Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-01-25

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4 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 jubilant 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
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 a good bargain for
both"
Leila spoke at last, and her voice
sounded harsh and bitter, though the
elder lady did not notice 1t.
"a splendid bargain" she was re-
peating, in all innocence. And, you
see, Gervis was able to arrange the
settlements himself withou: delaying,
for l 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 it 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. Ny 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 a widening cir
| Gle, and reaches one and all OF u.s."
Lady Jane laid her hand on the
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! I can scarce
ly realize it that all the money wor-
ries are to be smoothed out. But my
| poor Francis! If he could only have
| held out as I have done. Indeed, he
will not even comprehend the glad
news when l carry it to him. Leila,
they say there's a 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 fin
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-ever
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 the
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" a breathless, quick
voice said, Il know! 1 have heard
the news. Aunty has just told me.
could kill him, I could! I hope all
the sorrows and griefs in the world
will come upon him and her, too. 1
nope they Will De unhappy ever AFTER.
The hot words came raining fiercely,
and a young face, working convul-
sively, was pressed against Leilas ice
cold cheek
It 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 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 SyD.