Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-05-10
SYBILLA LONG,
KNIGHT ERRANT
By INA WRIGHT HANSON
Copyright. 1906. by RubB Douglas

Il did have such an experience this
morning, | started out to find girl
used to know and who l heard was liv-
ing here l got tangled up in minstrel
show going over and coming back 1 got
mixed into a funeral. l didn't know
exactly where she lived, and | had all
Boston Ravine out looking for her. I'm
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
Dlue-it seemed like a charming spot
the only discord the pale faced, hollow
eyed man himself.
Il 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
things burdened with the aches and
pains of the speaker "a typical sani-
tarium voice." thought Fenton peevish-
ly. Then he frightened as the first
speaker remarked:
You think you will go back, do you?
Oh, no, the walk hasn't hurt you. Ex-
ercise and fresh air do wonders for
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 a lullaby, tender as q 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 IL he had
never had desire in his life but to
hear her sing. He arose and went to
fba ofbar ci1a af fba hoUl1at.
Pardon a sick man." he began, but
his tongue seemed paralyZed. His only
conscious thought was that he was
glad the girl in her nurses uniform
was SO fair. Her eyes gazing curious
ly up at him had never hint of fear
In their amber depths. He gathered
his senses together.
81 haven't slept naturally for a
week." he said bluntly. ..WiH you sing
for mew
When Fenton awoKe the sun was
shining no longer. He sat up quickly
and found that great shawl was
keeping the evenings chilliness from
him; then his eyes discovered the nurse
leaning against n tree, regarding him
gravely.
''You have stayed here all day-you
have had no lunchr' he exclaimed.
She smiled. "Oh, no; when I was
sure you would stay asleep / went
back 10 the sanitarium, and then l
came again"
They arose. Fenton folded the shawl
and laid it over his arm.
"How am ever going to thank you"
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 get well again. tam going to
get well now that / can sleep Maybe
you have heard Of John Fenton, ear
pet manufactures, am ,he idiot"
nOhp' exclaimed tho girl, then added
hastily: "a pebble rolled under my
foot. | 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 syI4lca!e. 3our seryicesF
he inquired graYely. "Dp you suppose
tie doctors are averse to n graft?"
He thought her low laughter was
pleasanter even than her song or her
speech. That night he slept as lie had
not for a year.
A new life was beginning for John
Fenton. The sanitariu.n,s grim walls
nc ianger spelled to him hopelessness.
The doctors were complacent over so
satisfactory a convalescent. hut fen
ton laughed In his sleeve at them. 1t
WAS not pills and potions which had
made man of him again, but the ton
ic Of sweet voice and gracious pres
ence.
.1ne seemed, this fair Sybilla, 10 be
overyoung for = nArse. Perhaps for
thai reason the grave doctors INDUCED
her beyond the others At any rate,
she always had time for Fenton, and
daily she fascinated him more. He
had not been man of many loveg.
The first little sweetheart, deau years
before, and tne woman his mother
wanted him to marry, but whom he
had perversely refused even to meet
the first had set his heartstrings a-quiy-
er; the last, his mother affirmed, stood
ready to do so. So all the loves which
Fenton might have nurtured and had
not came flying around this amber
eyed, flute voiced SybIlla.
So 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 bllthely or (houghtfully, as her
mood might be, and he answered in
llke 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
in its clang and clamor Sybilla Long
would prove to be what she had been
before he knew her-a dream too beau
teous to come true.
There came n day when the breath
Of summer. was pct over The red soil
End whitening manzanita blooms. The
water cress laden stream was too Ian
guild for laughter. but Fenton's heart
beat high with hope. He was wonder
Ing how he should say 1t, the world old
tale, for say it he must within the
hour. Looking at her pensive face,
the words of n favorite song came into
his mind. and his clear tenor broke