The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-06-23
CHAPTER II.
Continued.

Surely we are very happy as we
are!"
Hardly, as far as I am concerned.
Just think, Sybil, how often do I
ever see you? Why, this is the first
time since that evening at the Ponti-
fexes' that I've had a chance of being
alone with you. have to be content
with catching sight of you through
some COMPOUNDED crush, and think
myself lucky if l get look or word
in the course of the evening"
81 think you might have seen that
from the first!" she said, "but l sup
pose = is your nature and you can't
help it, SO l must forgive you. And
will tell Aunt Hilary everything
this very evening""
II can't think of letting you do
that" he said. ut ought to come
from me-
She gave a little sigh of very OBJ
vious relief. eff you think it best, :"
she said. 'tAnd when will you tell
herr"
Tomorrow, as soon as the sitting
is over"
1--WE shall be scolded dreadfully. I
know" said Sybil, ruefully. "Still,
so long as it relieves your mind
And now she added, brightly, with
a complete return to her original gay
ETY., don't let us think of disagree
ables any more. I've surprise for
you. While you were persuading
UourcoIf dora COW that bod oopo
pletely forgotten all about you, what
do you suppose was doing for you
this morning guess.
Il can't tell, I'm sure" he said,
"if it wasn't slippers"
tOf course it wasn't slippers said
Sybil, Indignantly; ito think you've
no more imagination than that. 1t
was nothing of that kind don't go
in for it. Well, had better tell you.
bought you little present-you
know | never gave you anything in
return for that lovely ring, which I've
never worn yet"
you gave me this" he said, TAX
ing the hand which was nearer to
him.
THAT didn't cost me anything to
give; this is real present-are you
grateful, or will you tell me how
foolish it is of me to waste my money
on presents? That is what Aunt Hill
airy used to say when gave her any
thing. To be sure" she added, re-
flectively, II always had to borrow
the money from her first. But you
will try to like this?"
Il think I can promise that" he
said; II haven't any words to thank
you with"
"You must wait till you see it
perhaps you won't care about it. l
don't know what made me think you
would, but I'll tell you how came to
get it. 1 was driving with Aunt Hill
airy, this morning, and we went into
a little bric-a-brac shop near Oxford
street, where aunt had heard of some
Sheraton she wanted to look at.
Well, the shop was kept by the dear
est old man, who wore velvet cap,
and seemed so low spirited; and
while Aunt Hilary was upstairs look
ing at Bull cabinets, the old man
poured out all his sorrow to me- 1t
seems he has had nothing but misfor-
tune for months, losses and break
ages and burglaries and fires-all
kinds of trouble, poor thing. Well,
felt so sorry for him, particularly as
/ knew quite well that Aunt Hilary
wouldn't buy anything-she never
does; so, as had made up my mind
to get something for you, l thought
/ would get 1T there to cheer him up
a little. But all the things were SO
dear except one. I'm not going to
tell you what it is, because you'll
know very soon; but it has a little
story connected with it. 1t was dug
up short time ago by some Captain
Somebody, who had to leave the army
shortly after for some disgrace he
got into-so the old man told me
And the ship which brought it over
from India was wrecked and all the
cargo lost except just that one thing,
which fioated safely to land wedged
inside a lifebelt. So it's rather a
curiosity in its way"
Evidently" said Campion.
But l had such a fright while I
was buying it, for in the very middle
who should come in but Lionel Bah
cockl He came smiling up in that
patronizing way Of his, swelling his
chest out, and said, Well, little one,
and what are we throwing our pocket
money away on now, eh?' So of
course ] had to show him, and then
he wanted to know what possible use
could l find for that. And told him
had bought it because his last pho
tograph didn't do him justice, and
then he went upstairs to find Aunt
Hilary, and / had just time to give
your address and swear my old gen.
tleman to silence. 1t ought to be
at your house by this time. / dc
wonder what you'll think when you
see It'll"
II shall think it my chief treas
ure, whatever it is. ] shall keep il
all my life.
but will you really, Ronald?
Somehow / don't like to think OF
your ever parting with it, viii you
promise to keep Whatever hap
pens2"
Whatever happens" he agreed
smiling at her earnest, charming
face.
well, said sybil. we've had a