Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-01-31
sIBYL SARTOnY,' rERrL

sIBYL sARTonY,' rGKrL
One evening Il think that 1t was the
first night of the revival of "Romeo
and Juliet" at the Lyccum) Jack Sar.
torys and his wife occupied box there,
which, after much difficulty, as lie
averred, Col. Dunkirque, of the
'Heavies," had been fortunate enough
to secure. As a general rule, Col
Dunkirque was not III the hatit of pre-
senting first-nlght boxes to his friends
unless he had some object to gam. Peo-
pie suggested that it was a ruse on his
part to win Jacks good graces-especi-
ally the smiles of Jacks wife but then
people might have ied-they frequent
ly do IN such matters-and yet for once
they were right.
Dunklrque was a notorious Lovelace,
as handsome man as you would see
anywhere man whose appearance
was hailed with inward tribulation and
groanlng by poor devils who had lot
the pluck to kick him out of their houses
when his attentions grew too pronounced.
1t was rumored, too, that his doings
lately had been very shady-so shady
that his friends Che had many friends
all predicted that lie would speedily
have 10 bolt from the impending clutches
of those ministerIng fiends, Messrs.
Shylock a Co.
Slbyl Sartorys was a very handsome
woman-dangerou handsome. She
had masses of golden bair, which did
not OWE Its sunny tints 10 some vile
wash, arched red lips, sweet blue eyes,
a soft white neck, and a complexion OF
dazzling fairness. In addition 10 these
charms she possessed knack OF pleas
ing people when she cnUse 10 take the
trouble, and was also very popular i'll
her own immediate circle. Jack had
fallen in love with her Ill his usual in
pulsive, headlong manner ; but. for my
own part, l always thought her II trltie
hard and unsympathetic. There was
sometimes look IN her sweet eyes not
entirely &cqulescent when Jack had III
tlmated something of which she dlsap-
proved. Having said what he wanted,
Jack generally let her have her OWL
way, and so the impending storm al
ways blew over-for a time. She de-
manded absolute slavery hom hiIn. and
accepted his devotion as matter OF
course. Club friends, amusements, all
had to give way to this little autocrats S
imperious mandates I; and poor Jack
was spoiled for us.
Yet ne WAS very happy. In her sof-
ter moments. preludlced as L was, L
could but admit the charm OF her sweet,
low voice, and the winning eyes which
could have lured babe from Its mothers
arms. But often imagined that her
thoughtlessness would ore day bring
her to grief. She had such superb
contempt tor the conventlonalltles. You
and l, gentle reader, know better. We
bow down and worship Mrs. Grundy,
as If We liked her but do We? think
not.
Dunkiraue did despise the conven-
tionalitles and decencles OF hfe-nay,
he outraged ihem perslstently. lie
had always some contidante to whom he
unbosomed himself OF his troubles with
those freelances, the money-lenders-
Dpped as he was, he contriyed to get
through as much money as Of old. his
horses and dinners were the best III
town--men eagerly sought to rlde the
one and to eat the other. think Sibyl
Sartorys alone knew now soon there
would be neither-how quickly the
bubble must burst and Dunklrque hide
his diminished head for the rest OF his
days In some little fifth-rate continental
town. And yet she tancled that she
loved him. Had he been prosperous,
happy, gay, she would not have done
SO but as he was going to the dogs 1t
seemed to her as II she mad no alterna-
tive but to accompany MIN.
Who Is it says that women always
wreck themselves with their best I'M
pulses
In person Dunkirque was tall and
we'll built, but there WAS an indehnable
something In his face which betrayed
that he had not long to live, Ali the
DunkIrques had died of consumption
before their fortieth year, and the colo
neI was thirty-five. With this sword
hanging over hum, it was impossible
not 10 feel sorry-at least the women
thought so-for his nlsspent lie. Men
were inclined to believe that he made
the most of the situation, and posed
for that effect. But then men are such
unfeeIing beings they have none OF
the finer sympathles OF their wives
their mission is to pay bills and be
generally useful.
That evening things seemed 70 be
approaching climax-a deuced un-
pleasant, one too, ior poor Jack. When
Capulet said to the maskers,
81 have seen the day
That have worn a VISOR, ana coulu teh
whispering tale in a falr lady ear,
Such as would Please,
Mrs. SarIorys' eyes met Duhhlflue >;
drooped in a Lalf-shamefaced but stu
tender way. 1t was not look L should
k to see on the face Of my vile, when
talking with another man, though nav
ing provided Jack with his first pony
and piloted hum across the country at
the early age of seven, l am looked
upon as an old fogv who is not entitled
to express any dir ct opinion. Perhaps
my ideas are rather old-fashoned-
wholesomely so.
Jack did not notice what was gong
on, He loved his wife too dearly even
10 dream of such infamy, 1t was a
delightful experience to him to listen
to the balcony scene, and TO follow the
hapless fortunes OF the star-crossed
lovers, although he could not help wish