The Queen of The Isle OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1117, 12 October 1904, Page 4

The Queen of The Isle OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

BY MAY AGNES FLEMING

Autlioi of "Tho JJcirtp« of Glen Gowor," " The Unseen Bri oipii'd),' ole

OHAFTEB XXXV

(Conclusion)

"Mo!" said Sybil. "What can he want with mo'?" , " Oh, I do not know, He is saying such dreadful things I Come with me,'' said Mr Courtnoy, catching Sybil's arui in a wild, torriliod way, and drawing her from tbo room. Mr Brantwoll, Willard, and his dying girl-wife, were left alone, "I want to see AuntTomandOl," said Cbristio, faintly. "Do you know whero thov are to bo found ?" "They aro on the island," said Mr Brantwoll, "consequently havonot heard of jour arrival here. I'will send a messenger over for them, if you wish." " Yes—yes," said Christie, eargerly ; " sond now —rifiht away," Mr Brantwoll left the room, and speodily returned to say that a man had gone, and Mrs Tom and her nephew might be oxpeeled in a few hours. And then tlio good clergyman came ami sat down beside tlio dying girl; and taking her hand in his, began talking in a low, earnest tone, while Willard, with his head bowed on his hand, sat by tlio window, absorbed by many conflicting thoughts, And thus an hour passed; ami then Captaiu Campbell and his sister returned, palo and excited, as if by some strango tidings. "Mr Courtney?" said tho minister, inquiringly. "Is it possible'? How very sudden!'' said Mr BratnwcH, in surpise. " What was tho matter?" "He ruptured an artory this morning," replied tho young man, beginning to pace tho room with rapid strides; "and that, with tho shock caused by tho uuexpocted appearance of Christie, caused his death." •' Christie's appeoranco I How could that shock him ?" said tho minister, still moro surprised. " Ho thought her dead—thought himself her mutderer, and fanciod she had risen from the grave to acouso him," said Captain Campboll, " Thought himself her murdoror I" said tho minister, repeating tho young man's words, like an echo. " How was that ?" " Well, it was he who stabbed hor that night on tho beach. He has coufessed it all!" said Captain Campboll. " He stabbed her!" exclaimed Willard, springing to his feet, whilo Christie tittered a faint cry; " and why in tbo name of Heaven, should ho try to murder her? What had sho over done to him?'' " Nothing. Ho did not mean to injuro Chriatio, He mistook her lor his wife," " Mirtook uib for his wife?" said Ohristie, like ono in a dream; " and did ho want to kill his wife?" " Yes, horrible as it seems, bo wantod to kill her i" said Captain Campbell, " The way of it wa3 this," ho said, stopping suddenly in his excited walk: " Courtney was jealous of his wifo; ho fanciod sho had gono to keep an appointment with some ono on tho island and he doterminod to Ulow her (hero. Ho wont; but, of course, as bis suspicious ', wore unfounded, sho did mt go. In tho storm and darkness he met Christie. Ho ' stabbed her, thinking skb was his wife, Tho next cyoniug, when ho returned to tho parsonage, ho found his wifo living! and hearing the rumour of Christie's death he knew he had stabbed hor in his blind fury. Ho hoard, also, that my sister had gono to tho island that night, and that a woman resembling her had been Been flying through tho storm about tho time the deed was committed, and the diabolical project entered his head of having hor accused of tho murder, and thus freeing himself of all possibility of blame. How well ho sujeeoded we all know. May the' foul iiend catch his soul for it?" " This is monstrous," said Mr. Brantwell, in a tono of horror " I never dreamed that any man in his sonses could have committed such a crime. "Ho was not in his sensos," said Sybil; "ne was crazed with jealousy " " Was he not saro when ho accused yon —tho double-dyed perjurer?" exclaimed Captain Campboll, fiercely. "Oh, why doos God permit such frightful injustice to p unpunished ? Whom slept His thunder bolts, that this demon inhuman form was not struck dead whore lie stood?" " Guy, bo calm, interposed Mr. Brantwell. " God is his own interpreter, and in His own good timo, Ho has seen lit to savo your sister, Lot what is past be forfotton— 'let bygones bo bygones.'" " But Christie has not told no yet how sho was saved,' said Sybil; all that is involved in mystery," Faintly, and in brokon sentences, for hor strength was waning fast, Chriatio re» lated all that tho reader already knows. lo oxplain tho probonco of Bertha on the island i» was necessary, however painful, to toll her story: and Guy and Sybil listened in sorrow and amazement. "Then my father's wifo livos yet?" said Sybil, slowly. "And now I remember catching a gliuipso of a tall, dark, handsome woman in tbo upper rooms of tho old lodge, whon I was a boy," said Guy thoughtfully. " It is strange I thought so littlo of it at tho timo, for her presence thoro was singular, "Who would cor snpposo my father could hayc done such a deed ?" ',His child, too, may bo living yot," said Mr. Brantwoll, " How unfortiinato thro is no duo as lo its fate," Ero anyono could reply a bustlo rfc tho door arrested their attention, and tho next moment Mrs Tom entered, followed by Carl, and rushed to tlio bodsido. "My own darling child! my own blessed baby! my darling little Christie!" were her oxclamations, between laughing and crying Mid hugging. "Dear Aurt Tom I Oh, I'm ho glad, so ghd to seo you again!" said Christio throwing hor arms urouiid her neck, '• And to think that you was married, and I never knowed a word about it I" said Mrs lorn, '• Cii'l, you great, lazy, idlo vagabones, come over here and seo Christie, 'stead o' standing thorc, shiflin' from one foot lo another, like you had got into a nest o' young vipers" Thus adjured, Carl advanced and pressed his lips to Ctnislic's chook as gingerly as though he was afraid of binning himself. Evidontl.y relieved when this wnsovor, ho edged off tow.ird, the door, mid, at the invitation of Sybil, took a seal, and sat down on tho oxtrcmo edge of tho chair. And then, when Mrs Tom had hugged and kissod Cbristio to horhoart'ii contour, her first demand was to hoar all that had happened" eence that thero awful night." And Sybil, fearing to further ugitato Chriftie, led the busiling littlo woman ovor to tho window, and related nil. Mrs Tom listened with many "lor' fake's!" aid "gracious rue's!" until Sybil began relating tho maniac's story. As sho proceeded, Mrs Tom grew violently agitatod; and b°i'orn sho could reach Iho end, tho old lady had jumped up, and, palo and trembling, bent over Christie. "Christie, look here," sho said excitedly; that thoro crazy woman had a little child, had oho, tho timo aho was walled Up in that room?" "Yon," roplietl Christie, wondoringly. "That thoro littlo child was Wt in Campbcli's I.oiigo long o' Mark Campbell, was it ?" continued Mr« Tom, more and more agitated,

