The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-09

convenience TO some enchanted world.
The goyety and glitter OF the London
night delighted and amazed her. At
Ptccadilly circus Sylvia was cntranc-
cd; IN Leicester square she was i'm &C.
sta'ies, and when, having reached the
sung seclusion of Curtained box, she
could gaze across q valley of dim.
smoke-wreathed figures, which the
moving marvel of form ard color de-
tned as a ballet. she acted and moved
as though IN a dream world.
What they witnessed need not he
detailed. 1t is not written in the daily
papers? Suffice ii to tell that Silvia
remained obvious 60 all Brunton's
hints as TO the lapse of time until he
murmured that the hour neared II.
safely in the hanson speeding home
ward Sylvia returned to earth again
ana sighed at that she felt like Gin
derella having to leave the ball at its
height. And Brunton tentatively sug-
gestcd that there had been no prince
at her ball; Nhercupon Sylvia avowed
hastily that of course he was the
plincc-then faltercd and blushed.
After that Il must be confessed that
the trees frinring Regents park wit
messed some callow lovcmaking.
Yes Sylvia was sorry, very, very.
very sorry he was going. and perhaps
When ne returned in three years he
would have forgotten her. And Brun-
ton was equally convinced of his own
iaithtulneSs. but feared the strain of
time and absence on hers
Brunton thought he would like their
next meeting to take place. as this
one had, in a garden; and Sylvia re-
memhered that a certain green door
in the high wall encircling her grand.
mothers grounds opened on a quite
side road. 1t was quite near; they
could drive around that way and she
would point it out.
Thereafter the stars witnessed a SOL
cmn compact that, that day three years
later at the same hour, Sylvia would
unlock the green door to give Brunton
entrance
They were very much in earnest.
Two real tears slistened in Sylvia's
eyes as she spoke of the years that
the green door must remain closed.
And Brunton's voice grew husky and
he had difficulty in rendering his fare
wells as manly as he would have
wished So. as become young lovers.
were the twain delightfully."- disconso-
late
Re-enterinG Mrs. Derrick1 garden
cautiously, the culprits had scarcely
gained the safe vantage of the shrub
berry before encountering an emissary
in search of Sylvia. Lady Martngale
was going, had been going for ten
minutes, and both her cloak and her
granddaughter We're to seek.
Athwart the little green door the
moonlight glinted softly. and Brun-
ton, standing in the shadow of an
ileX, would willingly have dropped the
coming hour out of his life.
Since his return to England few
days before the memory of this APP
preaching meeting has persistenly oc-
CURED to him. AS man of honor he
knew he dare not shirk 1t. An yet
how painful to he forced to see Sylvia
too look into those innocent truthful
eyes-for of her constancy he had no
doubt-and confess how he had chang
ed, and to tell bodily that their meet
ing had been but an incident, of no
moment in the ordering of his life.
He mus deceive her as tenderly as
possible. speak of Eleanor regretfully,
at least not let Sylvia guess how en-
tirely happy their union was,
or that she, sylvia, had long ceased
to he aught but a pretty. sentimental
remembrance to him.
Even as he sChoolcd himself a dis
tant clock struck the hour, and with
the first faint chime came the stealthy
sound of an opening lock. She was
there!
Gently turning the handle, he passed
through the green door and entered
Lady Martingale's garden. Beside the
great stone basin of the old fountain
stood Sylvia, the moonlight sparkling
ON her hair and adding an ethereal
glamor to the sheen of her robe About
her the tail Madonna lilies lent their
fragrance TO the night.
\ swift pang smote him as he saw
that. as when they first met she wore
white, forgetting that he, too, had
sought to recapture his former aspect
for her view.
Her eyes met his in questioning ap.
peal, and for "A moment mad rush of
pity, romance, affection, call it what
you will, overcame him, and spring
ing forward he caught her hands.
sylvia"
Yes"
You had not forgotten
NO. And yOu?"
Il am here"
After the greeting there fell a sense
of constraint, which Brunton realized
was not all of his making. She was
lovely, even more lovely than Of yore
taller, too, with the lapse of years
and with an added something in her
expression that was new to him.
Behind them the fountain splashed
and murmured. Then Sylvia broke the
silence, speaking as If in answer to his
thoughts
"You-you have changed--are not the
same. OF course YOU look older and
bronzed. | don't mean that. But there
is something clse-you'rc manner"
Brunton felt there was no escape for
him. He must EEL her, and at once.
Sylvia" he began, breathlessly,
three years is h long time"
"Oh, yes; is it not?" she mterposed
eagerly.
And, you know, ones circumstances
alter-new people intervene"
Yes, yes: so they do
Her unexpected scquiescencc was
disconcerting, but he doggedly Stun
bled on.
And. Sylvia, / wish 10 tell you'll
know ii seems mean and cruel-but
last year | met Eleanor and"
"Hush!" interrupted Sylvia, suddenly
raising her hand, and turning i'm an
attitude of listening expectancy toward
the lighted windows of the house yis-
ible across the eXpanse Of lawn.
AS they DauSed. mute from an cn.n
| easement came n feeble cry-vague,
plaintive, sending its message into the
night.