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

do something ridiculous at this crisis, l think we
shall achieve something. But they are such-ie
was with the utmost difficulty that could prevaiI
on them to allow Sybil 70 be handed In 10 dinner
by the only man they would dream OF Iof neI
husband It was that lucky hit OF suggesting that
she might be made sort Of birthday queen OF,
that carried weight enough. Well, l have done
my part, and now il only Sir Robert Will 40 hIsI
Sir Robert was ready enough to do his. 10
him, as to the rest Of the world this dining ia'e
of Sybil LAtmer's meant the commencement OF
new epoch. and as he had known her. on ana on,
from childhood in desultory, haphazard, come
andgo sort of fashion, it is not to be wondered 90
that he tool, an interest In the matter. Had no
been let do So ne would soon have managed IN Do
friends with Sybil He had a talent TO- making
friends, and even as 1t WIS she was less shy ana
more at her ease with him than with ANYBODY
beyond the precincts Of LAtimer Hail. HIS frank
ness, his hearty laugh, and his broad red, beamins
face had an infinite allurcment for one VINO was
never red-faced Except from blushes, and VINO
did not know what 1t was to laugh aloud. or
, Robert would roar with mcrriment when thoroughly
amused He would lean back In his chair ana
enjoy the Joke to it's very dregs while poor Sybil
who could see the funny things too and would
have had quite q little store OF humor of her own
il 10 had not been sc persistently quelled, would
look at him with An envy which, as years passed,
gradually gave way TO admiration. How big, and
bold and brown he vast How little he cared
which way the wind blew, or how hard the rain
fell How free he made with his tongue and his
step within the mu(fled, hushed domain IN which
she herself had been taught 70 glide and murmur
until the very sound of door shutting sharply or
football tresding fearlessly would sometimes set
her pulses in a futteri Then how readily, and
pleasan ly and altogether equally would Sir Robert
chat with either parent not as though he had
moments hesitation about responding to their
Inquiries combating their argumentsi
Once or twice he had actually spoken up for her
he had dared to plead for an immunity against
which even Lady Diana had not ventured TO pro-
test lie had not It is true, been successful-no
one ever would have been successful-but he had
done it, and Sybil had almost adored him for doing
it. Grief and gratitude had mingled their bitter
and sweet In her heart that night; grief that her
friend should have known of the rule which was
to her so deep an indignity, and gratitude thao
he should have striven to night her wrong
Thenceforth he had become her hero, and while
Lady Georgina was saying TO herself, in her sup
posed worldly wisdom, that it was OF no use
her and her husbands ever giving a thought to
young Dovercourt for that Sybil dutiful and
obedient as she was, would be certain TO turn
from his ugly face and that, so surely she did
So Henry would give in seeing that SYPHILIS hap
piness was to them all in all)-while the poor
creature who, after all. was mother and an
afetcionae one, was telling herself this with
sigh-what was Miss Syb about but wondering,
and bordering, and pcerng out from under her
long lashcs TO see what had become OF this very
Sir Rob TT, and questioning more and more whether
he was in his turn ever giving a thought to herr
Once she had been nearly sure that he liked
her. that he liked her better than other people
did, understood her more than they did and-and-
even admired her just little, and looked at her
just now and then but for some months preceding
the birthday party the young man had been
absent from the neighbOrhOOd, and the news that
he had not only been invited but had accepted
his invitation, gave her heart almost shock
Then had followed the intimation that, at her
aunts suggestion for the first time, Lady Dlana's
Interference in programme of their own had been
graciously received by the prickly COUPLE" at
her aunts suggestion had been repeated by both
it had been settled that she TO be taken in
to dinner be the bachelor baronet.
Sybil had not sand word. But she looked, as
she felt, happy so happy, indeed. that Lady
Georgna, ever on the watch for any change of
color or turn OF feature had suddenly paused,
drawn u long breath and gaZed wistiully into her
daughters face Did it strike her that the time
bad come when even that limpd surface might
not reveal all that lay in the depths beneath?
At any rate the name of Sir Robert DOvercOurt
did not rise again TO her Ii s, and presently she
reverted 10 other matters connected with the all
important matter on hand. For such an august
occasion Syhil was to have really smart new
dress 1t could not, Of course, be cut. was the
Prevailing mole low in the neck and short in the
sleeve, and there must still be this and that by
genie precaution observed in the making but still
it was TO he pretty, il was to be fashionable,
and it was 10 be had from firs-rate London
dreSsmak"r. In this last lay the youthful debu-
tantes chief source Of satisfaction and comfort.
No really firstclasS potentatc such Lady GeOr-
gina named, would for her own s,ke, turn out
q birthday dress for young lady of eighteen that
was not by means Of art and skill worthy Of her
reputation The taors had, she knew demurred
TO her coats, and had only been Prevailed upon TO
yield on the plea that for little girl, a mere
school-room miss, appearance could not signify,
health must be everything. Hints had. however,
been dropped that even in her parents eyes ap-
pearance was now TO certain extent to be held
or consequece and Sybi trod on air At last. at
Hn M
what they wore and turn and step about with
ont that terrible consciousness Of being
followed by curious and derisive glances,
which had permcated her life hitherto At last
perhaps. at last-one pair Of eyes might look not
only on her. but on her trapping with all the g-
norant but delightful homage OF a man. Sir Rob
ert. her Old friend Sir Robert. should that poor
little Sybl could be fine" for once.
10 De ConhrtedJ