The Queen of The Isle

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1074, 23 August 1904, Page 4

The Queen of The Isle

OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

BY MAY AGNES FLEMING

Author of " The Heiress of Glon Gower," "Tho Unsoen Bridogrooin," oto.

CHAPTER MI-Continued

Foramoment itsoemed as though tho throat would bo accomplished, as Sybil stood over her liko one turned to stone, But tho next instant, releasing her hold, she hurled hor from her; mid, ns if fleeing from temptation, fled down the rocks, over tho rough path toward the Lodge, and sank, fainting auct exhausted, on tho sitting-room floor. An hour after Aunt Moll ontorcd, and beholding tho prostrato form of Sybil, with its streaming hair, lying prone on the floor, grew alarmed, mid coming over, she shook her gently, saving; " Miss Sybil, is yer sick ? Come, git up now, like a good chile, 'fore you catch your def of cold, a lying on de bare floor. Deed, honey, 'taint right for young people to heave der selves in de draft, dis way," But Aunt Molll went through all tho phases in vain. Hor young mistress neither moved nor stirrod. ,

" Now, Miss Sybil, do git up-plaso do, De Lord knows I's 'fraid you'll coteh de rhoumatiz in yer bones, Most oncom* f ortablist t'ing as evor was; 'specially 'fore & rainstorm, when ebory j'int feels as if dero was forty hundred crosscut saws agoing t'rough it. Come, chile-come, git up, an' git up, an' let yor 010 mammy ondrnss you, an' put yor to bed." And Aunt Moll shook iho supposed fileeper gi ntly. Sybil lilted hor head, disclosing a faco so palo and haggard, a form so shrmikon and collapsed, that Aunt Moll started back in terror.

" What on oarth de matter in you. Miss Sybil. Is yor sick, chile ?" «• Yob, sick at heart —sick tit heart!" said Sybil, in a despairing voioe, " I knowed sometin was do matter wid yer. Well git up liko a good ohile, and let me git some catnip tea for you: its tho beßt iu the world for sich complaints." " Oh, Aunt Moll, leavo me I My illnoss is beyond your art. Neither poppy nor mandragon oan ever medicine to mo that sweet sleep I once slept beneath this roof."

11 Now ohile, don't say so," said aunt Moll, touohed by hor hopeless lone. " Folks ain took so sudden as all dat. you know. I ain't got no poppy nor mn* dragon; but catnip tea is job' as good, 'cordin to my way way o' thinking,' An' when you take a good night's res', yon be all well in the mornin'—please de Lord." "Rest? Rest? When shall I rest again 1 Aunt Moll, leave mo, I want to be alone,"

" 'Deed Misß Sybil I dar'snt do it—toon't do to leab yon liore all in tho dart, all alone Lot mo help you to bed; an' make you catnip ton," " Oh, this heart—this heart I" "Yea, chile, I knows: Ispects it's do oramps you'so got, Come honey," And Anut Moll put put her arm round her young lady's neck, and attempted to lifi

her tip. Oh, Aunt Moll I If you only knew my afflioiion, What manors it wheihor I dio or not, ainoo I liavo nothing more to live for; I might as well die now as live; (or tho living dealh of a loveless lifo," " You musn't talk so Miss bybi!; Hain't tight, nor likewise 'speetful to Lord, who sends us cramps, its well as hei.lf, some* times, "Jis r'ally 'astonia'uin', do way you takeson 'facut it," "Aunt Moll, I nm not bodily ill-only wronged, suffering, despairing, deceived, broken-hearted almost," snid Sybil,

" Dear heart I don't take en so 'bout it, I'b renl sorry, I is, "Chi thoro is nolhing but falsehood and treachery in this world. I, who loved and trusted so much, to bo deceived I would have staked my life, my soul, my hopes of heaven on his infidelity. And now, this awakening from my blissful, dolusive droam is worso than death, Oh, Atmt Moll, my dear old friend, is there any ono who really loves mo in • this world but you ?" And wholly overcomo, Sybil's strong despair gave way to a passionate burst of tears.

Since Sybil bad been a child Aunt Moll nevenempinbered to have seen Sybil weep before; and now, in her quaint, tender maimer, sho ult'ovo to eootho lior grief, But still the young girl wept mid sobbed with wild vohcroonence, until nature was relieved; then sho looked up, calmer and far leas despairing than before. • " Aunt i'olli" sheßaid suddonly," what time does Lem go over to Westport tor morrow ?" " Before noon honey," " Then toll him to ;ako me to N— before he goes for him I And now Aunt Moll I'll retire," " But won't you take the cotaiy lea ?'>

persisted the old woman, who had some vague idoa of tho all poworful virtues of the 1: b. " lit;, no, thank yon; I do not need it, " But it'll do you good, ohile; you'll foel more coinfoi'iablo for it.' 11 Comfort 1 comfori! Can anything oyer rcstoto comfort here ?" And she struck her bronst with her himd, " Yes, honey ; do catnip tea." " Good-night, Aunt Moll." And Sybil HittO J, 'ike a slmdow, up the long staircase, and disappeared in the gloom'beyond. To 6o oontiw6&-\