'' Yes, I bchevo so. Why, Aunt Tom, what's the miUlci V"

" And they novor could iind out what 'cimin of it nt'tor, coulil tbov ?" again askod Mrs Tom, linking into it chair. " No, Why, whnt iD tho world docs nil you, Aunt Tom ?" said Christie, in still increasing surprise ,

" Oh, my Savior I Only to think on it I Christio, that thoro crazy woman is your mother I You aro tho little child that was left with Mark Campbell," In a moment every one was on his feet,; gazing in wonder and amaze on Mrs Tom. Christie, too weak now to betray any emotion, lav still, with hor wondering eyes fixed on tho old woman's face, '• Yes, you needn't stare; it's just so," sail Mrs Tom, excitedly; "and tho way of it was this: 000 morning, jest as I riz, Mark Campbell camo into my cottage wijh somlhing I took to bo a bundle, under his cloak. Ho openod it, and you may guess tho astonishmont I was in when ho laid tho sweetost, little baby on th; table ever I seed, I was so completely constcrnifird I hadn't a word to say, but jest stood statin' with my mouth wide open. Before I could ax him a single question 'bout it, ho sez to me: " Mrs Tom, thorc's a child 1 want tooken caro ot. Ef you'll do it, I'll pay you; if you won't—' I don't know what ho was going to say, for I broko out with the greatest string o' questions that evor was, asking nim nil about tlio baby; but ho only locked liorco and would not tell me a word. If yon will tako it, Mrs Tom, sez he, you shall bo well rewarded for taking enre of it; but you must never while I live, broaiho lo a living son. that I loft it with you. If you do,' sez ho, 'it will be all tho worse for you.' ' And its mother,' sez I; 'where is she'?' My eouscionco 1 if you had noeu hiui then! His face got like a thunder-cloud, and he said in a voico that made mo tremble-

