Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-28

And Sybu, where IS sne ., ne dsheo sd
gerry. when the first words Of welcome
had been exchanged
Old Lady Tamworth's face clouded-
"she is not here, Geoffrey. She is not
well. Mrs. Linton. the lady with whom
she has chosen to make her home since
she came of age, left note here this af-
ternoon."
Sir Godfrey looked annoyed as he flung
himself into deep chair before the biaz-
ing fire.
Mother" he said presently, who is this
Mrs. Linton?"
The old lady shrugged her shoulders.
my dear Geoffrey, really do not quite
know. She is middle aged 45 perhaps.
handsome. rich and popular in fairly good
society. She is a person, should fancy
Of very strong will. for she completely
dominates Sybil, who has her poor moth
er's gentle character. Sybil elected to live
with her. as l wrote at the time, when she
became her own mistress. / see her often
and she is always well and happy. Per-
haps it's for the best. for it's dull for
Young people to live with old folks and
go out so seldom now
MOI I'LL lie Welt W DCu AAiaA AAeNN 49,
Sir Geoffrey open the idly purchased pa
per.
Then he read in words which he believed
TO be from his own daughters mouth,
that she was going in three days 10 be-
stow herself. her fair fame and her for
tune on a man who did not intend, and
never proposed to marry her.
To the old Indian officer the news was
like a thunderbolt That poor women for
! love-or gold-had sold themselves from
all time he knew. as did men. But that
his own daughter. the little child Of his
dead wife, should deliberately seek to foul
her pure womaslhood. and should brazen-
Nv advertise her prospective shame, was
horrible.
Almost at dawn he reused his mother,
and together they bewailed the coming
degradation Of the last child of their line.
At noon Sir Godfrey was ushered into
the dainty drawing room at 100 Queen
street, Mayfair, and demanded to see his
daughter.
Five minutes later the swish Of silken
petticoats caught his ear A door opened
and shut sharply. lie turned with the cry
of 'sybilr' on his lips, but it died before
it was voiced
you! Bessie Lynne?" He staggered
back and caught at the mantelpiece with
his bronzed hand.
"At your service, Sir Godfrey said
Mrs. Linton. smiling sweetly and sinking
gracefully into her favorite chair.
II have to tell you that your daughter is
not well enough to see you. Oh, don't
look alarmed. A mere headache-and girls
are so fanciful."
Bessie Lynne. Bessie Lynne!" muttered
Sir Geoffrey, staring at the woman before
him.
Mrs. Linton. If you please. Sir Godfrey
and your daughters greatest friend
"And adviser?" queried the baronet sig
nificantly.
Mrs. Linton picked up the glove so open
ly thrown at her feet.
'In-all things" she said quickly.
"Then this is you doing-this scandalous
affair-this-"
"And yet you had no compunctions in
making me the thing you would not have
your daughter be-" murmured Myra Lin
ton in a low voice.
so this is revenge-for the past, which
heaven knows has brought enough of re-
morse to me-which urges you to do this
thing?"
she bowed her head.
you have Guessed Alright"
but why seek to ruin Sybil?'
I'm order that l may punish you."
Her head was proudly erect but there
was thrill as of growing pity in her
voice.
Punish mel All, Bessie. the first stroke
of the rod fell the day was forced to
leave you
Forced to leave me?" cried Mrs. Linton,
rising from her chair and coming closely
to Sin Geonrey's side. You did not do so
by your own wish?"
Surely you heard the truth, said Sir
Godfrey. wonder and pity filing his eyes.
Did they not tell you of my fathers
seizure and speedy death-of the collapse
of his affalrs-my mothers poverty-and
of the pressure brought to bear on me, to
which was weak enough TO yield? Did
you not get letter, written the day be-
fore | married SYPHILIS mother, the heir
ess and the beauty of two seasons?"
Mrs. Unions face changed. the stern
gaze left her eyes, her strong mouth drop
ped in tender sorrow. She laid one white
hand on Sir Geoffrey's arm.
II was iii with grief at your-heartless
desertion. as / thought it then and when
I once more found strength to face the
world. there was neither letter nor mes
sage for me- There was only the memory
of a cruel wrong, base betrayal and the
desire for revenge. Luck brought me
money, and with the money came its in
evitable corrolary-socal distinction.
Chance brought our daughter across my
path. She took fancy to mel was
very lonely-heapted woman-and the temp
tation overcame me-
She held out two white hands to Sir
Godfrey.
81 see now that was wrong-that wo-
men must suffer for mems sakes-and be
forever silent. Take Sybil away with you
now. She has no courage TO face the life
I'd planned for her. and her affection for
her intended husband is little stronger
than a schoolgirls fancy Take back
your daughter and forgive me IL you can"
Great tears we're yelling in her eyes.
and her hands trembled as Sir Godfrey
took them in his own.
Bessie, my dear" he said very gently.
"the social crime we committed in our hot
youth has been punished Can we not try
to find peace and forgetfulness in our
calmer .age?"
But I thought, Myra. you were so set
against marriage as an institution" said
Sybil. as an hour later, with happy eyes
and sunny smiles. she sat between her
fofber a~d her friend