The Queen of The Isle OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1058, 4 August 1904, Page 4

The Queen of The Isle OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

})Y MAY AGNEB FLEMING

Author of" The ILoiress of Qlcn Gower," "ThoUnsoen Bridegroom," etc, etc

CHAPTER V (Continued.) Taking possession of Mrs, Tom's rocking chair, while tho old lady bustled about, laying out tho corpso as best she could under the circumstance*, Curl was onco more soon sound asleep, Thon Mrs, Tom lay down on a hard wooden sofa and in spito of tho prosonco of death, tollowod her worthy nephew to the land cf dreams, Morning was far advanced before either awoke, Mrs, Tom's first cure wus to eond Carl up to the Lodge, to i'lfomi its inmates of the doath of tho guest, and dosiro Captain Campbell's immediate presence, Immediately after breakfast tho young captain haatcnod to tho cottage, while Sybil and Drummond went out for a stroll around tho island, Mrs, Tom had been anxiously revolving in her mind tho singular story told her the night boforo, and rosolvod lo rovcal it to Captain Campbell aud learn his opinion about it, Accordingly, when he enterod, Mrs, Tom related tho story in substanco as it had boon told told her, "aptfin Campbell listened in astonishment and incredulity, " My dcaijMrs Tom," replied the young man gravolyj" the man, half crazed as ho was, must have imagined it all, Nonsuch horrible thing could havo happened in a Obristian land," " But bo wasn't crazy, not a mite," asserted Mrs, Tom almost angry at having the truth of the story doubted, "He was as sensiblo as you and J," "Now, Mrs, Tom, it's not possiblo that with all your good sonso yon can credit suoh an ineradiblo tale," 11 But master Guy, tho man told it ou his deathbod, Think o' that."

Onplain Campbell, condensing the stoi . gave them the outline and princi" pal uU in a few words, Both listened with doep interest; but when lie spoke of the pale, haggard face, with its dark, waving hair, glaring at them through the window, Willard .Drummond started vio* k'litly and turned pale. Sybil's eagle eyes were fixed on his face, alid she alouc observed it, To be continued,)

"And doub less believod it too, But that doesn't niako it any uioro probable. It is all owing to imagination, my dear lady, Ho had fancied too story, and thought abont it so long that bo had learned to believe in it himself," " Well, I don't know nothin' 'bout the 'pagination, thank my heavenly Master," said Mrs, Tom, in a sort of unboliof; but I do know, of you wss to talk to this timo to*morrow you couldn't mako mo believe differently. I shouldn't ,vonder, now if you trod to make mo think the faco I seed stuck at tho winder was all 'magina< tion too."

11 1 was about to say so," said Guy, rc» pressing a smilo, " Tho hour of night, the thrilling tale and tho man's dying cry that ho saw her there would haye made you imagino anything; tborefore-* — "

But Mrs Tom's wrath was rising, She had beon inwardly priding hersolf ou tho sensation her story would create, and this fall to her hopes was moro than she could endure.

" It's no sich thing I" she cried, " I seen it all with my own two blessed oyes, and nobody's goin' tomal;c mo believe it was my 'magination whatever, 'Magination, indeed 1" continued tho old lady, in a tone of profound contempt, " Thank my divine Mastor, I novt>r wa» troubled with 'magination sinco tho day I was born, and 'tain't likely I'd begin now in my old oge o' life, I allers had a great respect for you. Master Guy; but I'm a poor, iono 'oman, and can't stand to be onsultod by nobody, I hain't no doubt you mean well, but I like to hov pcoplo b'lieyo mo when I toll thi truth, Scat, you hussy, aforo 1 twist your neck for you." The latter part of this oration was addrossed to Trot, the mottled cut, Captain Campball, quite unprepared for this burst of oloquotico, listoned in amazemont, and seized the first opportunity, when angry Mrs Tom paused for breath, to humbly apologiso for his offences. "My dear Mrs Tom," said tho young captain, "I had not the remotost intention of offending you, aud most dooply regret having dono so, I havo fallen into a bad habit ol Into of doubting everything; and, really, this story appeared so improhablo that I think I may bo pardoned for not yielding it credit, " Como, now, mv dear madam," he continued, " lot's be friends still, and I promise for tho futuro to believe everything you chooso to toll mo," Good Mrs Tom was not proof against tho insinuating tono of Master Guy, who had always been her favourite; so tho cloud disappeared and her own cheery smilo onco more beamed forth,

Having arranged that Lcin should como down and prepare a grave during tlio morning Captain Campbell left tlio cottago and went in search of Mr Drtirai mond and his sister, to tell tlicm what ho had hoard. Ho found them down on the shore Sybil stood on a high cliff, hor dross lluttering injtho morning breeze, her hat off, and ber long, glittering, jetty tresses waving behind her like a banner, The wind that «ame sweeping across the waters had deepened the glow on her crimson cheeks and lips and sent living light into her glorious eyes. Willard Drummord stood boneath, gazing ac her as a poet tiiiglic gnzo on iho living realisation of his most beautiful dreams. Captain Oaiapboll shrugged his shoulders oxprossivoly as ho saw his impassioned glai.ee, and thought inwardly of tbo confession ho had once timde to him of thoro being but ouo woman in the world worth loving. " Well, Sybil, ono would think you wove attitudinizing for tlio stage," suid Captain Campbell, dryly, as be approached, " I was only looking out for a sail, which I failed to discover," she replied. "Well, Campbell," said Dramwond, " had your old lady down below any im> portaii' relations to make, ilmt *hesttiit for you h such hasto this morning ?" " Not very imporlant to my eyesthough they are in hers." replied the captain, She wished to reveal the dying deposition of our passengers, Eiehard Grove." "And what had he to toll? Was I right in sayina remorse for some ' unnoted crime' proved on him more than illnes ?" " Faith, Sybil, I boliovo you were, fie succeeded in frightening Mrs Tom out of her wits." " Well?" said Sybil, inquiringly.