Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-05-25

unconscious S1byl's painting Mary
beheld it with pity and horror; she
saw Sibyl clinging to Robert Lamhorn,
raging, in a whisper, perhaps-for Ros-
coe might have been in the house, or
servants might have heard. She saw
Sibyl entreating, beseeching, threaten
ing despairingly, and Lamhorn-tired
Of her--first evasive, then brutally let
ting her have the truth; and at last
Infatuated, Swearing" to marry her
rival. If Sibyl had not babbled out
the word "swore" it might have been
less plain.
The poor woman Numbered on,
wholly unaware of what she had con-
fessed. "You see," she said, more qui-
city, "whatever's going to be done
ought to be done right away. I went
over and told Mother Sheridan what
I'd heard about Lamhorn, but Mother
Sheridan's under Ediths thumb, and
she's afraid to ever come right out
with anything. Father Shorthand
never in the world let Lamhorn come
near the house again if he knew his
reputation. So, you see, somebody's
got to tell him. It isn't very easy
position for me, is it, Miss Vertrees?"
"No," said Mary gravely.
"Well, to be frank" said Sibly, smil-
ing, chats why I've come to you"
ITO mew Mary frowned.
Sibyl rippled and cooed again.
''There isn't anybody ever made such
hit with Father Sheridan in his life
as you have. And Of course we all
hope you're not going to be exactly
an outsider in the affairs of the fam
ilyr' This sally with another and
louder effect of laughter.) "And if it's
my duty, why, in a way, | think it
might be thought yours, too"
"No, no." exclaimed Mary, sharply.
"Listen," said Sibyl. "Now sup
pose I go to Father Sheridan with this
story, and Edith says it's not true; but
suppose I could say: All right, if you
want proof, ask. Miss Vertrees. She
came with me, and she's waiting in
the next room right now, to-"
mustn't"
Listen just a minute more" Sibyl
urged, confidingly. She was on easy
ground now, to her own mind, and had
no doubt of her success. Miss Yer
trees, listen! Don't you see we ought
to do it, you and I? Do you suppose
Robert Lamhorn cares the snap Of his
finger for her? Do you suppose man
like him would look at Edith Sheri-
dan if it wasn't for the money!" And
again Siby,s emotion rose to the sur
! face. 81 tell you he's after nothing
on earth but to get his finger in that
old mans mcney-pile, over there, next
door! He'd marry anybody to do it.
Marry Edith?" she cried II tell you
he'd marry their niger cook for that!'
She stopped, afraid-at the wrong
time-that she had been too vehement,
but a glance at Mary reassured her,
and Sibyl decided that she had pro-
duced the effect she wished. Mary
was not looking at her; she was star
ing straight before her at the wall, her
eyes wide and shining. She became
visibly a little paler as Sibyl looked at
| her.
"After nothing on earth but to get
| his finger in that old mans money
pile, over there next doorw The voice
was vulgar, the words were vulgar
and the plain truth was vulgar! How
it rang in Mary .Vertrees' ears! The
clear mirror had caught it's own image
clearly in the fla, ed one at last.
| Sibyl put forth her best bid to
clench the matter. (she offered her
bargain. "Now, don't you worry" she
said, sunnily, 'about this setting
Edith against you. She'll get over it
after while And another thing-I
guess you won't mind Jim's own sis
ter-in-law speaking of it. Cf course,
I don't know just how matters stand