully with -esscir raven
hue. land so miserRbly nervous. 1
must not give way TO idle fears. These
berries are like death-bloodless and
cold; they will never do"
2 She laid them inside tendcrly-they
were so pretty, but as she had said,
without life or warmth-and replaced
them with clusters Of roses. glowing
and full Of color.
'.Lovelier than dream! No woman's
face was ever 80 perfect" Arthur Ver-
non told his friend, as the iron horse
brought them nearer his beautiful, hap
py home. 49,
81 have no faith in women" Gilbert
Carr answered. in the cold, sarcastic
tones habitual to the man when speak
ing of the gentler sex.
"But Sybil Is different from others,
Gilbert. thought my own bachelor
hood confirmed until I met her. Yoa
charming and beautiful woman. mone
than worthy Of my life's best effsrts."
s'Oh, yes! They are all that at one
time in our lives" replied Mr.. Carr.
and honest, straightforward Arthur
Vernon only smiled good-humoredly,
trusting to SYPHILIS own charms to win
over this eccentric woman hater to
happier and more civilized state of feel
ing.
And the change that swept over Gil
bert Carr's dark. inscrutable face was
like a sudden flash of light in a dark
ened room, when his eyes fell on the
slender figure of Sybil Thorn standing
in the mellow radiance of the lamps
which lit up Mrs.:Vernon's drawing
room.
She stood by the ebony mantel. the
glowing Egyptian roses in their crystal
vases not redder than her soft. mobile
lps-her white hands like twin lilies
loosely clasped-her dress of that pc
culiar delicate shade Of pink the French
cali .'tears of roses," falling in shining
silken folds from the slim, girlish waist
1.-The dark red blossoms in her hair and
at the slender, milk-white throat, CIV
ing an Oriental richness and bloom to
her face. enchanting beyond compare.
..oh. in thy truth secure. thy virtue bold,
Beware the poison in the cup of gold,
the asp among tho iowersT
Somehow these words of Rogers had
REQUIRED TO Sybil several times during
the day, and even now they were trem-
bling upon her lips, as the doors were
thrown open and the expected visitors
tremendously announced.
'.This is my friend Mr.. Carr, Miss
Thorn, said Arthur, turning from the
embrace of his mother to Sybil, with
fond pride in his handsome blue eyes.
happily ignorant of the sudden fear
which had stricken the brightness and
bloom from her5sweet face. s.i-
Miss Thorn did / understand"
asked Gilbert Carr, with peculiar.
unpleasant emphasis, the dangerous
light in his black eyes leaping into lurid
flames.
.'Miss Thorn" repeated Sybil. crest
ing her beautiful head. while the hunted
look in her magnificent gray eyes gave
wsy to one of scornful defiance.
Arthur Vernon himself was unaware
of anything out of common in the meet
ing of these two apparent strangers,
his nature was so noble, so free from
suspicion. But not SO his mother; her
sharp eyes quickly saw that something
was wrong, the hidden menace in her
VISITORS tones did not escape her. and
she then and. there mentally vowed 10
keep Surveillance of, the two US long
as they remained together under her
roof. mo woman should wreck her
sons life. Men AS whOie.sOuled and
worthy as he had been deceived and
undone by the witcheries Of q beautiful
fac-. and any adventures would find q
mothers jealous care ,invincible points
to battle against"
But whatevsr the good lady's doubts
were, they received no fresh shock in
the daily intercourse Of the two to ex-
cite her suspicions.f - r,,..t-
I Gilbert Carr. a very fascinating man
at all times-especislly SO when he ex-
erted himself to -Please-so far won the
good opinion of his friends mother rs
70 sa1je hef sonatWipges Of conscience
for her previous misfrust. and before