' Never mention that word again, or I swear I'll blow your brains out as I would a rabbit's I And then ho rushed Iran the house, leaving mo moro astonished and frightened that over I had Been boforo in all my born days, But I kept tho baby, and called ii ' Christina,' and kopt it till it grew up. Mark Campb.'ll died a little while after, but wo never spoko another word about the child; but now 1 know, after hearing about tho crazy woman, sho was its mother."

Aunt Tom paused for breath, and Sybil with a great ory, sprang forwa d and clasped Christio in her arms, " My sister I my doar little sistor I" sho exclaimed, through her fast falling tears, " Oh, to discover you are my sister whon itistoolato!"

With hor arms round Sybil's neck, her golden head lying on her shoulder, Christ tio said, in a voico so faint that Sybil had to stoop very low to heat her: "I am going, dear Sybil! Tell Guy my brother, and Aunt Tom, to como and bid mo good-bye." In b voico choked with sobs, Sybil called them to the bedside, Guy's eyes wore lull of tears, and Mrs. Tom's sobs resounded audibly through the room, "And now, Sybil, my darling sister, good-by, and God bless yon, Hush 1 do not woop so;" and tho littlo wan arms clasped Sybil's neck in a last embrace, " Dearest Sybil, go now and send Willard to me I"

Pressing a last kiss on tho transparent

brow, Sybil arose, and beckoned Willard to approach, Calm and toarless, but

palo with grief too intense for tours, ho camo over. A flush of love and joy lit up tho wan face at his approach; tho goldon head dropped on his breast, whilo the sweet beautiful lips murmured; Dearost Willard I good-by! I am going to hoaven to pray for you and Sybil. You will try to bo very happy, whon I am gono —will you not? Lift mo up, iVillard, and carry mo to the window; 1 want to boo tho beautiful sunlight onco more." lie lilted tho slight littlo form, and sat down bosido tho window. A bright ray of sunshine flashed in, and lit up with a sort of glory tho angel brow, tho golden bair, and tho sweet pnlo face, Colder and colder grow tho hand in his; lowor sank tho head on his bosom; fainter and fainter beat tho gentle, loving heart. No sound, but tho suppressed sobs of Mrs Tom broko tho stillness of tho room, Suddenly the closod oyes tlew open, tho sweet lips parted in a smile, and sho half roso from her recumbent posture, The next moment sho fell back; tho bluo eyes closed; a slight shiver passed through hor frame, ami the streaming sunshine fell oh the face of tho dead.

* * * Threo months after, there was a wedding—n, very quiot privato one—at tho littlo church ol Newport. And when it was over Sybil and enterod their plain, dark, travelling earriago, and set out for Wiihird's Virginia homo—where, in tho uucloudod sunshino of tho future, thoy soon forgot, or learned to look back with tender regret to the suffering and sorrows of the past, ■ Christio tins not forgotten. The oldest daughter of Mr. aud Mrs. Druumiond, bears her name.

