Year: 1871

his betrothal ring on Syl's finger. The
new house was finished and ready for its |
mistress, and the wedding was arranged to


take place in the last of January. Aunt


Jane and Syls mother, and Derrick had


arranged it, and Syl did not even hint at


delay. She feigned an interest in her we'd
ding preparations, and tried her best to be
cheerful, even gay, for Syl was not one to
wear her heart upon her sleeve. She knew
that she could never forget Stephen Law


renee, and that happy summer past, but
she banished all thought of them, as much
as possible, from her mind. But she could
not give up her painting though that re-
called her teacher consolation; the only


way in which she could forget her sorrow,


for moment.


1t was only three weeks before the we'd


ding day. There was to be ball at Ais


ton, and, after repeated urging from Der


rick, Syl had consented to go. She was


the prettiest girl in Densboro', and Derrick


liked to display his conquest. To Syl, now,


such gayet les were torture, and she was


glad enough to find it stormy day when


she awoke.


"La," said Aunt Jane, "the storm wont


hurt you You may be sure that Derrick


wont mind it, for he is determined to show


you to the Allston folks"


And Derrick didn't mind, though the


storm ragged still more flercely, as it drew


towards night Syl had been strangely ner-


vous and excited all day. She felt a pre-


sentiment of something going to happen,


whether good or ill she could not. And


though she laughed at her own folly, she


could not rid herself of it. She was gay


without an effort, and Aunt Jane and her
mother agreed with Derrick Hurst that she


had never looked so we'll in her life. She


wore white muslin dress, caught up with
cherry ribbons over q cherry silk petticoat


that had been Aunt James, in the days of


her youthful gayeties, and the ribbons were
not so bright as her cheeks. Even the long
dreary ride through the storm to Allston,


with Derrick Hurst beside her. could not


take away her spirits. When they passed


the Hurst farm, which was out on the road
| W hlloJOuj bllo blCdo lOhClJ Olu


Syl shudder There were pine trees around


it, and they made such lonesome moaning
as the wind swept through them ~ She felt
thrill of thankfulness that that was not
to be her home. Derrick's mother was to


live there still, after he was married and
gone to his new house. She was very old,
and never went outside the door, There
l were stories about that she had lost her


mind, or was insane nobody knew exactly
what was the matter, for nobody except
r Derrick and his aunt had seen her for years.
/ The aunt his fathers sister, was to live
: with her still she was stern, hard


featured old woman, who never had lived
h and never would live in any house where
: she could not be mistress. Syl had only
} seen her once or twice-the Hursts had al
Q ways lived in solitary way having very lit
+ tie to do with the village people-but from
0 that slight acquaintance she had decided
o she could readily excuse her from living
n with her.


: Syl was the gayest of the gay at the ball,
+ but it was only because of a nervous rest
|
d piness.


@ The storm had increased with every
It hour after nightfall, and when they set out
! on their return it ragged fearfully the rain


and sleet drove into the carriage so that
!, Syl was drenched, the darkness was intense,
: and the horse stopped entirely every now
IS and then, unable to struggle against the fll-
II rious wind.


/. " We may be able to get as far as my
n house, Derrick said. "You cannot posi-
@ bly, get home tonight. Aunt Joanna will
IS take care of you and give you some dry
Q clothing"
+ Any other time the thought of passing
IS the night in that house, that had always


looked so dreary and ghostly to her, would
e have been insupportable to Syl, but now
o, in the storm and darkness the light that
t. streamed from its windows looked CHEEKY
II and inviting. Still, if it had been possible,
sr she would have preferred to go home, and
d she was sure Derrick would have preferred
d to have her, for he always seemed averse tc
D. having her enter that house.


ID But Aunt Joanna made an effort to rela,
1t her grim features into smile, as she greet
is ed her, and hustled about, with quite q
rs show of hospitality, to get her some ho
70 tea and dry clothing. But when she usher
: ed her into the room where she was TO sleep
m Syps heart almost failed her. It was Q
I. great deSOlate room on the ground floor