LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1065, 26 November 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE TWO SIBYLS,

(Continued.) As he approached Rose gave a quick glance behind her. All her good resolutions vanished; a dimple became apparent in her cheek, and her eye showed the signal ' Danger.' Mr M'Larty, however, had misinterpreted the signal, and sprang on the rock on which Rose stood. But no fond endearing words followed, only a heavy 3plash ; and was it—no, it could not be—a muttered oath ? —it must have been tho sound of the water. As he leapt on the rock, Rose, quicker than lie, sprang lightly on the bank, leaving (was it purely accidental '!) her parasol pro jecting over the stone. Tupping on it, thfRev. David stretched out his hand to oateh Rose's, but he only grasped thin air. That affording him no support, he foil into the pool, and spoilt the fishing for the d;;y. A low mischievous laugh escape:! from Rose ; then her conscience smote her, and 3he set about trying to repair mischief she had done. It required a stern sense of duty to enable her to keep her countenance when she saw the pastor's head and shoulders emerge from the water; never theless she gravely gave him her hand to help him out, and risked a wetting herself to rescue his hat with tho handle of her parasol. She was moved to pity when si e saw hiu. stand dripping before her, and holding out her hand, said,

'I shall not askyou to go home with me now: and may I ask a iavor ? —that you will not illude to anything that has occurred to-day. ml be assured that I shall not mention it.' And she did not.

The ardour of Mr M'Larty waa sufficiently cooled to allow him to take R• se's request for silence as a rejection of his suit ; and on the dying embers of his love for the beauti t'ul heiress rose the almost extinguished ilame of his love for the stout and hearty, md very much his senior, Miss Betsey M'Naughtou. The farm of Drumdroehit lay on his way ;iome from Glenach to the manse ; and what more natural than that, cold and wet as he was, he should look in to warm himself?

Fortunately Miss Betsey's compassion and sympathy with his plight were too absorbing to admit of a very particnlar inquiry into its cause. The farmer supplied him with garments, not strictly clerical perhaps, and dinner being ready, the minister stayed to ask a blessing and to take a share. The fair Betsey excelled in cooking, and Mr M'Larty loved a savoury mess. As he felt warm and comforted he "felt disposed to bless Miss Betsey-nay, more, he felt disposed to think Miss Betsey might prove a blessing to him. A • tumbler,' mixed by her fair hands, established her in her former position in his heart. That visit to Drumdroehit was followed by many others ; and in a few weeks the paßioral arms encircled, a 3 far as they could, the plump waist of the minister's future wife.

When questioned as to his attentions to Miss Montgomery, he omitted to inenti»u their meeting by the river side ; nay, we are not sure that, in time, he did not persuade himself that he had shown great skill in eluding Rose's attempt to marry him, the Re r. David M'Larty. * * * * *

When Kose returned home after her interview with the minister she joined Lily, and they were immediately afterwards summoned to the library, that the business papers might be signed. Lily was very nervous : Hose was less concerned, because she felt that the worst that could befall her had already happened. They were greatly comforted by Mrs Cameron having undertaken to explain their motives, and they found her in the library with her son. .Rose was standing at the window, when the sound of footsteps in the hall made her start and shrink behind the curtains to hide her flushed cheeks.

Sir Percy Lowther was announced, and Norvai advanced to meet him.

' This is most fortunate, Lowther; you are just in time to witness Miss Montgomery's signature.' Sir t'ercy reddened a little. ' Miss Montgomery and you will, I am sure, excuse me. I have just looked in for a few minutes to say good bye, and *o thank Mrs Cameron and you for all your kindness, and for the many happy hours I have spent under your roof ; such happiness,' he added sadly, ' as I am not likely to enjoy again.' ' Why such a hurried farewell, Sir Percy V said Mrs Cameron kindly. 'You have no bad news, I hope, to call you away so suddenly ?' ' I find I have lingered here too long, and must hasten south to morrow.

Kose emerged from her hiding-place, and she and Sir Percy bowed, without offering to shake hands.

Mrs Cameron and Norvai looked surprised, but Lily understood, and resolved that Sir Percy should know the truth. She turned to him.

' If I ask you to remain a little, you will not refuse ?'

