The Press., 1906-07-04
SYBILLA LONG,
KNIGHT ERRANT
By INA WRIGHT HANSON
Copyright, 1906. by RUBY Douglas

81 did have such an experience this
morning! / started out to find a girl
used to know and who heard was liv-
ing here got tangled up In minstrel
mixed into a funeral. l didn't know
exactly where she lived, and had all
Boston Ravine out looking for her. Pm
sure the folks down there haven't been
SO stirred up for years."
The voice beyond the bowlder broke
most pleasantly into Fenton's moody
thoughts. He sat up promptly, but eau
tiously.
THAT'S the first decent voice I've
heard in this accursed place." he OBJ
served silently.
1t didn't seem to be an accursed
place Fragrant with pine needles,
vocal with the humming of bees In late
manzanita blooms and the laughter of
a watercress laden stream; beautiful
with brick red soil, varied green's in
foliage and glimpses of heavens own
blue-it seemed like a charming spot
the only discord the pale faced, hollow
eyed man himself.
81 didn't find the girl after ALL" the
musical tones went on, "but l found
the house she used to live in"
Fenton listened impatiently while the
other voice said things, querulous
pains of the speaker. "a typical SAM
tarium voice." thought Fenton peevish-
~. Then he frightened as the first
speaker remarked:
"You think you will go back, do you?
Oh, no, the walk hasn't hurt you. Elk
ercise and fresh air do wonders for a
body often. No, l am going to stay and
read till luncheon"
In silence Fenton wondered If she
would read aloud, but instead she be-
gan to sing. He fairly held his breath
notes soft as a wood doves; a voice
exquisite by nature and unspoiled by
training. She was singing q lifting
lyric of love, and Fenton thought of
swinging gate, scurrying clouds and
his first sweetheart's first kiss, years
and years forgotten. Then, without
any perceptible hesitancy, the melody
changed to lullaby, tender as moth
er's prayer, and the weary look left
the mans eyes, the hard lines around
his mouth relaxed, and he drew long,
almost sobbing, breath. The melody
ceased, and Fenton felt as If he had
never had a desire in his life but to
hear her sing. He arose and went to
the other side of the bowlder.
Pardon a sick man." he began, but
his tongue seemed paralyzed. His only
hot hn
glad the girl In her nurses uniform
was so fair. Her eyes gazing curious
ly up at him had never a hint of fear
In their amber depths. He gathered
his senses together.
II haven't slept naturally for
week." he said bluntly. "Will you sing
for me?"
When Fenton awoke the sun was
shining no longer He sat up quickly
and found that a great shawl was
keeping the evenings chilliness from
him; then his eyes discovered the nurse
leaning against a tree, regarding him
gravely.
You have stayed here all day-you
have had no lunch!" he exclaimed.
She smiled. "Oh, no; when was
sure you would stay asleep l went
back to the sanitarium, and then 1
came again"
They arose. Fenton folded the shawl
and laid it over his arm.
How am ever going to thank your"
he began.
"DOn't try" she answered simply
preceding him down the narrow path.
81 worked too hard and collapsed"
he explained. "Shan't be so foolish
when l get we'll again. 1 am going to
get we'll now that 1 can sleep. Maybe
you have heard Of John Fenton, car
pet manufacturer. am the idiot"
"Oh" exclaimed the girl, then added
hastily: "a pebble rolled under my
foot. 1 am Sybilla Long, nurse"
He wondered at the deep flush which
OVerspread her face-they were at the
foot of the hill and walking side by
side.
Cant 1 syndicate your servicesT
he inquired gravely. do you suppose
the doctors are averse to q graft?"
He thought her low laughter was
pleasanter even than her song or her
speech. That night he slept as he had
not for a year.
A new life was beginning for John
Fenton. The sanitarium's grim walls
no longer spelled to him hopelessness.
The doctors were complacent over SO
satisfactory a convalescent, but Fen
ton laughed in his sleeve at them. It
was not pills and potions which had
made man Of him again. but the ton
lc Of a sweet voice and q gracious pres
ence.
She seemed, this fair Sybilla, to be
Overyoung for a nurse. Perhaps for
that reason the grave doctors INDUCED
her beyond the others. At any rate,
Bhe always had time for Fenton. and
daily she fascinated him more. He
had not been q man Of many loves.
The first little sweetheart, dead years
before, and the woman his mother
wanted him to marry, but whom he
had perversely refused even to meet
the first had set his heartstrings a-Quiv-
erI the last, his mother affirmed, stood
ready to do 90. So all the loves which
Fenton might have nurtured and had
not came flying around this amber
eyed, flute voiced Sybilla.
30 she sang to him. and he quoted to
himself, "And thou beside me singing
In the wilderness" She read to him,
and he fitted other words to the mel
Ody Of her voice, words he hoped some
time to hear from her lips She talk
ed blithely or tnoughtfully, as her
mood might be, aud he answered in
like spirit, watching with lovers eyes
each changing expression.
The doctors had pronounced him
well, but he was loath to go into the
world again. He had a feeling that