The Red Cloud chief., 1900-11-09

The words rang through the brain
Of the listener.
God vas possibly good to some folk
to Aunty Jane, for instance. and to
the happy girl-heiress whose gold had
fought up Leils's Own heritage; but
God seemed terribly cruel 70 her. He
had stripped and robbed her Of all
that made life sweet and fair. SO
Leila at dumb. twisting her slim.
small fingers together on her lap. &nd
Lady Jane's tuoilant voice wen; on in
her ears.
Such a letter. mr. dear; brimtul Of
all particulars and details Every
thing ! wanted to know Ia set down
clearly. Dear boy. what a head he
has for business. The settlements are
generous-uuite extraordinary. IL
sne dies without heirs. everything al
Soiutely goes TO GerTis; IL he dies Art,
Temple-Dene IL hers, supposing there
Is no heir. So in any case Temple
Dene is saved. and my ltfe-prayer
granted"
1T seems to be a good bargain FOR
both
Leila spoke at last and her voice
sounded harsh and bitter. though the
elder lady did not notice IL.
"A splendid bargain" she was re-
peating, in all innocence. And. o
see, Geryis was able 10 arrange the
settlements himself without delaying,
for ! suppose you knoS, Leila. that
Temple-Dene lie already the dear boys
own BY mortgage. All his uncle's
money left to GerYis was swallowed
up In II when he came Of age: but
that was. after all. a drop in the ocean
OF debts and difficulties.
However. all that misery Il now at
an end. This dear girls wealth will
set the old place on its feet Ny poor
husbands life IL a frail thread nov.
nigh spun out: but Gervis will see to
1t that my future is an assured one.
And, OF course. that in its turn touches
yourself and little syb. Ny home
shall be yours always. So. Leila, the
good news travels In a widening cir
Gle, and reaches one and all OF US"
Lady Jane laid her hand on the
girls shoulder. but Leila shrank away
quickly.
Il shall be able now 20 take O
out, my dear. You shall see the world
and marry well. ! shall manage that.
eve doubt II. oh. ho~ life has
changed all in an hour, | can scarce
ly realize it that all the money wor-
ries are to be smoothed out. But my
poor Francis. IL he could only have
held out as ! have done. Indeed, he
Will o even comprehend the glad
news when | carry II TO him. Leila,
they say there's a black shadow to
every joy. What if-what IL my poor
husbands mind goes altogether? 1t
would be better far II God ooh HIM"
Lady Jane stood up. s~huddering
with horror.
VI must go 10 him-Francis must be
told" With a rustic OF her faded silk
skirts h left the room: but Leila sat
on. claspins and unclasping her An
gers ceaselessly.
Geryis married. For this girl the
end OF the world has come, then. To
another belonged the right OF loving
her lover. Yes, he had been hers. OF
that, at least, she could never be rob-
bed. Leila. hurt and 'sorrow-shot"
10 the soul, felt bitter and sore.
For the last couple Of years-ever
since the girl awoke to the knowledge
that Gervis loved her-life had been
a dream Of happiness. into which no
ray OF doubt had crept. Then came
the a OF all fair hopes In the
knowledge that the love-dream must
end. And now Gervis was married.
With a Leila would have risen
from the couch. but a pair OF soft
arms held her down.
Darling sis" a breathless. quick
voice said. Il know. have heard
the news. Aunty has Just told me.
could kill him. ! could, hope all
the sorrows and griefs in the world
will come upon him and her. too.
hope they will be unhappy ever after"
The hot words came raining fercely.
and a young face, working convul-
siyely. was pressed against Leila's ice
cold cheek.
II was Sybil. the younger sister,
warped alike in mind and body. for
the girl was deformed. A careless
nurse had dropped the tender infant
on the nagstones in the hall. injuring
her spine ~irremediably. Never would
Sybil Desmond walk this earth
straight and tall: and she had grown
up with a wild. distorted frame OF
mind at enmity with all mankind
all save the idolized sister, who was
all the world to poor, m~issnapen Syo.
CHAPTER III