The herald., 1894-07-29

the sun would not shine so brightly and |
the children scream so loud. 1t affected |
his nerves. Sydney had nerves now. He
wanted only to hide away and die in
peace. Was there anything left to do?
Stayl He thought it would be the prop
er thing to say goodby to his elder broth
er, whom he theoretically hated, but
who was the only near relation he pos
sessed. To his brothers. grim offices in
East India avenue Sydney now slowly
betook himself.
"Im fey" he thought, with o wan
SMILE He'll think I've come to beg OF
him"
The prosperous merchant was en-
gagged, but would be at liberty in few
minutes Sydney sat in the outer office
watching the half dozen busy clerks
Not seldom he had blessed his stars that
he was not cler,r. At this moment he
would have changed places gladly with
the very junior, who was copying letters
and solacing himself meantime with
surreptitious acid drop. He had at least
future.
Suddenly the door opened, and the
merchant came forward.
Every sorry, Syd," he remarked.
"The fact is I've got three Or four men
in my room wrangling over some syndi-
cate business, and they may be ever SO
long"
''It doesn't matter in the least" ex-
claimed Sydney, much relieved. IT had
really nothing to say. only called as
was going by to ask how you were."
The merchant stared. He was not
used to these little attentions
II may be going for journey-a
longish journey-before long don't
know yet, remarked Sydney.
"Rather sudden, eh?" replied his
brother "Where are you going?"
"That's just what isn't settled yet, !"
observed Sydney, with faint smile.
'Nothing is decided. But you needn't
be surprised if you hear@-I'm gone. l
may have to go all in q minute at last.
Remember me at home, will you?
There's sovereign I've been going to
give to little Sydney for the last two
months. Do you mind taking it? Good
by"
He rushed away, feeling he had made
I'LL dSS I'll ululStll. ouU cOOlk why VOoi,
know the reason of his altered demeanor
and make allowances for him. He re-
turned to his chambers. "His" cham
bersl He had just taken them for an
other year. A month would probably
have been quite long enough.
He heaved sigh and looked mechan'
ically in the boy for letters. There was
the brown envelope Of a telegram, ano
his heart beat wildly, dangerously, ON
inously He must really cultivate calm
! ness.
Everything changed. Cancel all ar
rangements Come at once to Sylvia =
| The room swan round him, and the
, windows waltzed mad]y for a few SEQ
onds Then, instead OF dying, as he ex
pected, he found himself pretty we'll.
What had happened to change every
thing? Was Sylvia's father dead? Hat
she met with an accident? The though
of this last possibility had made hi
| heart beat dangerously again. In half {
minute, quite forgetful OF heart disease
he was driving as fast as hanson
could take him toward Mr.. Bulpett'
, house in Hampstead.
There all was Gommotion; the very
cssshe ord a,urpeuu ) no6 ueau, liner" "
| was Sydney's immediate deduction.
"Who is dead?'' asked Sydney of 6
blubbering maidservant
Neither of them yet, sir, replied
, she, and SO hardened was Sydney tt
mortuary reflections that her remark
seemed quite natural Here comes pool
master"
; Sydney's heart jumped, as it always
did at sight of his twant.
"Forgive me, my boy; I've done yor
injustice, sobbed the old gentleman
1T was all pride-all internal pride
I'm dying man, and ! beg you to for
give me. -
Where is Sylvia? Is she well?" ex
claimed Sydney.
Bulpett burst into tears. "She's very
i'll, very ill-dying, too, we are afraid, .
he exclaimed, ''and that's why want
you to forgive me. ! never really dis
liked you, I'd rather have seen hel
marry you than anybody else. But you
were too independent and / meant tc
have you on your knees before I-but
there, what does it all matter now?''
''Ill?" gasped Sydney. Since wheni
What has happenedT'
Mr.. Bulpett drew him into the re-
coption room, and then, mastering his
grief somewhat, poured out his tale.
"She went to see q great doctor this
morning for what she thought a mere
nervous ailment, and allowed myself
to be examined, too, as I was there
My hoy, I have not year to liver'
And 6ylvia?' cried Sydney impa-
tiently.
"sylyial Oh. Sylvia is in the last
stages of consumption and cannot last
six months--half lung You have
come to house Of mourning indeed. "
1t was as well that old Bnlpett
should mourn for himself-nobody else
would but Sylvia, tho bright, the beau
tiful---
Sydney sank back upon sofa and
buried his face in his hands. He was
incapable Of thought, and he felt moth
ing but burning desire to see her again
Ito be with her, if only for a moment.
MAY I-can Twill sho''-- he be-
gan confusedly, but he was interrupted
BY an ilnperious peal of tho bell
''Here he is at last" cried the agon-
| iZcd father 81 sent for our littla doctor