Six months after the marriage of Sybil her brother led to tho altar Laura Courtnoy, whoso natural vivacity soon overcame the shock sho had received by the sudden death of Edgar Courtney, her unloved husband; and threo days lattor. in tho good barque Evening Star, sho was dancing over tho bright wavos of tho Winnie, on her way to Europe with Captain Campbell. Willard Drummond sent for Unclo Reuben and Bertha, and for sovoral yoars thoy rosided with him, But whon at last tho gcntlo maniac passed in poaco away, hir faithful cousin bado thoni farowoll, ond set out for his boyhood's home, to pass his last days uuder tho old rooftree,

And Aunt Tom, good old Aunt Tom, still stayed on tho island, which no persuasions could over induco her to leavo, and thoro brought tip Mr Carl Henloy in tho way ho should go; and employed hor whole heart and aoal in the, alas! vain labour of curing him of tho sin of lazinosß, If any reader is conearned in knowing tho future fate of that interesting young gontlcman, I am happy lo say, when ho arrived at tho years of discretion, ho uiado tho acquaintance of a strapping, strong-armed, rod-chocked Gorman girl, who fell violontly in lovo with tho tallowcandlo complexion and tow lockß of the fascinating youth. Mr Honloy, aftet revolving tho mattsr over profoundly in all its bearings, camo to the conclusion that ho might as well marry her as not, which ho accordingly did, in tho '• fullness of time''- In. l ving previously extorted ;i promise from lnr to do all tho work. Mrs Tom, who hd an invincible antipathy to " lui'rinors," looked with ilisliko at first on her ni:ce-at-law; but Iho unvarying good hi;iionr of Mrs Henloy, and her willingness to work, toon completely gamed tho good lady's affections, and mustored htr prejudices.

JTHE ENDJ, " A Daughter of Maryland" is Iho title of a new serial story, tho opening chapter of which will appear ia to-morrow's issue,

THE EAST AND.THE WEST In Iho days when wo imbibed wisdom from a governess wo were first informed ihm iho East and West lire opposites, The st'ileincntistrueinmoro ways thnn regarding the compass, Of mighty London, the East is synonymous with poverty toil, end squalor; the West with wealth, leisure and splendour, 01 the world the ,East stands lor apathy and solid 'contentment ; the West for restless energy unceasing si ivmg for het:er things, The Mahomodan merchant'of Bombay or Laliote sits cross-legged in tlio buzaw, dreuniily smoking a pipo some threo feet long, his goods heaped promiscuously around him, and will scarce raise his eyelids whon spoken to by a probable customer. The merchant of Melbourne or Sydney sits in his office surrounded by tclephonr-.s, by the aid of which he is in ofl'ect present in nil his departments at once, whilo the cables keep him inconstant touch with his agents si'illorcd throughout the world. The mini of tho East nml the man of the West iiro as unliko as a burnt out crater nnd an nciive volcano. '• Hussein Ali is dead," said a Chicago man to the Amoticati Consul at a Turkish port. " You uon'i .-ay so I" exclaimed tho Consul; and presently added: " Well, 1 guess it makes very litile difference to him."

When a man of the|Anglo-N«on race is notnlly deficient in energy, it is a thousn ni to one ill-health is at tho root of it. He is not apathetic from conviction but/bi ciiuso ho can't help it, 'Tis tho same with a woman. Listen for a moment to this, written by Mrs. M. J.Clark, of OH, llutt Street, Adelaide, S.A.. 22nd February, 100-1. '' Mother Scigol's Cura* live Syrup has made such a blessed change in my life that 1 cannot speak too highly of it. For years I was in -a low stilnof health—thin, weak, pallid, utterly without energy. I had no appetite, and suffered extremely from indigestion and llatuloney. Doctor after dortor exerted his skill upon me, and many medicines wero recommended to mo and faithfully tried But all my efforts were barren of good results until a relative brought me a bottle of Mother Nigel's Curative Syrup. After so many disappointments 1 had little faith in it, and was therefore very agreeably surprised to tintl aftct inking a few doses that it was doing mo much good. Thus encouraged, I continued to use tho Syrup until I had taken five bottles of it, by which timo I was perfectly well. That was ten years ago, when I was living at Edwarilstown, a few miles from Adelaide; and 1 have remained well from that day to this."

It is n prominent characteristic of the dominant race, that ii is only patient under such physical sufferings as cannot be removed. Thanks to modem Science, sull'i ring that can bo so described grows less with every year.