The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-05

But don't like to see people running
after money. and making idols of it,
as il nothing else in the world was
worth having. Besides, / don't need
! any more money; I've got as much
now as Bernard Bramble has..-you
know very well, auntie."
"Yes, and Mr.. Morton De Lisle
probably knows it, too" asserted her
aunt, significantly. "That's why he's
took such fancy to you."
But Sybil Indignantly secuted the
idea.
Elegant, fastidious Morton De Lisle
a mercenary fortune-hunter? Oh,
never!
There's no telling how much further
the discussion would have been car
ried had not something happened,
through the agency of fortune. Provi-
dence or SYPHILIS lucky star, which put
stop to hostilities and united the
belligerent forces in tacit armistice,
for the time being.
"Dear me-" cried Miss Serefna, in
a voice of dismay, 'the white sugar is
out |"
sect some MORE" suggested Sybil,
practically.
ooh, of course! Get some Inorep
With both the horses in the bottom
| field a-plowin' corn. and Jane in the
middle of two weeks wash! And
you know 1 can't walk mile and
half to the store, with the neurology
in my back!"
Miss Sere6na would never own to
the rheumatism, if she was past forty.
"Them strawberries'll Spite fore I
git to use 'em, and that's the hull of
it'll"
"No, they won't, auntie!" cried
Sybil, springing up. 'I'll go to the
store and get you the sugar"
"What you walk a mile and half
in the Drilling sun, Sybil Sweetfern?"
demanded her aunt, half incredul-
ously.
"Yes, I, auntie. 1t will be fun to
get out awhile. I'm so tired of sitting
in the house this lovely day."
every we'll then"
Miss Sereina was easily reconciled
to her niece's proposition under the
circumstances.
"And s'pose you wouldn't mind
carrying gallon or so of strawber.
ries? The robins are eating 'em up
fast as they can, and I promised Mr..
Whyte I'd send him SOME, first chance
I got. You can change 'em fur the
sugar, you know"
Sybil took the basket of strawber-
ries and set out on her walk, blue
gingham sun bonnet setting off the
bright, golden flax of her hair, and
the seashell pink of her softly rounded
cheeks.
She tripped on her way with light
step, which scarcely brushed away the
dew that still sparkled on the grass
and the yellow king cups by the road.
side.
Lounging on the stoop of the VILLAGE
store was tall young man, who stared
with bold, admiring eyes at the pretty
face, only half concealed by SYPHILIS
ruffled sun bonnet.
He watched her every movement, ash
the basket of scarlet ripe berries, with
their dark, emerald green calyxes,
were transferred to Mr. Whyte, the.
storekeeper, who briskly weighed out
their value. in white sugar, carefully
wrapped it in brown paper and passed
it to Sybil in the split basket which
had held the strawberries.
Considerably fatigued already, Sybil
set out somewhat slowly on her home
ward walk. She had gone some dis
lance, when she heard the sound OF
footsteps close behind her.
-"Good morning, miss |" said voice
at her elbow, and, turning, she con.
fronted the bold stranger, who had
stared at her on the ssoop OF the vii.
lage store.
Sybil drew back coldly, but her ad.
mirer was not to be repulsed.
SCOT any more strawberries to
sell?" he inquired, patronizinsly.
Haven't? That's pity now, for I
want some, and always prefer to buy
of a good looking girl, like you.
Those you sold looked as plump and
tempting as your own pretty cheeks. T"
And he put out his hand, as if to
push back the sun bonnet, when, all
of a sudden. he was seized violently
by the collar, and pitched head first
into the middle of the road, while
pretty Sybil, dazed and frightened.
was clinging desperately to the lapels
of Mr.. Bernard Bramble's gray coat.
"Did he dare to touch you, Sybil"
demanded her protector, glowering
angrily at the limp figure of the
stranger, lying PROSTATE in the road.
"N-nol" sobbed Sybil, family.
"He-he-he--"
She could say no more; and. gently
soothing her, Bernard led her down
side street to o cottage, which stood
empowered in a labyrinth of snow
balls, lilac, and pink and white
peonies.
TWAS Granny Brownies cottage, and
Sybil was soon ensconced on the vine-
laticed portico beside Mrs. Browne
herself, while Bernard fastened back
to the village to procure buggy and
take her home.
sFor you amt fit to walk another
STEP" he declared, in answer to her
protestations.
The pinks and ionquils in Aunt
Serefna's posy beds looked somewhat