Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-01-18

|
How ridiculousl
Swiftly she crossed the room and
opened the door. Julien, 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, tremendous clap of
thunder shook the house. Slbylla 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 big ging.
ham umbrella over his head.
you're never goin' to ride out in
his rain, Capt'n Booth, p" cried Absalom
from the hayloft as Julien entered the
barn door,
The young man stood for q 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 il
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. :.
vi what noxlous hellebore or night
shade had he drunk that he fancied
her lacking in tenderness?-th glo-
rious, beautiful woman whom he had
just renounced, 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 tho
front-door open. The sound OF his
footsteps on the hall floor was drowned
by the fury of the storm. He hoard
Letty's voice, and then Sibyla's. She
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. sit
is better SO, since you do not love
him"
"But-but-I do love him. I didn't
lost him forever"
Tho 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!" sobbei
Sibylla, and then using almost thu
words of Egypt's miserable and de-
serted queen, "Don't talk to me-just
pity mel"
She reached ont gropingly to t.ke
Letty's hand again. Sweet Lefty sim
ply faded out of the room, anl it was
Julien's hand that Sibylla clasped.
"Letty, / know he will ne--neyer
come back | He said hardly word, but
Looked so mi i-miserable How tight
YOU are holding my hand-you hur5
me, Letty!"
Sac suddenly sat upright. Julien
was kneeling beside her, his arm was
around her waist. A sob was tremb
ling on her lips. There r,ast be an
outlet; fiji of hysterical, undigniied
weeping if she pushed him away, and
there was his shoulder waiting for her
head, SO comfortable, so restful
haven. Before she realized it, aud by
no volition Of hers, yet with no resist
ancs, her facs was buried there, Ju-
hens cheek pressed AGAINST her own,
and his arms held her close.
81 could n0s giv3 yoI u, my dar-
ing" h W whispered.
"Al. o,nGot let yoa go" she sail,
between her so5s.
The stor u 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. Mur-
INJURED, fragmentary phrases of the
talk OF the two lovers penetrated to
the hall, where ridiculous little
igure in a muddy pink frocs fingered
near the parlor-door.
81 guess the troubles bout all
over" thought Chrissy.
''lt has brought us nearer together,
} Julien" she heard Sibylla say, "and
shall always hold this day b!essel;
hit let us never speak of it again"
"Never again, my Sibylla," Julien'5
yoica made answer.
"Dis lettah's no good now," solilo-
quized Chrissy, as shs drew the soiled
and crumplea envelope from her
pocket. "it 'ul ies' make mo- trouble
if hand it ovah. Dey don't want
dat mattah talked about no mo-, au' /
ain'5 goln' to bring it up. I'll ies' go
IN put de ole iing in de kitchen fire."
-Goodey's Magazine.
The Fo)l Of Sc.Io,l Chill Iren.