Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-05

menu. turning paSSlOnately from nlln'
she caught up her things and flew from
tho room.
How Sydney found her way home that
night she never knew. A tumult Of feel
ing surged through her heart, but in the
midst of it all one resolve was fixed within
What though her work was unfinished
What though she had not as yet received
-. -.--' --.--!7-7 --.~-,---9 eto ----.-'7 -D+i,
err starvo than ever see him again.
Leigh meanwhile was passing through
an equal tumult, but his thoughts were
much pleasantertha Sydneys. His prin-
cipal fear was that she would fulfill her
threat Of not returning, and as the next
afternoon came and went, dragging out
its weary hours in dull loneliness, he be-
came gradually convinced that she had
really meant what she said.
Never mind, I'll go and see her tomor-
row" he thought. II can get down stairs
and into a cab we'll enough now"
But when the next day came sudden
thought flashed upon him that filled him
with dismay. He had not the vaguest
notion of her address, and, more than this,
rave and storm as he might, there was no
NhclASS VI lib lLliNlli5 Az bAIlOSo iiSL NOOA7AAA
had come back to town. He had been al
lowed to exchange his bandage for shade,
and reaching pen and paper he wrote off
hasty note with no explanations, merely
asking for the address by return of post.
But Morris Holt was still out of town,
and the note lay unopened amid a pile of
letters on his writing table for several
days, during which Leigh went through
an agony OF suspense. Perhaps his noto
had been lost and had never reached its
destination. Perhaps she had guessed what
he would do and had forbidden her cousin
to send the address. Then a new agony
began. She had told him herself how
much she wanted the money. Perhaps
she was starving, and there was no one to
help her. He worried and distressed him
self till the doctor shook his head and Or
dered him to the south Of France
Leigh took no notice of his advice.
Everything seemed to go by him in
dream until one day post card was
brought up to him, with two lines written
upon it that ran like an electric stream
through his frame The words were these:
"Only Just back in town, "a South
street, Chiffon square"
Sydney was sitting alone that afternoon
in her cheerless room. She could not
afford o fire, and the clinging damp made
everything chilly and uncomfortable. She
had at last heard of some teaching, but
the salary was small, and she would not
receive anything until the end Of the term.
A week ago at this time very different
scene had surrounded her, but that thought
was too painful to be borne as yeti
A ring at the bell and heavy step or
the stair reused no expectations In Sgd
ney's mind. No one ever came to see her
hit her cousin, and she thought that he
Wis still away. But to her surprise the
steps paused at her door, and the eervant
gil'I threw it open without any attempt at
announcement, and in another moment
Oliver Leigh stood before herl
He was breathless with his ascent and
leaned heavily upon his stick, but he had
left off his bandages, and his eyes rested
eagerly upon her
Il should have been here days ago." he
exclaimed, "but had no clew to your adj
1ress, and was obliged to wait until I
could get it from your cousin. The days
have seemed like an eternity''
He paused, but Sydney could find no
words in which to answer.
Arc you angry with mo for comingP"
he asked. you would not be if you knew
how terribly have missed you"
Il am not angry" said Sydney in q
scarcely audible voice. while she raised her
eyes for moment to his.
Leighs face frightened. II cannot
part from you againP he exclaimed. Il
hGyo come here today to ask you to be my
wife"
But we have known each other such
little time" said Sydney, trying to repress
the joy that trembled through her at his
words. She knew that she should never
love any other man as she loved him, but
she feared that he might be yielding to a
sudden impulse which he would afterward
repent
do you call it little while?" he said.
1T seems to me that have known you
for years. You must remember that a
fortnight Of work together like ours is
worth year Of ordinary acquaintance
No, l cannot take that as an answer. The
only thing that will send me away is for
you to tell me that you do not love me-
Can you tell me that?'
There was an entreating accent in his
voice, against which Sydney was not proof.
No" she said softly, and the brief mega
tive conveyed a whole world of assent.
The dreary room, with all its chill dull
ness, disappeared as if by magic, trans
figured and glorifed by haze Of golden
light.
Cold, WEAKNESS, poverty, all were for
gotten, blotted out from Sydney's memory
by the sudden rush of happiness, while
Leigh felt that this was the moment for
which he had been waiting all his life.
You must not forget that you owe mo
two days workr' he said at last, looking
ct her with n smile.
Il don't owe them" said Sydney play
fully. You have never paid me anything
at all yeti"
Leighs smile faded, and he bowed his
head on hers. II can't bear to think OF
what you have suffered, my little one"
he said. But that is all over now. There
is nothing to wait for. Let us be married
at once, and we will go abroad together. l
believe the doctor told me ought to go to
warm climate for a little while, so wa
will forget all these dark days in love and
sunshinel shall never be thankful enough
that your cousin sent you to me-"
"Do you think we need tell him all the
storyP" said Sydney anxiously.
mo, dear, nol' said Leigh. at is too
sweet story to be spoiled by telling. We
will keep it all 90 ourselves"
And thus it came to pass that when
Morris Holt read the letter that told him
of Sydney's enpapement he said to him.