The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-01
IHE GREAT MILL STREET MYSTERY,
By ADELINE MT
FALSE PRErENcEs" Ere
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

ofiRn5 WORDS ana laughter which evidently
tempted the visitor to remain.
But Diana's invitation to dinner, which
was inevitable under the circumstances,
was SO coldly given that Eastwood may be
excused for feeling offended rather than
battered by 1t. He was not even Modified
by confidential sentence or two whispered
by Sybil when Lady Hexham was out of
hearing.
Aunt Diana has not begun to receive
visitors yet, you know. can see that she
still hesitates. 1t is not to be wondered at,
Is it, Especially when you remember in how
sad way poor Lord Hexham died"
you can understand perpetual fidelity,
thens" said George, looking into the soft
brown ewes, with almost painful admira-
ton. You can imagine what it would be
to be faithful to--to-an idealf'
"Oh, yes,' said Sybil, with the most
charming frankness and directness; ito
any one whom one has loved. Why should
one love at all, if not for everq'
The question re-echoed sadly in East
woods ear as he walked slowly down the
long avenue. He could not make up his
mind as to whether the sentiment of it
ideal of love than had ever been
been his own-so much was evident
And when he came to think of it, he re-
membered that he had heard Jess say some
thing of the same kind. The value of the
feeling was at once lowered in his eyes If
Jess had said it, had thought it, how could
1T be trues
In this bitterness of feeling, Eastwood
showed a certain weakness of Judgment
which had very often been his bane. In his
habit of generaliZing on insufficient evil
dence, he showed that faculty of the mind
which we are apt to call feminine rather
than masculine, and indeed he had attributes
which had in old times laid him open to the
charge of womanishness. These had been
modified by years and experience; but in
ali matters relating to Jess he was still
liable to sudden fits of caprice and preju-
dice. The fact was that ne felt, in spite of
evidence TO the contrary, that there was
something inexplicable about Jess conduct,
and be could not be at ease until it was ex-
planned.
In spite of Diana's GOODNESS, he soon found
his way once more to Hexham. The charm,
seemed to lie less in the fair chatelaine her
self than in her adopted niece, Sybil Lori
mer. 1t was to talk to Sybil, to smile into
SYPHILIS eyes. to sing duets with Sybil that
Eastwood came. And there was also the
keen delight of exciting Tom Lorimer's
fury-of driving HIM to despair by the
close intimacy, the air of proprietorship
that George Eastwood chose to assume,
There was no doubt at all about Tom Lori
mer's state of mind. He was deeply in
love with Sybil, in spite of the fact Of its
being family arrangement that he should
marry her. Perhaps this was the fact that
made Sybil so wayward.
81 thought, dear, that you cared for
Tom," said Lady Hexham one day in a
slightly reproachful tone. Sybil had just
refused to go for walk with her kinsman,
and Tom had left the house with brow of
tragic gloom.
sponded Sybil, with little petulant shrug
of the shoulders.
"Why would you not go with him,
thenq'
81 am so tired of Toni" said Sybil. 81
know all his jokes-all his stories-all his
experiences. Iwant something newer"
''That is a foolish wish" said Diana.
Something newer may not have the can
dor, the courage. the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of
poor Tom"
She was thinking of George Eastwood,
and Sybil knew it.
"Why do you try to run him downw said
the girl, almost passionately. "Why do
you not let me believe in HING
SIN whomw said Lady Hexham, looking
I'D surprised I'm Tong
"No, no; not in Tom"
"You must explain yourself, DEAR" said
Diana, calmly.
If Sybil had been little younger, she
felt that she would have stamped her foot.
As it was, she only crimsoned, choked a
little. and then said modify:
~ meant Mr.. Eastwood
Lady Hexham sat down and looked at
Sybil steadily.
II am not aware that ever said word
against Mr.. Eastwood" she said; ''and | do
not understand why you should accuse me
of doing sO.n
"You have not said anything-you have
only insinuated-"
"No, have simply indicated a wish that
you should be discreet, Sybil. You are
showing your interes5 in Mr.. Eastwood
very openly, as a child might do; but you
must remember that you are not a child. A
very little mcrs and your interest will be-
come remarkable-and remarked. That is
the reason why Tom shows some irritability
at present. He is not the man to ike to see
you-cheapen yourself"
Sybil stood silent, the color glowing in her
cleeks
81 do not mean that you have done any
thing wrong, dear" said Lady Hexham,
more gently. "You have not even been in
yet. But you must remember
that you are a woman-not child"
Sybil turned toward Diana with swift
light movement, aud burst out sobbing
upon her shoulder. Diana kissed and
caressed her, glad at heart to see that the
storm was practically over, ending in
broken lights of mingled tears and smiles.
But she was not quite prepared to hear
Sybil mnrmur presently:
Then you don't know anything against
him"
IF did," said Lady Hexham, after
moments thought, sis it likely that should
tell you, my dear? I may say this-I do
not think George Eastwood very high
principled man, neither does your Uncle
Frank. And with that expression of opin-
ion YOU must be content"
Sybil was silent, though not as content as
Diana would have liked her to be,
She was much more reserved with East
wood for few days after the conversation.
But the change in her demeanor only put
him on his mettle. He did not like to be
neglected. He suspected Diana of having
spoken to his detrimenr, and he was angry
thereat. He redoublcd his destinations; he
made himself charming. not only to Sybil
but to Lady Hexham and her boy; and if
he still snubbed Tom, he did it with the
dexterity of a man of the world. He had
a great advantage over poor Tom, and he
used it remorselessly.
And vet he knew very well that he was
only sin play.n He did not want exactly to
win Sybil Lorimer's heart. Probably jess