The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-24
dge stood white and rigid for mo-

1dge stood white and rigid tor mo
ment.
What is this terror that hangs over
mep" she cried.
Two hours later Paul Etheridge and
Sybil Hsrland stood before minister,
the ceremony that Sybil believed to be
marriage about to commence.
The ceremony IS taxing place in a
little unused chapel that lies below
Etheridge Grange.
Suddenly the door is flung open, and
Arthur Etheridge enters, a yelled lady
leaning on his arm.
A curse left Paul's lips as he met his
Cousins glance.
Sybn's face was wrapped in veil as
well, and as yet the lady on Arthur's
arm bad only seen the CLINT of her yel
low hair, but even that made her heart
grow sick with terror.
''Sybn," Arthur said, pointing to the
pseudo-minister "that man is no cler-
gyman OF any denomination, and l can
prove it. I know who and what he is
he and 1 have met before"
Then Sybil turned her face, and a
wild cry rang through the chapel, as
Mrs. Ethridge leaped forward.
"Sybll-Sybill-my childl Oh. God,
what is this2" and the next moment
she had clasped the pale trembling girl
in her arms.
None of those who stood grouped
there dreamed that pair Of wild black
eyes were watching them from cur
tanned pew at the lower end of the
chapel.
Paul turned to Arthur, sneer on lis
handsome face, an evil light in his eyes;
but suddenly he grew strangely pale, a
look of fear crossing his face, for the
owner of the black burning eyes had
come quickly up the alsle, and stood in
their midst.
"Traitorl did you dream would not
find your But 1 have-I have, and
thus do take my vengeance, and keep
my OATH"
The next moment Paul Etheridge
had fallen at their feet; bullet from
pistol in the woman's hand entered
his heart.
"As he would have wrecked her life, u
pointing to Sybil, $50 he wrecked
mine. He will never wreck another;'
and before they could rally from theil
horror and amaze, she had fed from
among them.
They buried Paul Etheridge in the
family graveyard, and kept the story as
quiet as possible, and Sybil went home
with Mrs. Etheridge, never to leave
the Grange again.
Arthur Etheridge was the acknowl
edged heir of it now, for his grandfath
er's will had left it only to male heirs
girl could not have succeeded Paul
even had he sister left, and even had
Paul's mother given birth to a daugh
ter, when Paul was born, Arthur Ethe.
ridge would have inherited the Grange
One year after, Arthur and Sybi
were married; and then, almost kneel
| ing at Sybil's feet, Mrs. Etheridge mad'
confession and pleaded for pardon
: pardon beautiful Sybil gave her whilt
clasped in her arms.
, Sybl was her child, and Paul was ;
, child that, with the help of the ole
| nurse, they had substituted for the in
: FAINT girl.
"I could not give up the Grange, )
: she said. ~ persuaded myself the will
/ was unjust and unfair, and L woulC
, not lose my position; but, Sybil, m!
, life has been one of remorse for the sil
one heart. cry for you, my darling"
, 1t was harder to WIN Arthur's par
don, but for his darlings sake at lengtl
| he forgave her, believing her truly pen
, itent; and Sybil IS the happiest wife a
, well as the most beautiful woman tina
/ ever reigned at Etheridge Grange; and
3 she knows how Arthur loved her above
all on earth, even when she was onl!
Sybil Harland.
-.