Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-12-15
CHAPTER ".

CIIAPTER Nv.
AS the weather grew warmer. and the
evenings longer and lighter, it was only
natural that Mark Breton and Sibyl
should see more of each other. They
were always meeting out of doors, and
there were also many inducements for lin
gering after supper under the trees of the
lawn, where Lady Anna and Mr.. Lansing
were not fond of sitting,
Mark had grown to like Sibyl very
much. He had never thought of '.liking"
pretty girl until he met her; but he felt
that this was the tittest word to describe
the regard he Fad conceived for her. She
was too childish to excite any other Just
yet, he decided, in man. And Sibyl. on
her side, found Mark almost as amusing
as the boys had been. She used to laugh
at him sometimes when he had on his
blighted air which sat so i'll on his robust
young frame, and could rarely suhdue the
lurking laughter in his honest blue eyes.
And Mark, submitted, as a rule. to be
laughed at, consoling himself with the re-
Election that Sibyl's own turn would come
some day.
Sibyl was in the garden one morning,
before breakfast, when she saw Mark
coming to her across the lawn. He was
crushing letter in his hand and looking
very fierce. The letter indeed contained
the announcement of his cousin Kate's
approaching marriage.
"What is the matter!" she said, letting
the lilac bush she was holding fly out of
her hand, and turning to him with sweet
eyes full of concern. "Are you ILL You
look quite pale"
81 am as we'll as 1 shall ever be- re-
turned Mr.. Breton sardonica!ly, while
you women have the power to blight
mans whole life with word"
"Dear mel" Sibyl was really alarmed
81 hope you do not mean me3 1t is not
the chair again, is it Though l don't
see how else have offended you'
mo, nor The young man dashed his
hand across his brow with an ejaculation
of scorn, of passion of remuneration. "You
have always been the best little friend to
me, Sibyl!"-he sometimes called her so
when they were alone. and she had not
thought it worth while to check him.
"But you are only child; you cannot I'M
derstand yet. When you grow up, l have
no doubt you will follow the traditions of
your delightful sex, and make some poor
wretch as miserable as am now''
''Oh, Mr.. Bretton'-more and more
startled-"what has put such thoughts
into your head? Is there anything the
matter? Hadn't you better speak to aunt
Anna about it! She is so kind; she does
not mind what any one has done, if she
can only comfort them and make them
promise to be better"
A vague dread was in Sibyrs innocent
mind. She knew that when boys grew to
be young men they were sometimes wick
ed and extravagant, and caused great
pain to those at home, like poor Clement.
Was Mr.. Breton wicked too? He looked
so frank and nice, and seemed so content
ed in their dull old house.
''Do go and speak to aunt Anna," she
urged, putting her little brown hand for a
moment on his sleeve.
"She cannot heal my pain, sweet as she
is,' declared Mark modify.
He did really consider himself very
badly treated and very desperately in
love; and Sibyrs pretty startled palor
and wide omen brown eyes were soothing
to his feelings. He was not unwilling to
show her how wrong she had been to
laugh at him occasionally, not averse to
letting her see what unsuspected depths
OF suffering lay beneath his calm exte-
riOr.
"Oh, you are only in pain! 1 mean
that sounds very heartless!" explained
Sibyl; with a little relieved laugh-"but
I thought was afraid it might be some
thing worse. Is it toothache, or what9-
Come in and let aunt Anna cure you"
SIT is not toothache, Sibyl" Mark be-
gan to laugh in spite of himself
discounted laugh; but what was the use
in talking sentiment to an innocent child
like that9 1t is only that I have been fool
enough toto fall in love with woman
who has thrown me overw
This was hardly an exact statement of
the facts, but for the moment Mark be-
lieved it.
Sibyps face grew solemn.
You are-in love2" she said, almost in
whisper.
"Over head and ears, worse luck!'-
Mark answered with theatrical little
shrug of his sturdy English shoulders.
sibyl drew a long breath, and looked
him all over with a totally new interest.
II never saw any one before who was
in love-" she said in the same awe-strick-
en- little whisper. No wonder could
never think Of you as a boy! That is
why you have always seemed so entirely
different"
"No doubtw-bitterly. I have come
into my mans full inheritance of suffer-
ing"