The Queen of The Isle

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1072, 20 August 1904, Page 4

The Queen of The Isle

OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

BY MAY AGNES FLEMING

Author of » Tho Heiress of Glon Gowk," " The Unseen Bride R vooW' etc.

CHAPTER XII 11 It would bo bottor," said Mrs Tom, thoughtfully. ''Ho'sgotatrcmenjouscut right in bis bead. I did what I could lor him; but, olcourse, a body would feel mote satisfied U they had areg'lav doctor.' "UlTveioill, Mrs Tom, I would trust to jou in prefotonce to any doctor ever warranted to kill or euro," said Willavd, as he took his hat to go. Mrs Tom smiled benignly at tlin com-pliraenl-qui'-o delisted »t iliiii acknowlodgement o! hor skill. Aun an hour after WiHnnl nnil Loin were on their way to Wesiport. What wcro Millard Drmmnonds thoughts as, Kitting siu-nily in the stem of the boat, he watched the dancing wavoi flMhandspßTWein tho annhphl? Vory different from those he had n:dulgcd_ in not long since, when on one ovcnilul night he and Christio had crossed it togblhor. This LantaCourtnoy had first won hb (

boyish heart. Ho had raved mid vowed at her feet, but she only Inched at hra and-his pastion, and now sho had no moro power over hia heart than if sho novor existed, Might it riot bo t-lio snujo with those ho had !oved'sinoo ? Was not hi? love for Chtistio beginning lo grow cold already ? And in the hoi ardour nf love ho had made this uneducated, shy ohild his wile Why, oh why had he not waited? And now that the deed was forever irreparable where was this to end? Thoy readied West-port before dark; and Lero, having landed him, set of! for the island again, promising |to return for him in tho.uoming. The moon was just r'lßing abovo the pine trses when he reached homo, and, on ontering the house, the first object, he beheld was hia young mistress in close conversation with bis mother "Lor Bakes, Miss Sybil I you hero P'' was Lem's first ejaonlation, -" Uee, Lein, and glad to be home again," she said gaily. " Aunt Moll tolls mo yon have just been taking Mr. Drummond over to Westport." " So I hev; but I'm to go for him early to-moirow mornin 1 , 'Sped ofho'd Imowed jou was a-comin' ho'd stayed hero." » Humph I" said Aunt Jbll, dubiously. " Did ho seem lonely during my-during our absence ?" asked Sybil, •' Lonesome? 'Deed he didn't, honey; he was in fust-rate spirits all do tirao." » Ab 1" said Sybil, a shadow falling over her face, "he spent his time in fishing and shooting, I suppose, and snaring birds?" Sharra birds? Yes; an'caught one, too," said Aunt Moll, in a lono that spoko volumes. "Caughtone? Whntdo you mean, Aunt Moll ? I don't understand," said Sybil. " Miss Sybil, don't listen to her. She's allots got some nonsense to toll," interrupted Lem, casting an angry and warm ing glance toward his mother, 11 It's all fur your good chile, 'dotd it is, an'l 'sidersit my duty to warn ygu, honey, dat Massa Drummin' ain't to bo 'ponded on, Dar 1" " Aunt Moll, what do you mean ? What has Mr, Drummond done?" asked Sybil, growing pule. " Well, chile, 'stead o' staying hero an' thinkiri' ob you, he's been prowlin' round do island wid dat Miss Olinssy—making lub tj her, I'll be connd." "What?" cried Sybil, in a tone that made tho old woman leap to her feot, as sho sprang forward and caught her by the arm. " Daro yon insinuate such a thing ? I tell you he could not-ho daro not bo falBOtome!"

" Miss Sybil, honey I for do Lord's sako dontlockatmo widsnch wild eyes. 1 spec's she's witched him. I can't 'count for it no other way,'' said Aunt Moll, trembling before those blazing eyes, " I only says what I knows. Ho's nil do time talkin' 'bout her to bisself when's he's lone. 11 It cannot be true; he dare not do> ceive me!" almost shrieked Sybil, " What • proof have you of this ?' Speak I speak." " Miss Sybil, honoy, you may ' sassi-* nate mo ef you's a mind to; but I's tellin' detrufe. Scucc cuur you left, dey, ain't a minute apart. Dey've sailed in do nber after night, an' gone, trampin' iu de woods in the daytime: and I'so liecrd him callin' her his ' dear Chrissy' when he's lone, I knows, chiU, 'tain't pleasant nor likewise 'grceablo for you to hear dis; but I talks for your good, honoy—'deed I does," But now the first floret gust of passion was over, and, pale and tottering, Fybil leaned against tho chimney-piece—iior aim on the mantel, her head bowed upon it, shuddering, sinking, collapsed, All his neglect was accountod for now. She was forgotten-deserted for this island girl," So long she remained in that fixod, rigid attitudo that Aunt Moll began to grow alarmed, and she was on tbo point of commencing a consoling spoech beginning with "Miss Sybil, honoj'," when tho young girl lifted her head and askod in hollow voice: "1b this- this girl in tho island still?" " Yes, chile; ob coou. .In is-down to Miss Tom's." For a moment nger Sybil stood,

gn-iing atondv before hor with those wild, burning eyos"; Iter faoo nerfectly colour* less; hci'tcoth ant.; her hands cliDched, AH .;:o humiliation, the shame, iho agony o( being deserted ruihed, liko ft burning torrent, through hor mind. And with it oiune a fierce, demoniacal hutted of her idol end a deadly wish to bo avenged. Starting suddonly up, alio fled up the stairs, through the long unlighted hall out oi the front door, and took tho path leading to Mrs Tom's, The bright moonlight lit nil nround, and standing near a rock commanding an cxteusivo viow of tho sea, Mristio stood enjoying tho beauty of tho night, when suddenly a fierce grasp was laid on her ahoiildor and alio looked up. Her vision was realized. Sybil Camp, bell stood glaring upon her with fierce, ffild, black eyes, like an aroused tigress preparing to spring. To be continued.)