The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-02-12
SYLVIA.
BY May Harvey.


1t was a calm summer evening. but
4 faint breeze was blowing; very
pleasant after the great heat of tho
lay. So thought two young men US
hey sauntered to and fro on the prom
made Of a fashionable watering place.
n the distance they heard the not UNI
musical strain of the town band.
That is rather a pretty thing they
nre playing" remarked one of the men,
Crank Leslie, referring to h band:
what Is 1t called?"
Il believe he is a gavotte called 'Syl-
cia,'" replied Stuart Harcourt, his
companion.
What a host Of bitter-sweet memo
ries surged through Franks mind at
the mention OF that name. He saw q
winsome. merry face. framed in glori-
masses OF bright, brown hair; soft,
violet eyes that had so often gazed at
him with a tender lovelight shining in
them. A. long sigh broke from him,
| which caused his friende to turn to
him and say:
What Is 1t, Leslie, old chap? Any
thing the matter? BY the by, Sylvia is
the name you We're always shouting
when you had brain fever SO badly in
India. Is there anything connected
with it?"
A pause ensued, during which time
- AAA = ~ NC - q
mental struggle. At last he exclaimed:
You have been a good friend to me,
Stuart, n nursed me like q brother
when I had the fever, SO I will tell you
what l would impart to no other per-
son living; that is, my love story.
Light a cigaret. old fellow. let US sit
down on this beach, and here goes:
when I was quartered at Marford, q
horrid little country town, I made the
acquaintance of Mr.. Barns. vicar of
the country parish of Wartham. He
was very kind. and invited me to his
house. I went, and met his daughter,
Sylvia Barns. oh. Stuartl l can
never tell you how I loved that girl.
n fully did 1 believe she loved me in
return. I was always looking for OPP
portunities to go to Wartham vicar
age, and it was comparatively easy.
for she and I became inseparable COM
panions. At last the day came when
l received my orders fro India I went
straight to Wartham. saw Sylvia, told
her of my love. and asked II there was
any hope for me.
81 have never cared for n one save
you, Frank, and never shall
Those were her very words. Har-
court, but how false they proved! !
then went to MI. Barns to tell him of
what had taken place between his
daughter and myself.
"'You are both too poor to be mar
ried.' he replied. I don't approve of
long engagements. but If you both think
the same when you come home. Leslie,
I will give my sanction to the marriage.
If In the meantime should either Of you
change your mind write and apprise
the other of the fact, but no other cor
respondence will I allow; In this I trust
to you honor
Not being able to make better terms
than this. I consented.
II had been In India about a year
when I received a note in Sylvia'a
handwriting which ran as follows:
81 have changed my name to Durn-
ford;' and by the same mail a news
paper arrived, on opening which my
eye caught a paragraph commencing
thus:
The little village Of wartham was
en- fete On Tuesday, OF the occasion Of
the marriage Of DR.. Durnford with Miss
Barns
II read no further: It was indeed
insult added to injury. No only Sylvia
proved false in the little space of time,
but h had also sent me q newspaper
account Of her baseness. You know the
rest. How I got brain fever. and how
on my recovery we both obtained leave
and came home"
"a lew evenings dlleT TTdIlh 3 COIilc0s
sion he and Stuart attended the Infirm.
ary ball. While walking around the
room criticising different bellies.
Stuart's attention was suddenly at
tract by an exceedingly pretty girl,
who was gazing at his friend with earn.
est attention. He saw Frank glance at
her with a look Of sudden scorn, then
the fair face paled and she shrank be-
hind a lady who was standing near
Later in the evening Frank. who had
not danced many times. was accosted
by n Of the stewards whom he knew
slightly.
''There is a lady friend Of mine here
who hardly knows anybody. 30 do come
n dance with her"
So saying, he took Franks arm, led
him up to a group near the door, MUIR
INJURED a few indistinct words of intro
duction. and hurried away to another
non-dancing man. leaving Frank face
to face with his false love. Sylvia
Barns.
why have yon not spoken to me all
the EVENING"" h asked In an appeal
ing voice. What nave I done to offend
you?"
Need you ask" replied Frank stern
ly, when you think Of your treachery
and ~baseness7"
"Treachery and baseness!" Sylvia
faltered. Frank. I don't understand
you"
"This is no place for a discussion;
come n the conservatory" said
Frank.
The conservatory was empty. On ar
irving there Frank turned to Sylvia,
and said in a scornful tone:
You don't understand. Mrs. Durn-
ford, what 1 mean by treachery? Do
o not call promising to marry one
man and then fitting him for another,
base?"
Eyes, Frank. 1 should call it SO; but
what has it to Go with me? And why
do you call me Mrs. Durnford? I am
Miss Durnford!"
Miss Durnford!" calculated Frank.
in a.nazement. How SOP"
why, poor old Aunt Durnford died
when you had been away a year, leav-
ing US her money, providing we should
take her Did you no receive
the paper with an account Of Marks
wedding in 1t. which beautifully ex-
planned 1t ALP My father said I wasn't
to write a letter. I wrote a note,
though. letting you know of my change
Of name"
A Tight flashed across Franks mind.
Then 1t was Mark who was mar
ried. and, Of curse. I remember. he al
wess was in love with his cousin. Bes-
sic Barns. Oh. my darling, my darling.
can you eve forgive me for doubling
you?" mur1nured Frank, ~passionately.
when he had explained his fears.