The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-01-17

the halter | waited to see no more. but
got down stairs as fast rs ! could and
set off for the seat of war.
The situation when | got there was
somewhat different from what had en-
pected. Tom had hold of Sibyl's halter
and was soothing and scolding her by
turns and at the same time generating
himself to Sinfre, who had dismounted
and was seated on the grass with Johns
head supported on her knee. AT first !
thought he was dead. 1t was terrible
thought. But when she saw me she said
Immediately. He has only tainted"
sent Tom on Sibyl after restoratives
and held John against my shoulder. Sin
fire had already loosened his collar. He
was unconscious, and his face had
strange look that did not like. could
not find that he had been struck any
where, and according to Sinfire he had
assured her that he was not touched.
But Just as he was saying it," she add
ed, "he dropped down as if he were shot
and has been this way ever since"
| put my finger on his pulse. That
told the whole story. | wonder | had
never suspected it before. especially as
heart disease is my speciality in pathology
At any rate there is no doubt that John
has it, and he must have had it for some
time. He is such a robust man that one
would never suspect it, He may live for
many years. 1t might even be possible
to cure him, but when he does die the
chances are that he will die of stroke of
the heart.
Naturally said nothing of my discov.
cry to Sintire. 1t is serious matter and
may mean a great deal. | remember
that when John was n boy he once
climbed to the roof Of the barn and tried
to stlnd on his head on the ridge pole.
Some fool or other had dared him to do
it. He lost his balance, rolled down the
roof and fell not on the ground, luckily,
but on heap of straw that was about to
be used as bedding for the horses. He
escaped with few insignificant bruises,
but the doctor who attended him said he
had strained his heart Probably it has
been weak ever since, and the active ex-
ercise he has been in the habit of taking
can have done it no good. However,
what is done can't be mended. All we
can hope for is to guard against mischief
in the future. | wish John were less
headstrong aud more phlegmatic.
He began to come to before long, and
then | made him sip dozen teaspoon
fuls of brandy, which | administered one
after the other. The slipping, more than
the brandy, stimulated his circulation,
and he was able to get up and walk. He
had no idea what had been the matter
with him; thought Sibyl must have
kicked him. But it was of Sinfire that
his head was full, and suppose he must
have suffered a strong agony of emotion
during that minute and a half that she
was in deadly Ierii and he was trying to
save her. If there had been any doubt
about his feeling fol her before, there can
be none now. And, as for her, if she is
woman and not a witch (as | sometimes
fancy). she cannot resist handsome
young millionaire whose first love she is
and who has saved her life, for beyond
peradventure she would have been in
kingdom come but for John.
Much obliged, old fellow; don't need
any help" said the heir of Cedarcliffe to
his younger brother, and took the hint,
like the dutiful youngster am. and re-
turned with my brandy flask to my
study, while John and Sinfire suuntered
slowly across the lawn together. exj
pected it would have been all settled by
the time they reached the house, but at
breakfast, half an hour later, Johns face
proclaimed more loudly than even his
sturdy tongue could have done that the
engagement was still in the future. Men
tally as well as physically he was much
depressed. Sinfire, who was still in her
Mephistophelan riding habit, was being
tenderly scolded by mother for having
exposed herself to such danger, and she
seemed to be in high spirits and laughed
| and talked with freedom and brilliance
| that she had never exhibited before. AS
| looked and listened could forgive poor
John for his infatuation. could almost
have fallen in love with the superb young
creature myself. And yet, strange to
say, never distrusted her so much as
| did then. She is hiding some secret. and
| it concerns us.
But what a range and scope she has
| There was an oriental quality in her face
at that moment which struck me for the
| first time. | could imagine that the
young Cleopatra might have looked as
Sinhre did then. But Cleopatra never
looked like cold subdued English girl,
yet that is one of Sinfre's phases. !
wonder whether she is ambitious; won
der whether she hates anybody, and, if
so, whom and why?
1t is time to give Saprani bowl of
milk. Saprani is another superb crea-
ture, more trustworthy than my cousin
Sinfire, not less oriental and not perhaps
more deadly. And Saprani is very fond
of the youngest and most insignificant of
the Mainwaring family. Reason and
gratitude unite therefore in prompting
me TO bestow upon her my budding af-
fections, and since | am sure not to be
interfered with by rivals the course of
our true love has every prospect of run
ming smooth. will serenade her on the
toumril tonight.
| CHAPTER ~,