Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-03


very look of her enough to wheede the heart
out of man, he thought, though he knew her now
to be cruel and callous and hard-even though he
beginning to hate her.
do you mean that, Sybil?" he asked steadily. "Do
you mean-to give up?"
eff you like to put it like that, yes,' she replied
I'VE have never been really properly engaged, after
ALL
ver-reay-properly-"
His words hating and slow, died in his throat He
felt cod-ill. Only short time ago he had thought
she had loved him much But he why she
had refused to make their engagement public-why she
kept it all She had intended to marry
him, and now-now another man, blind and as stupid
as he had been in his being deceived by her
beauty and her lies.
He stared down at her DULY
mo, of course haven't she was saying, callously
"A secret engagement nothing, of course; and
after all, we have had some fun of it."
smile curled his lips. He almost laughed outright,
but there laughter in his eyes in his heart
and his face was expressioness that Sybil drew
breath of relief she looked at it. Really, he was
taking it very WELL she thought She had expected an
ouburst-anger, and reproaches-and, instead of
that he was quite calm She smiled trumphantly and
then put her hand on his if nothing had hap
pened.
You'll take me back to the ballroom, Jack2" she
said 1T is time we went, for my next dance is with
Stephen"
She gave him quick glance, and the smile grew stiff
about his lips He understood now. His cousin Stephen
was the heir to very rich and very old She had
thought that it was he-Jack-who would inherit the
thrown him over!
He turned with her hand on his arm and then
stopped Across the floor two figures coming his
cousin Stephen and SYPHILIS sister, Nav He saw Svbs
face change and darken and her eyes flash. She went
quickly forward
"Were you coming in search of ?" she asked in
soft voice i wasn't going to cheat you of your
dance"
Jack watching with bent head, saw his cousins face
change and brighten and light up the sight of her
and at the sound of her words He saw the heart in
&c The heart of h. Lo1.1 IL
an he looks at.
minute later they had gone. He saw the door
close behind them and then dropped into chair and
buried his face in his hands.
She had deceived lied, betrayed him. and even
though his love for her killed, the wound in his
heart was bitter
low groan broke from his lips and then suddenly
ne felt something soft touch him. He looked up with
start to find SYPHILIS sister May looking down at him.
Her face white and sad.
She will come back to YOU" she said. "She told me
that she secretly engaged you and am sure she
loved you. Oh, believe she is sure to come back"
He jumped to his feet. He looked down at her.
There beauty in her face there in SYPHILIS
Mays was not the face to drive crazy. No one
would stop to look twice at her. and yet something in
her eyes went straight to his heart.
i don't want her to come back" he cried ct have
done with her I would have her if she came She
can go to Stephen. He will be rich some day; and
after ALL she could not be happy in poverty with me-
She would not have patience with me while | worked
tor her. My wife must be who will begin life
with me- and love me whether rich or poor Sybil
would have hated while l was poor l did not
realize IT before. but do and $3.50 there's an
end of it.. He laughed hoarsely, and then suddenly
held out his to her. LET us go and dance if YOUR
programme is not FULL he said
She took his gravey. and together they went out
Two hours later they finished the last dance together
ne rooms were emptyng and May just looking
round for her sister when note put into her hand
She tore it open.
IT'S SYPHILIS writing" she cried "She must have gone
home"
Pvt she had not.
m spending the night with Mrs. Ledbury," the note
ran, and tomorrow Stephen and I to be married
We have everything arranged. cannot stand poverty