The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-24

passionate yearning love
glowing in her eyes-then softly called
her name:
"SybIl''
The girl raised her lovely face as the
lady called her name; then sprang to-
wards her with a low glad cry-a cry
full Of welcome.
Mrs. Etheridge clasped her in her
AIMS and kissed her many times, and
looked down with love into the beauti-
full young face.
What beautiful young face it was
all pink and white, with lovely vio-
let-blue eyes, shaded by silken lashes,
with perfect features and crimson
mouth; the low white brow shaded by
the sunny silken rings of hair-the hair
that fell in heavy curls far below her
waist.
In the meantime, Arthur and Paul
stood facing each other, silent for
moment, then Arthur spoke:
81 want to know, he said, repeating
the wordsh he had used before the silence
had fallen, ''what are your intentions
toward SYbil Hsrland2"
A sneer dis1gured Paul's handsome
face.
"The same as your own, no doubt;
or, rather, as your own were; for be-
lieve-to use vulgarism, but one ex-
plicit in this case-I have cut you out
most decidedly"
''If your intentions are the same as
mine are, not were, the question is an
swered; for l would think the highest
honor earth could give little in compar-
ison to the winning of Sybil Harland
for my wife. l amsimply trying to win
her as such."
'That she will never be-"
''Not if, as you say, you have cut me
out, but seeing her your wife and
mistress of Etheridge Grange will, If
painful, at least soften the knowledge
of my own loss."
''She will never be my wife, either, "
Paul said slowly, ''or mistress of Ether
idge Grange"
AIthur's eyes flashed ominously.
''Ah, you have given up the wooing,
thenP" he said questioningly.
81 never wooed her for my wife,
The words had hardly left his lips,
when Arthur raised his arm.
"Scoundrell"
The next moment the heir of Ether
idge Grange might have known exactly
how much earth he would occupy after
his demise, had he only been inclined
to measure it.
"You can get up if you like" his
cousin said, land 1 will level you
again"
The next moment he turned away,
not waiting for Paul to get up for the
second leveling.
Arthur walked on, his head bent in
thought, his mind busy with the prob
lem of saving Sybn from his most cow.
ardly cousin.
Had he looked back he would have
seen Sybil herself standing by gate he
had Just passed, looking after him with
an expression of passionate pain In hel
eyes.
An hour later, however, she was list
enmg to Paul's words of love, anc
though her delicate face flushed at the
feryor Of his manner, a wild unutterablt
pain shot through her heart.
Had only Arthur been as true as thit
man, who had beguiled her fancy, daz.
zled her imagination, but never touched
her heart-the heart already given II
Arthur, whom this man had led her t.
think had only passed his idle time witt
her, while another maiden wore hii
ring-a betrothal ring.
Passion, pain, and love thrown back
struggled in the girls heart, as she re
membered how she had dreamed of Ar
thurs love being hers, and then sht
listened to Paut's wooing.
This evening he asked her to be hi
wife, and bewildered by the passion anC
pleading of his love, and rememberin,
how, as she believed, Arthur had de
ceived her, she answered. Eyes"
They would be privately married, fol
Paul could not wait longer for his dar
ling, and then, when he won his mother
consent, he would acknowledge her.
Threedays later Arthur sought PAUL.
mother, his face white with excite
ment, his eyes dark with passionate an
ger.
"You will pardon me, Aunt Helene, ;
he said, "when prove my words, NJ
matter how they may anger-nay, seen
to insult you now. Though he is M
flesh and blood, and bears my name
were he my brother, my words woulc
be the same: Paul Etheridge Is vii
lainI"
Mrs. Etheridge started to her feet
her face growing pallid; but, befor'
she could speak, Arthur continued:
81 rely on you, his mother, to say,
an innocent girl-a girl fair and pur,
as the sun-whom he is going to betra,
into a mock marriage this evening.
have discovered the plot, but but
love the girl, and it would look like
like-you understand me, Aunt Helene
She might not believe me against him
You will come-you will help me t,
save herP"
81 will come" she said slowly.
Halfangered by his aunt's manner
wondering at her calmness, and ye
feeling that somehow he did not under
stand her, he burst forth:
"By Heavenl he is not worthy of th,
l.n,..o INtbo,.;Irn nop,a ,,o,,a.. ,lIz