Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-07-17

v
The words rang through the brain
of the listener.
God was possibly good to some folk
Ito Aunty Jane. for instance, and to
the happy girl-heiress whose gold had
bought up Leila's own heritage; but
God seemed terribly cruel to her He
had stripped and robbed her of all
that made life sweet and fair, So
Leila sat dumb, twisting her slim,
small fingers together on her lap; and
Lady James iubilant voice went on in
her ears.
Such letter. my dear; brimful Of
all particulars and details. Every
thing | wanted to know Is set down
clearly. Dear boy, what head he
has for business, The settlements are
most generous quite extraordinary. II
she dies without heirs, everything alb
soluteiy goes TO Gervis; If he dies first.
Temple-Dene is hers. supposing there
Is no heir. So in any case Temples
Dene is saved. and my life-prayer
granted"
1T seems to be good bargain for
both"
Leila spoke at last, and her voice
sounded harsh and bitter. though the
elder lady did not notice II.
"A splendid bargain" she was re-
| peating, in all innocence. And, you
see, Gervis was able to arrange the
| settlements himself without delaying,
for | suppose you know. Leila, that
Temple-Dene Is already the dear boys
| own by mortgage All his unele's
money left to GeryIs was swallowed
up in 1t when he came Of age: but
that was, after all. drop in the ocean
of debts and difficulties.
However. all that misery Is now at
an end. This dear girls wealth will
set the old place on its feet. MY poor
husbands life is frail thread now.
nigh spun out; but GerYis will see to
1t that my future Is an assured one.
And, Of course, that In its turn touches
yourself and little Syb My home
shall be yours always. So, Leila, the
good news travels in d 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 to take you
out, my dear. You shall see the world
and marry we'll shall manage that,
never doubt II. Oh. how life has
changed all in an hour | can scarce
ly realize II that all the money wor-
ries are to be smoothed out. But my
poor Francis! II he could only have
held out as | have done Indeed. he
will not even comprehend the glad
news when | carry II 10 him. Lei.
they say there's black shadow to
every joy. What if--what II my poor
husbands mind goes altogether? II
would be better far II God took him."
Lady Jane stood up. shuddering
with horror.
i must go to m-Francis must be
told" With a rustic OF her faded silk
skirts she left the room; but Leila sat
on, clasping and unclasping her fin.
gers ceaselessly.
GerYis married. For this girl the
end of the world has come, then. Tc
another belonged the right Of loyInq
her lover. Yes. he had been hers. Oh
that. at least, she could never be rob.
bed. Leila, hurt and sorrow shot
to the soul felt bitter and sore.
For the last couple of years--eye,
since the girl aWoke to the knowledge
that Gervis loved her-life had been
dream Of happiness, into which nc
ray Of doubt had crept. Then came
the crash OF all fair hopes In the
knowledge that the love-dream mus
end. And now Gervis was married
With a moan Leila would have riser
from the couch, but pair Of sofI
arms held her down.
Darling Sis" breathIess. uuicl
voice said, II know. have heart
the news. Aunty has just told me.
could kill him, | could, hope AT
the sorrows and griefs in the worlt
will come upon him and her, too.
hope they will be unhappy ever after.
The hot words came raining flercely
and young face, working conyul
sively, was pressed against Leilats ice
cold cheek.
1t was Sybil. the younger sister
warped alike in mind and body, 10
. the girl was deformed. A careIes
nurse had dropped the tender infan
on the fagstones in the hall, injuriny
her spine irremediably. Never woult
Sybil Desmond walk this earti
straight and tall; and she had grow
up with wild. distorted frame D
mind at enmity with all mankind
all save the idolized sister, who wa
all the world to poor, missnapen syn
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