Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-04-23
SyIvia's Guardian;
Or
A YOUNG GIRLS LOVE.
BY RETT WILDWOOD.

BY RETT WILDWOOD.
dear Mark l am so glad-so happy
SO relieved to be back again, and"
1t was Isabel herself. The letter had
been delayed, and she had arrived at
almost the same moment.
Her trembling voice died away. Be-
fore Mark could speak or rise, she had
tottered forward, and clasping her arms
about his neck, hidden her tear-wet face
upon his breast.
Forgive me, Mark" she sobbed. II
have been so wretched without you.
Tell me that all is forgiven and forgot
ten."
The proud, stately woman chung to
him with all the abandon of an impetu-
Gus child.-Mark felt himself thrill and
tremble under her caressing touch.
Great drops came out thickly upon his
forehead. She was so proud, so very
beautiful Her dark, brilliant eyes,
when presently she raised them to his,
were so full of pathetic pleadingl How
could he tell her in so many words that
she had come too late?
For the moment, all his hopes and
wishes seemed to be centred in Isabel.
Goodness and distruSt were forgotten.
traotive.
Heaven help us!" he faltered. my
poor darling, you do not know"
She stopped his lips with an impetu-
ons kiss.
II can divine all you would say. You
are still thinking of that miserable mis-
understanding. Have l not taken all
the blame to myself? did wrong, but
have been cruelty punished. Do you
forgive me, ot shall go down on my
knees to sue for pardon?"
You would never do that, Isabel?"
"Yes, thousand times, rather than
fail of making my peace with you. The
last vestige OF pride has been stricken
She made movement as though to
fall at his feet, but he held her up with
both hands.
Not that" he cried, hastily; mot
that"
"Then assure me that all is forgiven. a"
ut is"
"And you will try to forget how fool
ish and quarrelsome have beenp"
"Yes. But"
She would not suffer him to continue.
Enough. We will both forget the
past. Bury it out of sight, roll stone
over the grave, and never allude to it
again. Is IL bargain!
"Yes, Isabel. But really there is
something I-I-ought to say"
mo, there isn't" she interrupted,
word. You have been the martyr in
this ATARI the only culprit. The
humiliation should all be mine."
Then she caught his hand, and laid it
caressingly against her cheek.
1T is like blissful dream to be back
again, Mark" she softly murmured. II
feel that l never wish to waken from it..
1t would have been my death-blow had
you received me coldly."
How could he speak after such con-
fession? The words died upon his lips.
1t would have been easier to plunge a
kuife into the warm, loving heart flut-
tering so near his own.
At length Isabel released herself. II
had no intention of getting up a scene"
she said, blushing prettily. II shall run
away this moment. Where is Aunt
Margaret? Let me 90 to her."
Just as she was saying this dainty,
girlish figure tripped across the lawn,
under the window, singing a snatch Of
bird-like melody. Isabel drew quick
breath.
''Who is that?"
my ward, Sylvia Dreeme."
as she living at Ingleside?"
YES" Mark answered. 1.-The poor
child is an orphan. She has no other
home"
This was his opportunity to confess
the truth. Why did he not? Was it
distrust of himself or sympathy for Isa-
bel that kept him silentY
AN orphan! How very sadP' she ex-
claimed, with irresistible sweetness.
Ua mill Ha III nd m har
and make good, so far as possible, the
places of those she has lost"
Mark locked himself in, after Isabel
left him, and so it happened that the
three whose lives had been so unexpect-
eddy blended did not all meet until the
dinner-hour.
Sylvia appeared, radia with happi-
ness. She did not know of Isabel's
presence in the house, until they stood
face to face in Mark Castleton's pres
ence, with the width of the dinner-table
between them.
A confused presentation followed.
Sylvia could never afterward remember
what responses she made to the remarks
delivered in Miss Grier's even. musical
tones. On catching the name, she felt
face.
"What brilliant beautyl" she
thought. "How could Mark help low
ing herr OF course their quarrel is
made up, or she would not be here"
Finally, she stole glance at her lover
His pallor and constraint were only too
perceptible. He looked wretched, al
most beside himself. 1t required ar
effort to utter the most commonplace
courtesies.
Poor Sylvia felt sudden suspicion
that almost stilled the beating Of he
heart.
Marks love has returned to its OLE
allegiance" she said to herself. 1T wa
mere sympathy that drew him to me
and now that Isabel is back again h,
realizes the mistake ne has made. NJ
matter. / am ready to suffer. myself
but 1 could not endure to see him un
happy"
returned to the library, and shut him
self in. The next morning one or tn
servants announced that his maste
had left Ingleside during the night, .
be absent several davs.