The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-23
SYBIL


in the garden OF the old homestead. which
she had inherited with the rest of heriarge
fortune. and her heart turned to ice within
her bosom
a moment before she had been the hap
piest of beings, sure as shewas of fhe ador-
alton of the man she loved as only women
OF her ardent temperament can love. Now
shelistened to his voice coLnebO her through
the glossy laurel leaves, and heard these
words:
81 love you, Rose, love you. have
fought against it, but haze no power TO
resist my emotions. Why aTeyou SO cruel?'
It was to her cousin Rose that Frank
.Aubury spoke, and Rose answered:
at is only that you startled me so. |
thought you came to see Cousin 5ybll. L
believe she considers you engaged TO her.
have always thought you'were."
"Have your" said Frank Auhury. "Well,
] Will tell the simple truth; that would
have happened if had not met you. Pm
very fond of her yet in brotlerly sort Of
way, you know. She's awfully good, and
her fortune is not to be forgotten. But l
worship you; l am rs much in love with
you IS a man can be with woman. Yes,
If you had not come 1 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 it was all
her own fault that she had been thrown in
Frank Aubury's way.
Frank WIS very handsome, and Rose had
Rn occupation for her Idle hours She had
known that be was Sybil lover; that if
not engaged they understood each other;
and she had deliberately gone to work to
rob her of his heart. Deliberately. She
had seen it, too, and had trusted him. Per
feet love had cast out Jealousy. She had
fancied that Rose might amuse herself
without harming her.
"Idioti' she said to herself. "Ah, we
pay as dearly for our folly as for our
crimes" And then stern resolve pos
sessed her. Suffer as she might, no one
should know it. She would take the mat
ter into her own hands.
That evening she had a conversation
with Frank Anbury which sent him from
her with his blood boiling. lie was ready
TO tilt her, but be was not as ready to be
Tilted That Is quite another thing.
1--WE been wrong, think" she had said,
have had n fit CT Fernorse about it. I shall
never marry 4 MN who cannot give me
position. At first Thought you would be
able to do that, but yod seem content to
stay where you ara. l like you as a
brother, but no more, and we shall be
friends, shall We nOt?"
She acted well, and she made him feel as
she desired that he should, and afterward
she talked to Rose.
"Do you know why sent for you?" she
said. Il wanted to find e wife for Frank
-Aubury He fanoied he liked me and l
had encouraged him, but it would never
do. am Internationally l want a man
OF position. l fancy that I should be I'M
happy if my husband woreuOt somebody.
Heaven forgive me for telling such lies, y
she said in the quiet moments afterward
when she was alono with her great agony
''but have saved my pride
Rose was marrisi rom her cousins
house, and Sybil threw rice AFTER them as
they stopped into the carriage, and she was
gayest Of all the say party, and aerpresent
to the bride was the hsnasODIest> but that
night when she bid tha.iasJ guest adieu she
felt that her home was desolaGe. Parents
or sisters she had none; an ONLY brother
lived in France and had a 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 it wpUld be as
lonely as her life, w=ilich seemed empty OF
all love forever.
For year she heard nothing of Rose;
then a letter came 10 her asking for a little
loan.
Frank has been specializing, she added
Tossing, of course-he always loses-and
I haven't gown tC nay back
The money was sent
More letters foll0wed-more so called
loans Rose never attempted to return
them. In each was some complaint OF
Frank
y last more than usually doleful mis-
sive came It began thus:
DEAR SyBu-You reaIy are the only friend
have il the world Frank Is 50 cross that can I
have 4 man cnlL lie is jealous il ] speak :. word
10 an old acquaintance; and as for women my
wardrobe is TOO empty 70 make calls or receive
them. Such tea gowns as they wear now, too
and that style Is SO becoming to mol l have a
dreadful little baby that does nothing but yell
sad no nUrSenaid. You know on which side
your bread WAS butJered wien you shipped Frank
OF on Ine--a Jealous bear, without sense enough
10 mako decent income. / do wish I'd never
COME TO nay you that visit. ! might have had
man with half million; he Just came into il last
week. lie had only doubtful expectations wher
Tilted him, of course ARG Frank had ezpecta
tons TOO. They have fzzled out. I'm The mos
wretched woman alive!
Do send me something cut Of charity. We have
a Vienna roll and an oyster il the house, and nc
crysiit and no money.
On, forgot 20 tell youl Frank broke his leg s
weez ago. He'd been taking too much drink an,
had himself brought home. Why he didu' so {,
an hospital l can think. Pity poor little me
Aave 10 nurse him and that awful baby, too
Your unfortunate COUSIN Ross
In half an hour more Sybil was on hel
way 70 her cousins home: She hardly
knew Rose, slovenly, disconnected ana dis
heartened as she was. AS for Frank, h,
lay upon couch, unshaven and unshorn
and cursed his fate
The rooms were mean, but too eXpen
siyely furnished; their condition what RoSt
had described it. And Frank
Before Sybil had been in the house ar
hour a great JOY possessed her. Sh,
.bre2thed deep breaths and smiled rs she
had not smiled for years, for she made The
discovery that her love for Frank was
thing Of the dead past; that this senti
rasne " hich she had nourished IN hea
bosom n her lonely country home was
sheer ioIly, born of bis handsome face an(
winning ways. In this uncomfortable
home his true character came out quit
plainly.
SyMl felt great pity fer the it'll
crushed buttarfy who WINGED at thes
.tsuuts; but s1N had -monsEi eco was abb