The Detroit times., 1915-08-27
Copyright. Ipi5. Dy the Associated
Newspapers. Limited1
CHAPTER XVI

girl
Mrs. Treverton flushed, glanced up
at the thin, brown, handsome face,
and then grew very pale and looked
down at the paving that bordered
the Dutch garden She was sitting
on stone seat, her large garden hat
on her knees, her golden hair spark
ling in the sun.
Arthur Lowther STOOD beside her.
leaning against an old stone sun
dial 1t was a very hot day, but he
looked remarkably cool in a suit of
white duck lie was one of the few
men who could wear white duck
without looking podgy and untidy
and ridiculous
II don't want TO pry into your af-
fairs" he continued after a pause.
I'm not that sort of man at all. But
I hate TO see you like this Great
Scot what a jolly rosyfaced girl
YOU used TO be five years ago You
are taking life too seriously, Sibyl.
That's what the trouble is"
She laughed Life IS a serious af-
fair" she said iestingly when one
is married and has a child You'll
end that out Arthur, later on
do YOU remember that picnic we
had up or the hills" he said when
you tried 10 light fire and set ali
the gorse ablaze- word. | can't
imagine you doing that now
"Of course not Arthur-one
doesn't always remain a child
There are some women he said
slowly that one always likes TO
think of as children"
She colorcd and looked intently al
the rim Of her hat
81 must be getting in" she ex
claimed rising abruptly 10 her feet
Il have annoyed you, SibyL" he
said gently We'll | didn't mean "a
do that wish ! could help you
Help me, Arthur? What do you
mean"
well, wish I could put things
straight between you and Jim Trey
erton."
Straight" she queried coldly
What are you talking about, Ar
thur"
well. I have seen there is some.
thing wrong"
There is nothing wrong
Some Misunderstanding sup.
pose that is all it is don't want
to know anything about Il, but | can
see It's there I've been here a
month. and I've got eyes Look here.
Sibyl, old girl, I'm leaving tomorrow.
and | hate 10 think of you staying
on here--without any friend to
whom you can turn for sympathy
or advice
81 have my husband" she said
quietly.
"The rift Is widening in the lutte,
he replied sadly IT'S my last even.
ing here, Sibyl, and feel | must
speak plainly. For heavens sake
make It up with Treverton before II
Is too late. He's such decent chap
and you're such a sweet-natured wo-
man that II ought TO be easy"
She was silent There was no
sound in the quiet garden but the
splashing OF the fountain She was
sorry her cousin was going He had
been very kind TO her, very sympa-
thetic. For month he had brought
stir and movement OF the great
world beyond into the quiet life at
Verney Hall She rather dreaded
being alone with her husband again
Things had certainly been going
from bad TO worse. Treverton had
grown very reserved during the past
few weeks and seemed TO be brood
ing over some deep and secret sor
row. There were times when he
might even have been called morbid
and bad tempered. But for the most
part he was like a man who has
built a barrier wall between himself
and the outer world He was kindly
and affectionate, but Sibyl felt that
they were drifting apart His mind
was like a sealed book to her. He
was often absent during the whole
day on business. so he said, connect
ed with the estate
This had thrown her much into
the society OF her cousin. and con
siderable intimacy had sprung uI
between them she would certainly
miss Arthur Lowther very much
put she was not willing to allow
him 10 interfere In the sacred rela
tons between husband and wife.
I'D like 10 see you Just as YOU
were a few years ago he went on
"and there's no reason why you
shouldn't be. You've everything, a
woman can want-and that jolly 49,
tie chap Of yours you talk OF the
cares Of married llfe-upon my word
Sibyl. you ought 10 be very happy
You know ! want YOU 10 be happy