The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-21

The desperate animal turned and made
down the bank directly toward the girl.
Go way, go way !" she howled, and Sibyl-
las letter fell TO the roadside on o choice
spot of moist earth, just where a second
later heavy bovine hoof pressed it into the
mud.
Chrissy Immediately forgot her own ter
ror, and the shrek, ending in a sob of rage
which she uttered, was more dread inspiring
than any of her previous limitations Of wild
animals.
"Oh, you beast! look at the letter all COW
cred with nasty mud! I can't take it like
that, an was so happy just now" She
burst into a passion Of tears. "What can !
do might as well run away from home.
can never face Miss S'bylla again"
She trudged slowly homeward, still sob
bing miserably and taking poor consolation
| in the thought that "p'raps Miss S'bylla
| would write it over again-shs writes 60
quick and so beautiful"
Some black clouds were gathering in the
West, and there was muttering of distant
thunder, but Chrissy feared only Sibylla's
frown. She heard sound Of horses hoofs
behind her. and looking round beheld a
sight that made her heart leap for joy. Capt.
Julien Booth was riding slowly up the road
toward the Ashley house.
Now, Miss S'bylla can tell him herself
thought the child, an he won't need the let
ter. But she'll ask me for il" she thought,
the next instant. I'd better run home and
confess it all / can get there before Cap'n
Booth if run fast"
Then the prospect of Immediately facing
Sibylla with her dread confession over
powered the girl. "It's no use," she NUT
tered as she dropped back into walk,
might just as well die.'
Ill
Capt. Julien Booth had risen at dawn, and
had spent the morning riding slowly through
country lanes meditating on the step he was
about to take.
ut may be the act Of a brave man or of a
coward" he said to, himself score Of times
that day.
When in the early Spring he asked Sibylla
Ashley to marry him, he loved her passion
ately, or thought he did. He now loved her
so no longer, or believed he did not. The
charm of her wonderful beauty was as potent
as ever, but the impefiousness of her manner,
the directness Of her speech, which had so
fascinated him at first, had ended by making
to homage and Obedience from every one,
more than he could eiye.u
In the woods that morning he had gone
over all that he would Say. He had prepared
for every consequence sof'lhis determination
for the bitter scorn, for her cool contempt,
for her superb, disdainftYl silence, and for
but no. that thougbtwas dismissed at once.
The man did not live for whom Sibylla Ash
ley would shed tear. 4
Then he had laupI1et1 aloud at this re-
hearsal of tragedy-the Staying of their
happy dream. esl f
He would tell her that he was ready to
stand by his promises; and then he tried to
imagine the look in Sibylla Ashley's eyes
when man told her, inefect, thatbe did not
want her, but would take her if che insisted.
The fash of lightning that almost blinded
him as he reached the Ashley gate was pale
in comparison.
For a moment he thought of riding by.
He wanted to postpone the interview-he
needed more time for thought.
Then he threw his head up and his shoul-
ders back as be turned his horse and rode
through the gate.
1t is the act Of brave man or of a cow
ard shall not make it the act of coward" !"
lie said.
When Sibylla was left alone she sat for q
while and wondered how Julien would re-
ceive her letter. Perhaps he would come
out in the evening. She hoped he would
not She wanted to hear no entreaties; she
dreaded a scene. It would be 80 much better
if he would write her sorr0wful, manly
note and accept her decision. Then they
could meet after that as friends. OF course