The Osceola times., 1885-01-03
II heard him tell friend You arr

and they went down from the porch,
under the redness OF the lamps, and
hearing the soft sea,swash.
Half an hour later they had returned
TO the hotel, and were entering the
porch. =,
"What is it?" he asked, for she had
dropped from his arm.
"Your wife, she answered and fed.
She did not look behind her her long
dress tripped her as she ran. She was
conscious of some one following through
the halls and up the stairways. She
heard the nearing steps Of her pursuer,
but she did not look around until she
had unlocked and flung ajar her door.
"Come inside" she said then, calmly.
1t was Marquand's wife.
This latter was regal creature, tall and
dark with flashing eyes and purposeful
features. She painted with excitement.
"Yes, will come inside, and demand
you leave this place."
Sybil closed the door; they stood to-
gether in the dusky chamber.
Now" said Sybil-and her quietude
was wonderful by contrast "now ! will
listen. Do not suppose ] was running
away from you. If there must be a
scene, let ii be in private. And.' she
added wearily, IL suppose you intend a
scene"
| "Insolent-brazen-I demand you
leave at once. If / find you again in my
husbands company"
"Bahl You think to frighten me-?
| Why, woman. am no coward"
The slight form came nearer and stood
before her in its white clinging draperies
from which arose faint, subtle perfume.
| In the dim light the women could not
read each others faces, but Marquano's
] wife must have felt the calmness of her
foe.
"Go on" said Sybil, in her smooth,
low voics "Go on, and say what words
you will"
"Hussey" cried the other, and then
hurled stilL snore shameful name:
1Htisten," said Sybil. She moved si0'S-
ly backwards until she stood just before
the open window. Her arms hung
loosely at her side; there seemed no pas
sion in the soft, sweet body. Listen, l
have broken no law; | have ment to
break none. When you mar
ried Gordon Marquanl, you knew he
loved me; you knew that had still been
free, he would have waited ears for me,
You knew that had been sold, for a
price, despite my bitter tears and en-
| treaties, TO man | had never dreamed
of loving. And you had money; and
YOU schemed and labored and succeeded
ia capturing my lover for your husband.
You knew he did not love you, hand
some as you were. Well? You
se see I do not lie. l walked with your
husband tonight. Do you know what
we said TO each other? Put down your
hands, you do not frighten me; may
not ever see him again; do you under
stand? And his love is mine, do what
YOU will" her voice was thrilling with
passion; 81 loved him first. Do
you want to know what we said to each
uther?"
Marquand's wife sprang forward. -.
"You faunt your shame in my faceP'
she cried hoarsly, even as Hamilton
Denning had cried.
There is no shame" said sybil, mo
shame. Only love-"
IL will choke you, if you dare to say
sol"
Her hands were on the white throat
of her enemy. In her fury she must
have lost all reason.
They struggled so in the open window
then, forced out ward, past the sill, a
white form fluttered for an instant
There was stifled cry, and then
Marquand's wife was stunned for a
moment, then she ran shrieking through
the hall, shiieking and beating the all
with her bands. The other guests made
out, presently, what she would have
them knOw-that Sybil Denning hao
, fallen from her window. She had moi
fallen to the ground, but thirty feet oil
more, to the level roof of the verandah.
, They carried her in off the roof, sense
less; carried her back tv the silence q
her own chamber, and looking in hel
face saw a gray shadow.
, "She cannot live" the physicians sale
who were hastily summoned.
. Marquand's wife stood at the dool
when II opened after the consultation.
Sybil Denuing lay motioDless, and th,
gray look deepened on her face. Friends
and strangers tiptoed past the door, anC
whispered in the corridors.
No one knew where telegram woul'
reach Hamilton Denning.
The moments crept by. Some on,
else crept up along the hall but dareC
not enter. 1t was Gordon Marquand.
He hau in his eve the look of leath
, and on his chest a deadly weight.
Something barred HIM from the cham
g.. ber of the woman he had loved. ii,
,, fingered in the hall, stunned and death
ly pale.
He saw his wife come out with he
hands pressed upon her forehead, as i
she were half distracted; then he saw
her re-enter. He crept closer to thu
open door.
Sybil's eyes unclosed. The physician
' bent over her, but she looked away iron
l them. She seemed to see only Mar
quand's wife, tall, ghastly old.
She tried to speak, her eyes still fxe'
i on Marquand's wife.
II mo law-I never-lied--"
!. She breathed irregularly, and her lip
moved again:
= what we said-to ach-other-neve
l, to meet again" Her voice grey
stronger 81 fell leaned too far
, God forgive-it was my fault-to lean
SD far. Be-glad of this-I leaned-to
far"
3 Her voice bad sunk again to whit
per. The gray look stilled her feature
N till they seemed but a waxen masl
Her clinging olive-scented draperies la
like unstirred snow; her breath wa
u speLt forever. She was dead!
r. And Marluand's wife crept shudde
ing from the room.
n