Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-11-23

! grandfather's, and he never lent it &?
How ridiculous!
Swiftly she crossed the room and
opened the door. 'Jnlien, cannot
let you go in the rain," she said.
Captain Booth was at the front
door. He did not trust himself to
speak, but waved his hand without
turning his head. The door closed
behind him, q tremendous clap of
thunder shook the house. Sibylla ran
back into the parlor, threw herself
upon sofa and burst into tears.
Julien walked rapidly toward the
barn after his horse. He heard pat
ter of bare feet and became aware
that small colored girl was running
beside him trying to hold a big ging-
ham umbrella over his head.
you're never goin' to ride out in
his rain, Capt'n Booth, cried Absalom
from the hayloft as Julien entered the
barn door.
The young man stood for long
time staring out at the brilliant green
of the dripping shrubbery, under
meath which the chickens. ruffled and
sullen were huddled. He looked down
into Chrissy's swollen face and brim-
ming eyes, and wondered vaguely if
she was crying because she was sorry
for him. Then he looked up at the
leaden, streaming sky and tried to
imagine what bis life was going to bo
like without Sibylla Ashley.
OF what noxious hellebore or night
shade had he drunk that he faucied
her lacking in tenderness?- this glo-
rious, beautiful woman whom he had
just renouuced. and whom, he knew
now, he loved with all his soul.
He darted out into the rain again
and strobe back to the house. Chrissy
still ran at his side. He pushed the
front-door open. The sound OF his
footsteps on the hall floor was drowned
by the fury of the storm. He heard
Letty's voice, and then Sibylla's. Shs
was sobbing.
81 sent him away in the rain, Lefty.
|. He behaved SO beautifully
so nobly. did not think it
could be SO hard"
"Don't cry, DEAR" said Lefty. cit
is better SO, since you do not love
him."
"But-but-I do love him. I didn't
know how much till now that | have
lost him forever"
The door opened softly, and Julien
stood within the room. Sibylla was
lying on the sofa, her face buried in
the pillows. Lefty stood beside her,
holding her hand. She dropped it
with start as she saw Julien, who
held up warning finger.
"Don't go away, Letty!" sobbel
Sibylla, and then using almost the
words of Egypt's miserable and de-
serted queen, "Don't talk to me-just
pity me!'
She reached ont gropingly to take
Letty's hand again. Sweet Lefty sim
ply faded out of the room, and it was
Julien's hand that Sibylla clasped.
'Letty, know he will ne-never
come back He said hardly word, but
looked SO mi-miserable How tight
you are holding my hand-you hurS
me, Letty!"
She suddenly sat upright. Julien
was kneeling beside her, his arm was
around her waist. A sob was tremb-
ling on her lips. There !. lst be an
outlet; q fit of hysterical, undignified
weeping if she pushed him away, and
there was his shoulder waiting for her
head, SO comfortable, so restful
haven. Before she realized it, and by
no volition Of hers, yet with no resist
ance, her face was buried there, Ju-
liens cheek pressed ;ainst her own,
and his arms held her close.
II could not give yoI u, ny dar-
ing" ~ Whispered.
N cannot let You go, /" she said,
between her sobs.
The storm was passing, and there
were already glimpses of the sun be-
bind the low hanging clouds. The lower
part OF the house was very still. Muir
mured, fragmentary phrases of the
talk OF the two lovers penetrated to
the hall, where u ridiculous little
igure in muddy pink frock fingered
near the parlor-door.
81 guess the troubles 'bout all
over" thought Chrissy.
"lt has brought us nearer together,
} ulien," she heard Sibylla say, "and
[ shall always hold this day blessed;
b 1t let us never speak of it again.
"Never again, my Sibylla," Julien's
voice made answer.
"Dis lettah's no good now," solilo-
oh. Il !
and crumpled envelope from her
pocket. est 'ud jes' make mo- trouble
if hand it ovah. Dey don't want
dat mattah talked about no mo-, an' [
ain't goin' to bring it up. I'll ies' go
an put de ole ting in de kitchen fire. :"
-Goodey's Magazine.
The FJ)a Of Sc,I0)l Chill lreD.
-, l.