The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-13
SYBIIA


alton Of the man she loved, as only women
OF her ardent temperament can love. Now
she listened to his voice come to her through
the glossy laurel leaves, and heard these
words:
81 love you Rose, I love You. have
fought against it, but have no power to
resist my emotions Why are you 50 cruel?D
1t was to her cousin Rose that Frank
| Aubury spoke. and Rose answered:
at is only that YOU startled me so. /
thought You came 10 see Cousin Sybil. l
believe she consia rl You engaged to her.
/ have always thou ,ht you We're"
"Have you?" said Frank Aubury. "Wel,
| will tell the simple truth; that would
have happened if had not met you. I'm
very fond Of her yet in a brotherly sort OF
way, you know. She's awfully good, and
her fortune is not 10 be forgotten. But ]
worship YOU; am rs much in love with
you as a man can be with woman. Yes,
| if you had not come | should have married
Sybil But You did come"
Sybil turned softly away, thinking how
much trouble she had taken to coax her
cousin Rose to come 20 visit her in quiet
old Parkertown, thinking that il was all
her own fault that she had been thrown in
Frank Auhury's way.
Frank was very handsome, and Rose had
an occupation for her idle hours. She had
known that he was SYPHILIS lover; that if
not engaged they understood each other
and she had deliberately gone to work 10
rob her Of his heart. Deliberately. She
had seen it, too, and had trusted him. Per
feet love had cast ont jealousy. She had
fancied that Rose might amuse herself
without harming her.
idiot" she said TO herself. "Ah we
| pay rs dearly for oar folly as for oar
| crimes" And then a stern resolve pos
sessed her. Suffer as she might, no one
should know t. She would take the mat
| ter into her own hands.
That evening she had a conversation
with Frank Aubury which sent him from
her with his blood boiling. lie was ready
to iilt her, but he was not rs ready to be
/ Tilted That is quite another thing.
I've been wrong, think" she had said,
"to let you fancy that might be won. ]
| have had liz Of remorsc about it. shall
never marry "a man who cannot give me
| position. At FIRST thought you would be
able 10 do that, but you seem content to
stay where you are. Ike you as
brother but 10 more, and we shall be
friends shall we notf'
| She acted well, uul she made him feel as
/ she desired that hc should, and afterward
she talked TO Rose
DO you know why sent for YOU" she
| said. II wanted 10 find wife for FEank
| Aubury. lie fancicd he liked me and !
had encouraged him, but it would never
| do. | am Internationally. WANT man
| Of position. | fancy that | should be Cn
happy If my husband were not somebody -
Heaven forgive nae for telling such lies, "
she said in the quiet moments afJcrward
when she was alone With her great agony.
"but have saved my pride
Rose was married from her cousins
house, and Syail threw rice after them as
| they stepped into the carriage, and she was
gayest Of all the gay party and herpresent
TO the bride was the haldsomest; but that
night when she bid the last guest adieu she
felt that her home was dosJlate. Parents
or sisters she had none; an only brother
lived in France and had large family
about him. This beautiful home was hers,
and here she had hoped to dwell with her
husband, for her fortune was large, and
she asked nothing better than To bestOw it
upon him. Without him il would be "a
lonely as her life, which seemed empty OF
all love forever
For year she heard nothing Of Rose
then a letter came 10 her asking FOR little
loan.
Frank has been specializing" she added
losing, of course-hc always ioscs-and
| haven't gown 90 my back
The money was sent.
More letters fJl!owed-more so called
loans. Rose never attempted to return
ther1. In each was some complaint O..
Lr.4k.
a last 2 more than usually doleful mis-
sive came. 10 began thus:
DEAR sysu-You really are the Only friend :
have in the woriL Prank is so cross that can't
haze mau call He is jealous il speak a. word
% an old acquaintauc.. alI as for women, my |
wardrobe Is too empty % make calls or receive
them. Such tea gowns as taey wear now, too
and that style is so becoming Do me. ! ha,e q |
dreadful little baby that does nothing but yeli |
and 10 nulsemaid You know ON which side !
your bread was but,crol when you shipped Frank |
Of on me-a jealous bear without sense enough !
to make a descent income. / do wish I'd never
come 90 pay iou that visit. / might have hal !
man with half % million; be just camo into JIG last
week. lie Aal only doubtful expectations when |
/ jited hini az course. And Frank had expecta |
lions too They nave fizzed out. la ths most |
wretchel woman alive,
DO send nae something ont Of charity. We have |
o Vienna roll and an oyster in the house, and no |
credit ami no money.
Oh forgot to tel you Frank broke his lex |
week ago He'd been taking too much drink ald |
had himself brought home. Why he didn't 90 to /
an hospital l can think. Pity poor little me. |
have 70 nurse him and that awful baby too |
Your unfortunets Cousin ROSE
In half an hour more Sybil was on her
way to her Cousins home She hardly |
knew Rose slovenly. discontented and dis |
hcartened as She was. As for Frank, he |
ley upon @ couch, unshayen and unshOrn. |
and cursed his fate.
The rooms We've mean, but too expen- |
sively furnished theircondition what Rose |
had described il. And Frank
Before Sybil had been in the house an |
hour great joy possessed her. She |
brcathed deep breaths and smiled rs she |
had not smiled for years, for she made the |
discovery that her love for Frank was q !
thing Of the dead past; that this selti- |
mout which she lad nourishcd III hef
bosom ia her lonely country home WAS |
sheer folly, born Of lis handsome face and |
winning ways. In this uncomfortable |
home his true character came out quite
plainly.
sybn felt great pity fer the little
crushed butterfly who WINGED at these
tauuts; but she had money, and was able
e. make matters better at once She be
gan with a good dinner, and before long
Rose had a perfect wardrGbe-the baby all
it needed Frank, ia "a charming cashmers
dressing gown, with the attention Of a hair
dresser, was handsome once more, and was
good enough to call Sybil their guardian
angel.
A little girl was hired to assist in the
care Of the poor baby, and Rose, in her
new dress. was perpetaally going out 10
call, to walk, to shop. Sybil kept her purse
full, and Frank besought his cousin to stay
Ito read TO him, 90 sing 90 him. They
had little upright piano which Rose never
touched
She did all he asked and every hour
deepened her thankfuiness that she was
not his wife and gllpd IA her disOuSf for !