Middletown transcript., 1907-08-10
A SCHEME THAT FAILED

hand. Was it credible? i? Yes,
for it was Sybifs writing, and
there was the ring. But even
then
He staggered to the window of
the parlor, just in time to see the
little company Of arrivals by the
last train pass from the station
to the town. He stared at them
without noticing them. The pro-
cession ended. No, not quite.
There was one more-a gentle
man with the New York stamp
upon him, in well,cut clothes and
a tall hat a handsome, defiant
man of about thirty.
By heaven ! whispered Jack, as
his gaze was held by this man
then it mast be true /! Lionel
Houghton
In less than two minutes he
was out of the hotel, and making
through the garden for the field
path to Barling's station. A
New York train was all but due.
If he could catch it!
He caught il, and, late in the
afternoon, reached his bachelor
apartments. During the journey
he had arranged his programme.
Sybil would get her letters all
right on the morning that was to
have been her wedding day. And
by then he would be far away,
beginning, he hoped, to forget
her.
All he wanted was to hide his
head for spell and think. Like
enough, then, it would be the an
tipodes for him.
Oh, Syb, Syb! he walled, after
q miserable glance at the last of
those loved letters. My very
dearest Jack!' it started. He
could see the light in her sweet
eyes with which, he believed, she
had penned the words.
But that weak mood left him,
and at a quarter to six he carried
the parcel to the postofice and
registered it.
Sam Hooker was wrong, after
all. Sybil was no better than all
the rest. Hers was a vile, hypo-
critical sex.
Instead, however, of going far
away, he returned to Barling by
the half-past eight train from
town. 1t was no good pretend.
ing that he hated Sybil. He
loved her still-was almost in
clined, indeed, to believe that
she was more sinned against
(conspired against, at any rate)
than herself a sinner. But there
was someone whom he did un.
mistakably hate as only an out
ragged man can hate a fellow
creature. That was Mr.. Lionel
Houghton.
Right or wrong, he yearned to
get his hands at the throat of
this fine gentleman.
Sybil had told him about it
with such Wistful sadness ten
months ago.
Of course, Jack, I never loved
him, but l let poor papa do what
he chose with me. He pleaded
so hard. Mr.. Houghton could |
have turned him out into the |
world as a begger,, and papa be-
lieved he Would if Ibid not |
promise to marry him. And SO
| promised. And then Uncle
Henry died, and papa could pay
off all he owed, and he was as
glad as I that I could be true to
myself and Mr.. Houghton went
to Europe. He said he would 60
and make more money there, just
TO drown his disappointment.
And then you came, Jack, and
life was all different. I never
knew what happiness was until
you came, Jack but tell me again
that you don't think any the
worse VI me Tor being willing, |
though ever so miserably, to
marry Mr.. Houghton to save papa.
How well Jack remembered
her words ? He had taken her
70 his heart afterward and told
her she was an angel. Hence
forth and forever his angel. il
Back in Barling, he paused at
5he turning to the north end Of
'he town (Sybil's part) and looked
Up at the stars. Il
What was he do? Why had be
'eturned! Itmeant only SO much
'he more pain. The law would
not allow him to strangle Lionel
aoughton, and-worse still-dis. s
rust of Sybil made him doubt if
doughton was the chief sinner.
That awful letter! !
AS for Sam Hooker, he gave !
10 thought to him. He had i
.VOidad tho hotol C