Evening star., 1914-12-27


"If ever do,' Jermyn replied, a shall re-
turn your call, if l may, under trust more
auspicious circumstances"
well give you bully time," Smith as
sured him, holding out his hand. "Now
am off, if you'll allow me. My regards to
the little girl, and my respectful compli-
ments to Miss Cluley.'
Smith took his place in the car, and drove
off. Jermyn turned away to find Mary COM
ing toward him.
"Sybil will be in your little study IN five
minutes she announced. you'd better
go in there now and wait for her."
CHAPTER XIX
TERMYN passed up the steps, across the
, cool, dim hall, and into his own little
study, where less than forty-eight hours be-
fore he had sat with Sybil and talked of the
play and their future, and the wonderful life
they meant to live together. He sat at his
desk with bowed shoulders, and his brain
seemed empty which only few days ago
had teemed with joyous visions.
When at last she came it seemed indeed
as though she were very different person.
All the lightness and the grace and the
buoyancy appeared to have passed away
from her. She was still and pale and cold.
Her eyes seemed larger, and they were en-
circled with black rims. Even Smith would
have admitted that at least she was not
acting now She came little way into the
room, and a new sensation thrilled him, a
sensation that he welcomed eagerly. The
rush of pity that came from his heart even
dimmed his eyes. He rose eagerly. She
waved him back.
1Jermyn,' she said, MARY tells me that
you are anxious to see me alone for mo-
ment before we go. am not sure that it is
wise; but you see have come
"Not wise?7 he repeated. "Oh, Sybil!"
She closed her eyes as though to shut out
the sight of him. "Dear Jermyn,' she went
on, "please do not think that l want to ig-
more those things that have passed between
us. Nothing can ever change them, moth
ing can ever make me feel differently; but
you and l both know that a new thing
has come into our lives, new knowledge
that we both share. 1t is no longer possible
for us to speak of our love. 1t is better for
us to try and ignore it,
"Sybil!' he pleaded.
"Ah, no, Dear!' she interrupted. "Don't
make it harder for me. l think that you and
l both understand. l think that we are
both capable of judging an action broadly
and generously, forgivingly. But that isn't
everything. We each have a terrible con-
sciousness in our hearts, consciousness we
shall never be able to get rid of. The best
thing we can do is to steal away and fight
Our battle alone. l could not come to you;
you must not come to me. Give me your
hands, Jermyn.'
She held them in hers almost passionately.
The relief of tears shone in her eyes, her lips
trembled even into faint smile. He took
her cold little fingers in his. His heart
ached with passionate desire to draw her
nearer and nearer; yet it never occurred to
him to yield. There was something between
them, something invisible, something against
which he was powerless.
@This is hard for US both,' she continued
softly. a never dreamed that could know
such happiness as l felt only forty-eight
hours ago. Thank you for it, Jermyn. 1t
was too wonderful altogether. Now it is
gone 1t will never come back; it can never
come back. The shadow of that terrible
thing must rest between us always. l never
dreamed how awful tragedy death might
be-"
Again she closed her eyes. She swayed a
little on her feet. 1t was almost like a mo-
ment of yielding. A torrent of passionate
words rose to his lips. He felt sudden
strength, sudden wild desire to tear down