Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-15
CHAPTER XVIII.

Il am miSeraele, ma cnere, Wrote
Sibyl to her friend Paulette Rale. Il
am shut up in dreary house, guarded
by four high walls, and mamma-oh!
that I could whisper it in your ear
is very cold and repellent and strange!
She sits by the hour and writes let
ters to my father, who died abroad
years and years ago; but my fathers
daughter she seems hardly able to
tolerate. 7 am shut studiously from
her room-I am left altogether to my
self, and-I am miserable!"
There was another reason for her
misery which Sibyl did not mention to
her friend. She put down the letter
with a sigh, and, leaning on her win
dow sill, looked over at pair Of gar
rulous swallows tanning and f1utter-
ing about a brood Of fiedgelinss under
the cottage caves. She could see the
warm-lined nest, with its eager, open
mouths, its handful Of shining life.
There was love, ay, and home! Above
it the caves wept with last nights rain.
Around it the leaves clapped like green
hands in the wind. Into 1t a great
sunbeam darted, kissed it quickly and
slipped out again. Up the sloping roof
curled and twisted vine, its arteries
bursting with summer sap and dropped
upon the nest the big crimson shadow
of a burning, blazing trumpet flower
to which a blundering, black bee clung
and swung, his thighs clotted with
honey.
For a long time Sibyl sat and with
pensive eyes watched the swallows and
their young; then she rose from the
window, stepped out into the corridor
and tapped at her mothers door, 1t
was opened from within and the girl
entered.
On a sofa, whose bright covering
contrasted we'll with her colorless face
and gray hair, lay Mrs. Arnault. Near
by Rebecca Hardin sat at work at an
old fashioned embroidery frame.
At sight Of Sibyl the reclining figure
raised itself up with a jerk.
"Rebecca," she burst out, peevishly
II gave express orders that she
shouldn't come here today"
Mistress" the nurse answered, stab
bling the canvas with her sharp needle
youth is youth. and it will pine with
out proper food. One should be care
full"
Sibyl advanced to her mothers side
Mamma" she said, II have some
thing to say to you-something, l am
sure, that you will be glad to hear"
What can it be?" cried the invalid
petulantly. "Well, sit down, II you
must-not so near, child! you stifie
me! Now speak,"
It was plain she did not intend the
interview to be long one. Sibyl drew
back behind the embroidery frame and
colored painfully.
Il do not think" she began, my
presence at Hammerton adds anything
to your happiness. Does it, mamma?'
"Well, what then?" answered Mrs
Arnault.
Il know you do not love mel have
always known that. l want to &c
aWay. mamma-to take care Of my
SELF"
Mrs. Arnault dashed back her gray
hair in something like alarm.
What does the absurd child mean
Rebecca?" she cried. Take care Of
herself-how?"
by teaching-by governessins-
anything!" answered Sibyl.
"She is beside herself" said Mrs
Arnault.
Mamma, pray-pray let me go!'
implored Sjbyl. Il hate this place
do, indeed! I am very wicked-1 dc
not even love you! 1 should be
thousand times happier working fol
myself out in the world"
you foolish child" screamed Mrs
Arnault; "let you leave me-suffel
myself to lose sight Of you now? No
no! Nobody expects you to love me
no. nor asks it; but don't mention thi:
matter to me again. You shall never
leave me so long as I live. This !:
your home. When I am dead you shal
be properly provided for. Now, b.
content. You have nothing whateve
to do with the work of the world, o.
with the world itself"
81 shall die here!" cried Sibyl, will
the wild exaggeration of youth.
"Fie! the young don't die so easily
Go now!" commanded Mrs. Arnault
"you disturb me-"
| Waving Sibyl toward the door, sh
fell back on her pillows.
| Rebecca leaned over her mistress.
"She acts like one love-sick," sn
said.
| (To be Continued)