Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-08

Should he mount horse, as his heart
prompted. fly to her. at once and ex-
plain all? But Lucy varneck?
/ "Sibyl!" he groaned again. In unut-
terable perplexity and anguish of spir-
1t; "Sibyl! oh, my darling!"
And at that same moment. far away
In the wet and gloom Of the night,
she whose name he called was just
approaching the presence Of the moth
er Of whom she had conjectured and
dreamed so much.
Here we are" announced Rebecca
Hardin, as the carriage which had
brought them from the last station
rolled through a gateway; and Sibyl
looked forth and saw the dim outlines
Of high garden wall and graystone
cottage, buried, as 1t seemed. among
shrubbery. She heard the wash. wash
Of water somewhere near.
What is that?" she asked, quickly.
1T is the sea-" answered the hard
featured nurse.
"The sea! How familiar 1t sounds!
And yet can never have heard 1t be-
fore, for there was no sea at st. Cath
arine's."
They rolled up to porch overrun
with blossoming creepers, and Rebecca
Hardin and Sibyl alighted together.
The heart of the latter rose In her
throat and seemed sitting her.
"Will you take me directly to my
mother" she stammered; "or must I
waltz"
Rebecca dismissed the carriage. drew
her into the porch and rang the bell
sharply.
1T is very likely she is expecting
you," she answered and as the middle
aged servant opened the door she led
the way into hall lighted only by a
lamp the latter carried and ushered
Sibyl into q small, dark drawing room.
wait here till 60 and announce
you" said Rebecca Hardin, and placed
the lamp on the mantel and departed.
Left alone, the leaden weight In
SibyPs bosom which answered for Q
heart seemed to grow heavier still. She
sat down In the lonely room, flung
back her veil and looked around. Strips
Of drugget overiaid the faded velvet
carpet. The furniture was closely COW
cred. Handsome enough in themselves,
all times had an air Of disuse ex-
tremely comfortless.
my mother never comes here, !
know" thought sibyli my mother!
Is it possible I am under the same
roof with her at last?"
She waited. The house was very
still. She could hear nothing but the
wash. wash of the sea without Pres
emily footstep approached the door;
It opened and Rebecca Hardin beckon-
ed her forth.
Follow me-" she said.
Up q winding stair they went The
hard faced nurse opened another door
at its top and sibyl glided through
and found herself standing. pale.
breathless, wild eyed, In the presence
OF her mother.
Sne sat in an invalid chair before
a fire, wrapped in dressins-gown OF
gray, quilted silk-a pale, beautiful
woman, looking older than her years,
with wasted, colorless face. lighted
by eyes Of deepest sorrowful black.
shadowed by black hair. streaked thick
with gray. With q pang Of keen dis
appointment Sibyi looked at her and
thought Of the fair-haired vision OF
her early dreams.
This is the child" said Rebecca
Hardin.
The invalid started up. but sank
back again among her cushions. Moth
Ter and daughter surveyed each other
in silence. What did the pale, sad
faced woman think Of that tall. glor-
ious girl? What did the girl think OF
the sad, sick woman?
Rebecca, behind the invalid chair.
looked from each to each with keen
curiosity.
"You would never have known her.
mistress" she said, dryly.
Never" answered the invalid, In
sweet, complaining voice, and held out
her hand mechanically to the waiting
girl. Sibyl took It In her own. 1t
was cold and bloodless. Her heart
seemed turning to stone. No thrill
stirred It at the touch Of this mother
who for sixteen years had been to her
shadow and q name.
"Rebecca," said the invalid, waving
Sibyi to q seat, II think she Ia like
me- and very unlike what we expected
| to find her-ehT ] '