New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12

doubt her pArrDts affection. AZ wes Only tn"e
Aunt Diana WIS different and Aopt DIANA seemed
to understand What delightful strong boots and
woollen gloves Mary and Isabel wore, and what
nice, rough, fashionable- looking coats they lad
Poor Sybirs heart would be nearly broken as
she compared these coats and those plain, ser
viceable, unremarl1able hats and frocks, with
her own constructed, in, epted unique, atlcics
Of attire every one OF which had Dcen 1csgheu
on srme str.rg' unknown pattern Tor herself
alone and for whose every seam special and MIN
ute instructions had had 70 be given Even
her stockings were at all times woven 10 oroer
even those simple accoutremcnts could DE turheo
into instruments Of torture. IL VIII pc scarcely
credited why, but the fact was this' thac ole
poor little toes were severally encased as though
In gloves.
Now this secret Sybil hoped and almost prayed
was unknown beyond the precincts OF her own
home The distortion was not visible, not Visioie
ordinarily; but the dread lest any unforeseen CIR
cumstance ght lead to its Diet ctlon was Ior many
years one Of the haunting terrors OF the young
girls life Little did either parent dream TO wnao
was due many an apparent readiness TO comply
with their wish to refuse an invitation, since noo
a syllable would be breathed In mortal ear OF
Sybi inability face the risk that lurked therein
since it would only need Lady Georginas Be
sure that Miss Sybl changes her slippers 70
open CULTS Of possible misery
Once the acute little ear ever on the stretch,
had caught q terrible opening sentence. SyDii
Is great sufferer from cold feet delivered ID
the old Colonies most impressive aside she had
almost torn her playmates out OF hearing Az
every moment she had expected to hear the reve-
lation followed by all the selfcomplacent pronxlty
in which Colonel Latimer was won't TO indulge
when once upon his hobbyhorse and then-Syol
could not bear TO think Of what might have happen
ed then II once Mary. or Isabel or the boys knew
Now the truth was that they did know, but pity
sealed their lips. Pity sealed the lips OF most
xha Ia To- rod
Who colld bring the scarlet flush 20 that brow,
and the CULVER TO ttbt fpi
THE sweetest girl under heaven. SIR Robert
1t was Lady Diana who spoke. The sweetes''
truest most loyal, lovable nature. How my sister
and her husband" here the speaker choaked IN
dignantly and remembered herself. When IN the
vein Lady Diana's tongue was apt to run away
with her Lady Georgina is, of course, entirely
devoted to her daughter proceeded she presently
but all the same she is cruel to her. cruel beyond
everything Oh don't look at me like that Slr
Robert. Bless me! I thought you knew what
kind of cruelty mean SyhPs parents worship
the very ground she treads upon, but the ground
must be carpcted. cushioned, padded till she can
neither see nor feel what she is doing She IS
perfectly conscious herself of ths-and that IS
what | mean by Lady Georgna's being cruel:
Sybil eprceives everything anonymous and absurd
in the mode Of her upbringing Her parents on
the other hand, perceive nothing, and will take
advice from nobody. 1t is sufficient for them
that some real or fancicd want If SYPHILIS is sup
Piled They care not in the slightest whether or
no public opinion is outraged by the manner IN
which it is done My niece is not
strong, not naturally strong bat She
is by no means so delicate as they imagine or as
they have done their best to make her She wants
sunshine, warmth freedom, merrymaklng laughter
In her earlier days she wanted to romp and shout,
and tear about in tho open r7-(thc " open ar
in Lady Diana's lips was to SYPHILIS parents as a
hull adpd sensible
and warm-h hearted creature, now that she IS
older she wants t. be let alone to devise her own
little projects follow her own bent, and busy her
hands and her brain in ways Of her own choosing.
The poor child docs not want to be set to 90
every single thing she does It would be amusing
if il were not so absurd to hear great girl or
seventeen, nearly eighteen now. directed and In
stIucted. and questioned and Ss-Qucstioncd. as
to how every moment OF ter time is to be or has
been passed If Sybil were foOl-But she is not nv
any means fooll SO far from it. / am persuaded
that my niece has considerable force OF charac-
ter and that all this grinding down and cramping
in has not been able entirely to suhdue It, She
submits her will. but not without dlficuity. Ana
she is n finely strung cbild-well, scarcely chlld
now, but must always think OF her as one-1t Is
dreadful to her to have every little fancy held
up to public view and forced upon the attention
of an audience. Sybil knows and secs what they
are thinking while her parents are entirely I'M
conscious. My goodness what scenes L have
scent" and Lady Diana turned up her eyes and
raised her hands with the JUNCTION Of a true orator
Well wells proceeded She we'll well. Perhaps
they will be wiser some day; but must say that
the whole thing is never-ceasing fret to me- ana
that the patience with which that dear child bears
with my poor foolish sister and her still sller
husband-Colonel Latimer Is the most obstinate
man in existence. Sir Robert-I say that SYPHILIS
obedience and dutiful submission towards them
often brings the tears to my eyes
" You are a good woman" said Sir Robert,
who had listened to every word Of the harangue
" You-you a good woman
There was something in his tone which made
Lady Diana look up. Sybil is very pretty"
said She softly.
Very pretty
"And quite tall enough for so slight figure
"Quite tall enough"
" If she only better dressed"
Sir Robert smiled
Il say, if she were only better dressed. Sir
Robert; but no doubt you think that Is only
woman's notion
"No indeed, Lady Diana. I am sure that L
I agree with you, but after ALL you know,
frocll is easily changed"
"Svbils frocl<s arc not The speaker laughed;
laugh which had reference to some Of the COonels
whispered revelations. However, she added,
recolecting that she had something yet to say,
" however understand your meaning After all,
dress is nothing-nothing. You arc going to the
birthday party, believer" He believed so too
wei, you Will take SyDu III 10 ulHurr, nhNc
very little doubt You know she is to dine late'-
Lady Diana, like the rest, attached a world OF
meaning to the simple fact" Sybil is to dine late,
and I understand is to be made sort of queen of
the feast; So although her mother will have old
Lord Furzecott, who could hardly he put Oft with
q chit like Sybil she will be taken in by the next
in precedence probably yourself" lie bowed and
was sure he looked-peased
Do try to draw her out" proceeded SYPHILIS
aunt amnesty MAKE her talk. Make her
answer for herself once. It IS real oppor-
tunity; for her parents cannot well answer in her
place and anticipate every syllable from the two
ends Of the dinner-table. They would II they
could" and she laughed afresh, but luckily the
table is long: OH but" and her face fell but l
am afraid you will be placed at my sisters left
hand. Oh that would spoil all, for that poor
old thing-Lord Furzecott, you know-be will only
nod his head and humble over his plate he will
require far, far too little attention fear, Well
you must do your best. Seize every chance. You