The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-24

most generous-quite extraordinary, II
she dies without heirs, everything alb
solutely goes to Gervis; if he dies first,
Temple-Dene is hers, supposing there
is no heir So in any case Temple
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 it.
"A splendid bargain" she was re-
peating, in all innocence. "And, you
see, Gervis was able to arrange the
settlements himself without delaying,
for I suppose you know, Leila, that
Temple-Dene is already the dear boys
own by mortgage. All his uncle's
money left to Gervis 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 a frail thread now.
nigh spun out; but Gervis will see to
It 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 widening cir
Gle, and reaches one and all of u.s."
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 well. shall manage that,
never doubt it. Oh, how life has
changed all in an hour! 1 can scarce
~ realize 1t that all the money wor-
ries are to be smoothed out. But my
poor Francis! If he could only have
held out as have done. Indeed. he
Will not even comprehend the glad
news when carry it to him. Leila,
they say there's black shadow to
every JOY. What if-what If my poor
husbands mind goes altogether? It
would be better far if God took him!"
Lady Jane stood up, shuddering
with horror.
Il must go to him-Francis must be
told" With rustic of her faded silk
skirts she left the room; but Leila sat
on, clasping and unclasping her I'm
gers ceaselessly.
Gervis 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"
to the soul, felt bitter and sore.
For the last couple Of years-eyer
since the girl awoke to the knowledge
that Gervis loved her-life had been
dream of happiness, into which no
ray Of doubt had crept. Then came
the crash Of all fair hopes in tho
knowledge that the love-dream must
end. And now Gervis was married.
With moan Leila would have risen
from the couch, but a pair Of soft
arms held her down.
Darling SIS" breathless, quick
voice said, II know! I have heard
the news. Aunty has just told me. I
could kill him, could! hope all
the sorrows and griefs in the world
will come upon him and her, too. I
hope they will be unhappy ever AFTER"
The hot words came raining iercely.
and a young face, working convul-
sively, was pressed against Leila's ice
cold cheek.
1t was Sybil, the younger sister.
warped alike in mind and body, for
the girl was defcrmed. A careless
nurse had dropped the tender infant
on the fagstones in the hall, injuring
her spine irremediably. Never would
Sybil Desmond walk this earth
straight and tall; and she had grown
up with wild. distorted frame of
mind at enmity with all mankind
all save the idolized sister, who was
all the world to poor, missnapen Syp.
CHAPTER II.
"And you're going to take me to
England for Christmas, to your own
home. Gervis?"
ITO our home, my wife. You must
learn to say ours not yours Glad
dy."
A newly made husband and wife
sat-hand-in-hand in the handsome
palace car of train speeding over
the Canadian Pacific railway. Out.
side was the white world of new-fall-
en- snow. while in the car, with its
mirrors. its inlaid furniture, its flow
ers and fruit, It's silken hangings, and
its scented warmth, the atmosphere
was like midsummer.
They had been married but a few
weeks, these needless, happy lovers,
and the honeymoon had not as yet
waned. For the young pair the course
of true love had flowed with a smooth
ness altogether unprecedented.
There had been the first meeting,
when the good looking, tall young
Englishman, upon whom all eyes were
turned with admiration, first encoun-
tered the slim, round-eyed heiress of
Hiram Fairweather, the Chicago man,
whose corner in iron had made him
world-famous.
Gladys mourning for the dead
father had only just blended into ten
der grays and virginia. whites, and
the girl, literally adorned otherwise
with shy bushes, cunning dimples and
happy smiles, was entering the wide
~ welcoming arms of society.
Gervis Templeton was the first Eng
l1shman of good birth GLADLY had as
vet known Hiram Eairuaa tha r,s