The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-19
CHAPTER XIV.
Continued.

his present difficulties, but he hoped
that a time would come when ne
should be justified in asking her to
renew their engagement.
"That's all very WELL" said the
colonel; "still you will do me the
favor not to hope for anything $3.50
unsuitable, by CAD. From all 1 hear,
sir, till yesterday-when I'm bound
to say you behaved uncommonly we'll
you've not shown yourself very de-
serving of such a girl as my Sybil.
You'll not deny that, I suppose?"
ct deny that I have ever conscious
ly done anything to make me deserve
her less. If you will tell me where
you think l have acted unworthily, l
think l shall Je able to make you see
you have done me an injustice"
The colonel, however; after all Mrs.
Standards fulminations against her
former protege, only retained a gen.
eral impression that he had taken an
advantage of her by overcharging her
for a worthless portrait of Sybil,
which her father had not yet been to
see. 1--WE won't go into that, sir" he
said, softly, there's no need. dare
a. you could find excuses enough, If
that were all. But my sister gives. me
to understand that Sybil was taken by
surprise yesterday afternoon, and said
more than she really felt, and-and
in short, as a gentleman, you wouldn't
wish to press any advantage you may
have had under such circumstances. "
Does she, your daughter, make
that appeal?" said Campion, "or do
you?"
II am here to make it for her, sir;
these are things a young girl can
best say through her father"
eff sne will write and tell me that
it is as you say, OF if you would let
her speak to me, I would never trou-
BILE her again. And even as it is, I
only ask leave to hope. I can't give
that up, unless she orders me to-"
do you suppose I would tell you
a lie?" demanded the colonel, holly.
IF Sybil had come with me, she
would, I haven't the smallest doubt,
tell you exactly what I tell you now,
and that is"
Mrs. Standard and Miss Hels-
worth" said Bales, opening the upper
door, and Sybil, with a look Of con-
strained fear in her eyes, came down
the steps and stood between the two
men.
"Let her speak for herself" said
Campion, with a chill at his heart.
Hal" said the colonel, "Sybil, this
is irregular, you know, irregular. You
had no business to come here"
tits not my fault, Horace" said
Mrs, Standard, who had just made
her appearance; "she found out that
you had gone here, and nothing I
could say would prevent her from
coming, too-so of course I had to
accompany herr"
. well, now she is here" said the
innocent colonel, "let her tell Mr..
Campion downright that she finds she
mistook her feelings yesterday. Don't
be frightened, my love; he has prom
ised to take your word"
Are you mad, Horace?" said Mrs.
Standard, in ar angry whisper; "it's
for you to put a stop to this, and at
once The idea of leaving it to her"
Sybil was looking from her father
to Campion, with a puzzled contrac-
ton Of her eyebrows. II don't under
stand" she said. Ronald, why do
you look at me like that? What am
l to tell him, papa?"
You told me she felt like that"
the colonel was saying aside to his
sister. would feel like that in time"
she rejoined. you are to tell him
nothing" she said to Sybil; "leave
him to your father and me-"
But Sybil had gone to her lovers
side. Nothing has happened to you,
them" she said, softly; "tell me, why
didn't you come last night2 IL
made so sure you would"
He felt that he could not tell her
the whole truth. II was-unavoid-
ably detained" he said, cursing him
self for the stiffness in both phrase
and tone.
II didn't think you would let any,
thing detain YOU" she said, rather
sadly. And just at that moment her
eyes fell on the idol, which was on a
chair by a window, with the palette
knife, which had so nearly provided
it with a grave, and which the in
spector had returned to Campion,
with other confiscated property.
"Oh!" she cried, with an awe
struck reflection, lit has come back.
Was it that which detained you, Ron
ald?"
YES" he said, "it is the old story,
only worSe-much worse"
"Sybil," broke in Mrs. Standard,
"your father wishes you to go home
with me at ono How the most or
binary proper pride can allow you to
speak to Mr.. Campion at all, after the
manner in which he has thought fit
to insult you, and the ingratitude
(not that you would think anything
of that with which he has rewarded
me, is one of those things 1 can't at
tempt to understand"
Papa" Sybil pleaded, don't send
me away-not just yet! You don't
know how you and Aunt Hilary both
misunderstand Ronald. He has done
nothing-at least, whatever he did do
he never meant m diff 10 all tho
IDOL"
"All the idol" repeated the colo
mel hlanklY. do Ynn know VIII If