He nould not resist the pleading of that sweet face, and consented, though reluctantly. Norvai arranged the papers, and looking at Rose said, 'Come, iSibyl, we are ready. I have marked the place where you are to sign your name.' Rose blushed painfully, the more so that she felt Sir Percy's eye fixed on her, and glided up to Mrs Cameron's chair, as if to put herself under her protection. Norvai stood on tho opposite aido of the table from his mother, on the right-hand of tho chair ho had placed for Rose, with his linger pointing to the place where she was to sign her name. Lily was; standing on the other side of the chair, and as Nerval finiohed speaking, she slipped into it, and, before Norvai realised what she was doing, she frigned her name, ' Sibyl Montgomery.' Norvai caught her hand, but too late. ' Sibyl, what have you done ? You must know you have no right to sign Rose's name.'

\ 'I have not done so, Norval; I have j signed my own.' She rose, and laid her hand gently on his arm. 'I am Sibyl Montgomery, and Rose is Sibyl Dewsbury ; forgive as, dear Norval, for deceiving you.' But Norval was far too bewildered to understand, and he turned inquiringly from one to another.

Mrs Cameron proceeded to explain. 'Listen to me, my son. The two culprits, laying her hand fondly on Rose's, have pleaded guilty, but have appointed me their counsel to urge extenuating circumstances before judgment is pronounced.' She then told of Lily's morbid longing to win affection independently of her fortune, and of Rose's innocent offer to relieve her of her burden for a time, and their having thoughtlessly bound themselves to keep their°secret till Lily's birthday. Mrs Cameron addressed her son, and both of them had forgotten Sir Percy's presence, so that he was able to listen and to watch Rose without remark, and his features relaxed from their cold and stern expression. Rose had never looked lovelier than now, as site stood with her graceful figure drooping, her hair pushed back from her forehead, and the dark eyelashes resting on her now pale cheeks, to keep the ready teara irom falling. . Sir Percy inwardly cursed ma folly in believing that no pure and gentle a being could be capable or imposiaro ai.u fa'sehood _ And .iow, when lie Heard the true foundation of her self accusation, he reverenced and loved I ier the more for that tenderness of conscience I :,riat put such a construction on the passing ' vvhim of a lively girl. When Mrs Cameron finished Rose could )ear the ptoin no longer, and she quietly msed through th» open' window. She lastcned down 'he path that led to the lake, vhere she threw herself on a mossy seat, and >er pent-up feelings found relief in a flood of She had herself cast away Sir Percy's profored love, but it cut her to the heart to be Acknowledged only by a frigid bow, and when he had neaid everything |p had given

no sign that he despised and condemned her less. She had tried to believe that she could return him scorn for scorn, that she could tear his image from her and forgot that she had known him. But it was only now, when she was about to lose sight of him for ever, that she realised how inexpres sibly dear he had become to her As she sit with her face hidden in her hands she felt them grasp d by two strong ones, and drawn gently away, and then she saw Sir Percy"kneeling before her. ' Sibyl, my dearest, can yon ev-r forgive me for Relieving, even from your own lips, that y-u could be aught but noble and lovely? Rose dear Rose, you must love me ; I cannot live without you ; only one word, one smile, will make me far happier than I deserve.' But no word, no smile, answered his impassiontd appeal; the ready tears rushed again to her eyes, but they were tears of joy and they were shed on his breast. I think we may safely leave Sir "Percy to dry Rose's tears, and return to the library at Norval grew very pale during his mother's explanation and after Bose and Sir Percy left the room he continued silent, the working of his face showing the severity of the struggle that was going on in his heart. Then he took 1 ily's hand fondly and firmly in his. ' I love you, Sibyl, with the intense devotion of a man who loves but once, and it is only a few hours since you made me happier than I can tell by saying that you returned my love. But, my dearest, we must cancel our engagement; you must go into the world; your position demands it, and you must go free, untrammelled by any tie, free to choose among the rich and noble one who may make you happier than a poor Highland laird. ' Nay, my darling.' he added, as she looked reproachfully at him with tear-laden eyes, 'if after a year, when you have seen others more attractive, you can still turn to me and say, "I love you," you will make me happier than I ever thought it possible to be. Is not that right, mother dear V {To be continued.)