Evening star., 1924-11-16
The Bride Had Consented
Sibyl Uses the Woman's Privilege.
BY ALICE DUER MILLER.

before, he had thought of as a rather
weak, feeble creature-but even as a
partisan he wished to be fair. HAS
anything happened to change herr" he
asked.
The boy shook his head. We've been
engaged three months-perfectly happy
at least I've been. No one can under
stand it-not even her mother
Rawley sat down beside the boy with
an air of brisk decision.
"Now listen to me-" he said in the
tone of a man accustomed to being lis
tened to. Whenever you lose anything
in theis world, no matteA how valua BILE,
there is always compensating freedom.
The trick is to use that freedom to the
utmost. / haven't seen your fiancee.
but l am. going to offer you something
that is good exchange for any girl.
I'm starting for East Africa the day
after tomorrow, and I'll take you
with me if you want to go. I'll guar
antee you at least one lion"
The young man stared at him. You
mean give her up?" he said.
Il thought she had given you up. You
don't want to nag a woman into marry
ing you, do you?'
Young Severidge nodded. q want
Sybil on any terms he said.
The suspicion that this was not the
stuff out of which big game hunters
are made flashed through Rawley' s
mind. but was instantly repressed. You
make a great mistake he said. IF
you marry a woman against her will,
everything that goes wrong is your fault.
It's bad enough on a fifty-ffty basis.
But If there is any chance that she may
change her mind again, nothing would
make her do 1t as quickly as the knowl-
edge that you had something better
to do"
Better" said thte boy.
Better, in my opinion" answered
Rawley.
You think women are like that?"
Il think every one is like that.
Even you. You are not keen to go
"Oh, yes. 1 am" said Severidge. "It
has always been my dream to shoot
a lion" But his tone wasn't really
eager.
but if YOU heard 1 was offer
ing the place to some one else, you'd
know at once that you wanted il"
said Rawley. Take my advice and
go to Miss Bruce and put it to her
once and for all-that you want to
it, but if she won't you want to
know, for you have chance to go to
Africa with me"
II see," answered the boy. well,
l believe I'll do that-only Id like to
think 1t over a little"
Rawley stood up. You haven't
much time" he said. II shan't be
here more than half an hour"
oh know, 1 know" the boy an
swered. only I'm expecting my un-
Gle at any minute. You. wouldn't
mind my talking it over with him,
would you?"
Talk it over with any one you
like" Rawley returned. "Only it
strikes me there has been too much
talk already. A little action would
be a relief"
LIE turned to go and something in
his decisive movement gave the
boy new idea. "Why don't you
speak to her." he said. I've been
waiting for my uncle, but you would
ten to man like you-a man who's
done the things you've DONE"
Rawley was no more susceptible to
f1attery than any nice person ought
to be, but this hardly seemed credi-
BILE. "She probably never heard my
name" he answered.
"Oh, yes, she has. I've talked
about you to her-She Knows all
about what you did in the Caucasus.
Tell her what you just said about
taking me or leaving me. You could
make the African trip sound much
more wonderful than I could
Rawley hesltated. After all 1t was
to his interest to get a definite an
swer out Of the boy-yes or no-be-
fore he left. Besides he liked to see
things done and done right. VERY
we'll" he said, I'll speak to her. I'll
get a decision one way or the other
l can promise YOU that. Don't blame
me, though. If it's negative"
The boy made a hopeless gesture
as if he were beyond blaming any
one and Rawley went on toward the
house.
He did not go in at the front door,
but, seeing the long windows of his
own library open. he stepped inside.
The room had been divested Of
every piece of furniture. Only the
books-his books-ranging from
floor to ceiling, greeted him with
their familiar backs. He forgot
everything else. There was a map
he moved to the shelves and became
absorbed.
Presently the door Of the room
opened and a middle-aged lady en-
tered-Mrs. Bruce, he supposed. He
had been told she had once been a
beauty; but now she was obviously