The Ordway new era., 1916-09-15

ruptness, her mind plainly wandering
to another matter; and Mary per
ceIyed that she had come upon den
mite errand.
"Mrs. Kittersby and her daughter
were chatting about some OF the
people here In town the other day.
said SIbyl, repeating the cooling anu
protracting 1t. '.They said someth'nk
that took me by surprise! We were
talking about our mutual friend MI
Robert Lamhorn-" ~
Mary interrupted her promptly. ""e
shouldn't consider Mr.. Robert Lam
horn friend of ours
To her surprise, Slbyi nodded eager
Iy, as IL greatly pleased. That's JUST
the way Mrs. Kittersby talked! she
cried, with a vehemence tha' n'"uc
Mary stare. Eyes, and l near tna'
the way all you old families mere
speak OF him.
Mary looked aside, but otherwise
she was able to maintain her compos-
ure. 81 had the impression he was
friend of yours" she said, ADDING
hastily, "and your husbands
"Oh yes" said the caller, absently.
He ls certainly. A mans reputation
for a little gayety ouGhtn't TO make
great difference to married people, OF
course. It's where young girls are in
question. Then It may be very, very
dangerous. There are great many
things safe and proper for marriep
people that might be awf!y imprudeht
for a young girl. Don't you agree
! Miss Vertrees?"
81 don't know" returned the frank
Mary. do you mean that you intend
TO remain a friend OF Mr.. Lamhorn's,
but dlsapprove OF Mss Sheridans do
Ing SOP
THAT'S it exactly" was the naive
and ardent response OF Sibyl. what
| feel about 1t is that man with his
reputation isn't a. all suitable for
Edith, and the family ought to be
made to understand II. | tell you,
she cried, with a sudden access Of We
hemence. 'her father ought to put his
foot down."
Her eyes flashed with green
spark; something seemed to leap out
and then retreat. but not before Mary
had caught glimpse Of it. as one
might catch a glimpse Of n thing dart
ing forth and then scuttling back into
hiding under bush.
"Of COURSE" said SIbyl, much more
composedly. 81 hardly need say that
It's entirely on EdIth's account that
I'm worried about this. I'm as fond
Of Edith as II she was really my sis
ter, and I can't help fretting about 1t.
1t would break my heart to have
Ediths life spoiled"
This tune was of the key, to Mary's
ear. SIbyl tried to sing with pathos,
but she hatted.
"And Edlth's life would be spoiled"
Sibyl continued. ut would be a
dreadful thing for the whole family.
She's the very apple OF Father Sheri-
dams eye, and it would be n horrible
thing for him to have her marry
man like Robert Lamhorn; but he
doesn't know anything about him, and
II somebody doesn't tell him. what I'm
most afraid OF is that Edith might get
his consent and hurry on the wedding
before he finds out, and then 1t would
be too late. You see. Miss Vertrees.
It's very difficult for me to decide just
what It's my duty to do"
Il see" said Mary, looking at her
thoughtfully. Does Miss Sheridan
seem to-to care very much about
him?"
Hes deliberately fascinated her."
returned the visitor, beginning to
breathe quickly and heavily. She was
launched now; her eyes were furious
and her voice shook. He went after
her deliberately, the way he does ev-
erything; he's as cold-blooded as a fish.
All he cares about Is his own pleasure.
and lately he's decided it would be
pleasant to get hold Of piece of real
money-and there was Edith! And
he'll marry her, He told me so last
night. He said he was going to marry
her the first minute he could persuade
her to it-and little Edith's all ready
to be persuadedw Sibyl's eyes flashed
green again. And he swore he'd do
it," she painted. He swore he'd
marry Edith Sheridan, and nothing on
earth could stop him"
And then Mary understood. Hell
lips parted and she stared at the bab
bling creature incredulously, n sudden
vivid picture in her mind, canvas OF
unconscious Sibyl's painting. Mary
beheld it with pity and horror; she
saw Sibyl clinging to Robert Lamhorn
raging, in whisper, perhaps-for Ros
coe might have been In the house, o.
servants might have heard. She saw
Sibyl entreating. beseeching, threaten
ing despairingly, and Lamhorn-tiret
of her--first evasive, then brutally let
ting her have the truth; and at last
infuriated, swearing" to marry he
rival. II Sibyl had not babbled ou
the word "swore" 1t might have beel
less plain.
/ Tho raar hlundarod