The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-26

seemed to Sybil Hammonds sober taste
Very shortly the card tables were brought
out, and Miranda and most of her friends
sat down TO bridge" Sybil refused to
play. and. in consequence, found herself
left tete-a-tete with one of the men in
whose company she had been the previous
day. He impressed her this evening even
more unfavorably. IL that were possible,
than he had done on their first meeting.
His look of bold admiration and his out
spoken compliment annoyed her beyond
measure. She felt very uncomfortable, and
drew little aside to watch the games.
Here another surprise was in store for her.
She found money was being paid and re-
ceived in large sums. Wine was handed
round, and after this voices became even
louder than before. Mrs. Lister seemed in
her element In this scene of extravaganza
and mirth. Sybil felt distressed, and wished
herself back in England. A small clock
at her side struck 9. and she suddenly re-
membered her engagement to see John
Thornley,. She rose quietly, saying she
found the room rather warm. At the door
she found servant bringing to her a mes
sage. He had arrived and was waiting to
see her. She paused a moment in the hall
to gain composure, and breathe in
draught of pure air from the open window,
then she quietly entered the small sitting
room into which Mr.. Thornley, had been
shown. He was struck once more by her
beauty as she came toward him. The light
fell directly upon her face, which wore at
present a look of reserve and pride He
also thought he saw look of distress fit
across her features Her manner was quite
calm as she stood before him.
Pardon me this intrusion, Miss Ham
mond," he said, almost humbly. at would
not have thrust my presence upon you had
not circumstances required me to do so.''
will you not sit DOWN." said she, point
ing to chair. She took seat opposite to
him. and waited for him to go on.
''You win forgive me whilst / fully ex-
plain myself" he said. ITO begin at the
beginning. when stepped into the train at
Herne Hill you and Mrs. Lister were COM
plete strangers to me, as far as knew. If
you remember, as we neared Dover picked
up letter which Mrs. Lister had let fall.
For one moment my eyes rested upon the
name and address on the envelope, and 1
experienced shock, for at once knew her
to be woman of doubtful reputation.
Moreover, / was on my way to Paris to
make some inquiries with regard to certain
transactions of hers. I have made those
inquiries since my arrival. and find that
everything my client suspected is correct.
Whether he will prosecute her upon my re-
turn remains to be seen. She has in a most
ingenious way contrived to possess herself
Of certain moneys belonging to him. I need
not enter further into detail. You have
now sufficient knowledge to act upon. I
saw Mrs. Listers advertisement in the pa
per, and when recognized her felt sure
ing more to add" he said, except that
am here to help you. IL it be within my
power to do So.
Poor Sybil did not know what to say. for
she now fully believed in and trusted him.
and she felt ashamed to think of the way
in which she had treated him before.
'T am very sorry" she said, lifting her
beautiful frank eyes to his. "You must
have thought me dreadfully rude and un-
grateful when you were trying to do me so
great a service. To tell the truth, have
been greatly undeceived since my arrival in
Paris. Mrs. Lister and her friends are not
the kind Of people with whom could pos
sibly have remained, even If I had not
heard what you have just told me. The
question now is how am to get away"
"If you will take my advice you will
leave at once. May I ask how long you
engaged to stay with Mrs. Lister?"
I'VE made no definite arrangements. Mrs.
Lister said she would try few weeks and
see how we settled down together"
1eava for I.opdou ar o'clocI fo-roor-
row morning. Would 1t be asking too much
delighted 1 should be to escort you back
to England? forget though you hardly
even know my name. 1 am John Thornley,,
junior partner in the firm of Thornley, &
Wallace, solicitors. Lincoln's Inn. You
may possibly have heard the name"
It was an old established firm and Sybil
remembered to have seen it mentioned in
the papers.
81 will be ready for that train in the
morning." she said decidedly, land will
travel with you if you are quite sure shall
not be troubling you in any way. You
have been most kind and I am very CRATE
full"
ooh, please do not mention It." he said,
rising to leave. ''Then 1 will be here with
a cab at 7:15.'
Sybil returned to the room where gam
bling was going on apace. She thought the
evening would never end, but at length. the
last guest having departed, Miranda and
she were left alone. Then followed a
scene Sybil told Miranda that she found
it impossible to stay any longer with her
and asked to be allowed to return to Eng
land at once. Whereupon Miranda became
greatly enraged and heaped reproaches
upon the girl for what she was pleased to
cali her prudish fancy. Finally she marched
out of the room, saying: 81 shall not al
low you to leave me until at least three
months have elapsed
Sybil returned to her own room, drew out
her trunks and carefully packed all her be-
lodgings. She then lay down upon her bed
and tried to sleep. She was restless and
afraid of sleeping too long. However, she
was up and dressed in very good time and
had soon made her final preparations. Pres
emily she saw q cab draw UP to the house.
She opened her door quietly. descended the
stairs and asked the concierge to go and
carry down her boxes, and to make TO
noise about it, as madam was sleeping No
one was astir in the fiat. the servants being
later than usual that morning. She re-
turned to her room, took up her rug and
email handbag shut the door as eentlv as