Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-02-25
SYBILLA LONG,
KNIGHT ERRANT
She Was Happily Worsted In
Her First Combat.
av INA WRIGHT AANaON
BY INA WRIGHT HANSON.

used to know and who l heard was
living here. i got tangled up In a
minstrel show going over, and coming
back l got mixed into funeral.
didn't know exactly where she lived,
and had all Boston Ravine out look
ing for her. I'm sure the folks down
there haven't been SO stirred up fer
years"
The voice beyond the bowlder broke
most pleasantly into Fenton's moody
thoughts. He sat up promptly, but
cautiously.
That's the first decent voice I've
heard In this accursed place." he OBJ
served silently.
1t didn't seem to be an accursed
place. Fragrant with pine needles, vo-
cal with the humming of bees in late
manzanita blooms and the laughter of
a watercress laden stream. beautiful
with brick red soil. varied green's in
foliage and gimpses of heavens own
blue. II seemed like charming spot.
the only discord the pale faced. hollow
eyed man himself.
81 didn't find the girl after ALL" the
musical tones went on. but l found
the house she used to live in"
Fenton listened impatiently while
the other voice said things. querulous
things burdened with the aches and
pains of the speaker. "A typical sani-
tarlum voice." thought Fenton peevish-
ly. Then he frightened as the first
speaker remarked:
you think you will go back, do you?
Oh, no, the walk hasn't hurt you. Ex-
ercise and fresh air do wonders for
body often. No. / am going to stay
and read till luncheon"
In silence Fenton wondered If she
would read aloud, but instead she be-
gan to sing. He fairly held his breath
Notes soft as a wood doves. a voice
exquisite by nature and unspoiled by
training. She was singing lifting
lyric of love. and Fenton thought of
swinging gate, scurrying clouds and
his first sweetheart's first kiss years
and years forgotten. Then, without
any perceptible hesitancy. the melody
changed to lullaby, tender as moth
er's prayer and the weary look left
the mans eyes. the hard lines around
almost sobbing. breath. The melody
ceased, and Fentop felt as If he had
never had a desire In his life but to
hear her sing. He arose and went to
the other side of the bowlder.
Pardon a sick man. he began. but
his tongue seemed paralyzed. His only
conscious thought was that he was
glad the girl In her nurses uniform
was so fair, Her eyes gazing curious
~ up ut him had never hint of fear
In their amber depths. He gathered
his senses together.
~ haven't slept naturally for a
week." he said bluntly. "Will you sing
for me?"
When Fenton awoke the sun was
shining no longer He sat up quickly
and found that great shawl was
keeping the evenings chilliness from
him; then his eyes discovered the nurse
leaning against tree. regarding him
gravely.
you have stayed here all day-you
have had no lunch.' he exclaimed.
She smiled. "Oh, no; when ! was
sure you would stay asleep l went
back to the sanitarium, and then
came again."
They arose. Fenton folded the shawl
and laid. it over his arm.
"How am 1 ever going to thank your"
he began.
Don't try" she answered simply.
preceding him down the narrow path.
II worked too hard and collapsed"
he explained. "Shan't be so foolish
when l get well again. l am going to
get well now that can sleep. Maybe
you have heard Of John Fenton. car
pet manufacturer. am the idiot"
"Ohv' exclaimed the girl, then add
ed hastily: "a pebble rolled under my
foot. am Sybilla Long, nurse"
He wondered at the deep flush which
overspread her face. They were at the
foot of the hill and walking side by
side.
Cant / syndicate your servicesT
he inquired gravely. do you suppose
the doctors are averse to graft?"
He thought her low laughter was
pleasanter even than her song or her
speech. That night he slept as he had
not for year.
A new life was beginning for John
Fenton. The sanitariums grim walls
no longer spelled to him hopelessness.
The doctors were complacent over SO
satisfactory convalescent. but Fen
ton laughed In his sleeve at them. 1t
was not pills and potions which had
made q man of him again. but the ton
&c of sweet voice and gracious pres
ence.
She seemed. this fair Sybllla. to be
Dveryoung for nurse. Perhaps for
that reason the grave doctors INDUCED
her beyond the others. AT any rate,
she always had time for Fenton. and
daily she fascinated him more. He
had not been man of many loves.
The first little sweetheart. dead years
before. and the woman his mother
wanted him to marry. but whom he.
had perversely refused even to meet
the first had set his heartstrings
a-quiver: the last. his mother affirmed
stood ready to do so. SO all the loves
which Fentop might hive nurtured