Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-01-12
CHAPTER VIII,

''ROOKwOOD, Nov. 18th, 1S-.
"DEAR MARK.-When you asked me to mar
ry you that day, told you could not; but ]
did not tell you why. 1t is because l am en-
gagged to my cousin Perc val, and promised to
wait for him all my life if necessary.
"Amaranth CarrutherS wants me to believe
that you would still wish to marry me even if
you knew this; but 1 know you better, dear
old fellow; and know you would not be hard
upon aunt Anna. This has nearly killed her,
Mark; you will be shocked when you see the
charge one day has made in her.
"Ihave not heard how much money poor mis-
erabe Clement has robbed you of, but you are
very rich-are you not?-and 1 don't believe
| that for few hundred, or even thousand,
pounds, that you would break all our hearts. l
know Iwould not hurt you for hundred thous-
and pounds, and you must like me better than
l like you, having asked me to be your wife.
| wish you would come and see me; it is so much
easier to talk than to write. And / can't imag-
inc your saying anything unkind or unmanly,
or blaming me for being true to Percival, who
was good to me long before you and met each
other.
"Your affectionate friend,
"SIBYL KENNEDY"
Sibyl felt much happier when she had
posted this letter. She counted the days
which must elapse before she could get
Marks answer, counted them as she sat
for long hours by Lady Annals sick-bed,
doing her best to cheer the stricken mo-
ther with repeated fond assurances of her
faith in Mark Bretton's honor and in his
friendship for them both.
When the day arrived which she had
| o,1o,Ioto5 mould 1,,iDp bar b;c Iaffa,
and the old postman never came up
the drive at all, though she was disap-
pointed, the girl did not feel uneasy.
at will come tomorrow, she thought
turning from the window of the sick room
where she had been eagerly watching
for old Mathews. "Mark is gentle
man; he will answer me one way OF the
other"
And when the next day came and there
was still no letter. she made up her mind
that he was coming to see her instead of
writing.
That afternoon, when Dixon came softly
/ in to call her, Sibyl thought he had come.
Sibyl was on her knees before the fire,
adding little bits of coal to it with her fin
gers, so as not to wake Lady Anna, who
had fallen into doze.
ut is the Countess, my DEAR" said old
Dixon, in low voice. "She has brought
her maid and an imperial"
Sibyl sighed.
"Another BATTLE" she thought drearily.
'Oh, when shall we be at peace againT
She stole away to her own room to wash
her hands and to look for a moment or two
atPercival's portrait.
"They shall not force me to break my
promise, DEAR" she whispered, holding ii
against her flushing cheek. "There is nc
one here but me to take your part, and
will fight for you against them all"
The Countess was knitting by the par
lor fire. She had taken off her bonnet
and made herself comfortable. Her white
hair was covered with old yellow point
lace, her magnificent rings sparkled in the
freight as the long stocking grew on her
busy needles.
"There you are, child, at last" she said
giving Sibyl one of her wrinkled old
hands to kiss. II began to think you
were afraid to face me-"
~ have never been afraid to face any
one" returned Sibyl quietly. She looked
pale and worn from her watching, and she
held her fair head erect, and looked her
opponent steadily in the eyes. 81 am
sorry could not wait on your ladyshir
sooner. was with aunt Anna when you
arrived"
1t seemed that Miss Kennedy had in
herited something of the family manner
Nothing could well be less conciliating
than her tone or her carriage.
~ need not ask how my daughter is,'
said the Countess glowering at her over
her knitting.
~ am afraid,"- "-Sibyrs clear and steady
voice shook little now-''that she is
very i'll indeed"
~ dare say. She is not likely to he
much better, poor soul. as long as you
prefer your own maudlin fancies to her
happiness and honor.
The battle had begun.
Aunt Anna does not think that of me-
the girl answered, fighting for self con-
troll. "She knows there is nothing in the
world that I would not do for her that is
right" 49,.
"Ah"-the old woman broke into a
scornfnl laugh-"there it is-of course!
That is rightp Can't you leave your
elders and betters, Miss Sibyl, to judge Of
that for youf"
~ am old enough to Judge for myself"
"Or you think you are! Well let us
waste no more time in bandying words.