The Queen of the Isle OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1059, 5 August 1904, Page 4

The Queen of the Isle OR SIBYL CAMPBELL'S LOVE

BY MAY AGNES FLEMING

Author of "ThoHeiress of Glon Gower," "The Unseen Bridegroom," etc., etc

OHAPTEB V Continued.)

then' " V ;t my tloar Mrs Brantwoll — " Lut liiy dear Miss Campbell, .you must como—do yon boar that? Your brother can certainly do without you for r wook," " Yes, nnd glad to be rid of her, too, said the gallant Captain Campbell. Sybil stole a glance towards Drummonil froir under her long lashes He was sitting looking out of tho window, With an exceedingly dissatisfied frown on his brow. Mrs. Brantwell pnrooivod the glance, and broke out ngain with her usual bluntness: '• And as for that othor gentleman you arc looking at, Sybil, I am sure ho wil bo generous onough lo sparo jon a fow days, as ho will, in all probability, Imvo enough of you before long." To be tontinued.)

" And what does Mrs, Tom take this nocturnal visitor to bo?" inquired Sybil, " A mortal like horsolf, or a spirit disombodied?'' " Oh, n ghost of course 1" replied hoi brother, '-Tho spirit perhaps cf the woman walled up with the inurdorod man. And now I boliovo I'll go and send Lorn tojnter tho body. Captain Campbell sauntered away and tho lovors were loft alone. " And what do yon think of this story, Willnrd ?" inqnirod Sybil. " I cannot toll. Yesterday I would havo joinod your brother in laughing, but to.day—" "And why not to Ay?" breathlessly inquired Sybil. " Sybil, I do not wish to ahum you, bui ldstnigbtl oxperincod something very liko a supernatural visit," " Good hoavons, Willard! Then the story told by tho negroes is tnio ?" "It certainly seems liko it. Had en.y ono olse told mo what I experienced, I should think they wero humbugging mo, but I cannot discredit what I saw with my ownoyos." 11 And what was the appearance of the nootmual visitor ?"

" Exactly liko tho description Mrs Tom gives of the faco that appeared at tho window. 'White as that of tho (load, with dark, streaming hair and wild, vacant, dark eyes." " Oh, Willard I Can it bo lhat-but no, it is impossible, At what hour did this apparition appear?" " Between ono and two, as near as I can judge." "Btraago, strange 11, too, heard something dreadful last night." "Is it possible ? What was it, dcarost Sybil?" " Listen. About midnight I was awiikoned by something that sounded liko a heavy fall right outside my door, followed by ut groan so deep so horrible, that the very blood seemed freezing in my veins, Trembling with terror, I half rose to listen; but, all for a time was still, Trying to porauado myself I was only dreaming, I waß about to lie down ngain, when a shriek tho most appalling broke upon tho air and died away in an agonised moan. I darod not move; I lay cowering in horror until morning. I was afraid to mention what I had hoard, lest 1 bo laughed at, even as you feared tho same, Willard, somo foul crime has at ono time been perpetrated within these walls. What if this house has been tho scene of that mystery the dying man spoke of ? I thought of it from the first," "Nonsense, Sybil I What an idea," And yet he looked disturbod himself as ho spoke, " How otherwise are wo to account for thoso ghostly visiti.igs, thoso midnight apparitions and appalling shrieks ?" " And yet nothing could induce your brother to adopt your boliof, 110 would lough at our credulity, were wc to tell him what wc have scon and heard," " Yes; and perhaps I had hotter i.ot tell him, Willard, I will havo your room changed, and my own likowise, Even if they are less comfortable, they will bo moro ondurablo than to bo disturbed by midnight specters." " 130 it so, then fairo3t Sybil," ho said, gayly, And turning, thoy walked together to tho Lodge, ' CHAPTER VI. A SONU OF TfcK SKA"NHoIy St. Frsucis I what a change is hore! Is Bosalio, whom thou didst lovo to dear, So Boon forsakon? Yonng uiou's lovo, then, lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes,"

—Borneo and Juliet. Tho following night passod without disturbance at Campbell's Lodge. Early in tho morning Captain Campbell went ovor to the mainland on business. And Sybil, accompanied by Druunnond, went down io the M.uigo to visit Mrs Tom. Thcro was an inward feeling of pleasuro at Sybil's heart when she learned Chris l tio was away to the mainland on a visit. Not that she doubted Wil'ard; but she remembered Christie as a very pretty child, grown by this time, doubtless, into a lovely girl, and it might not be altogether safe to throw the gay man of tho world into dangerous society, Toward noon, as they were sauntering along the sunshiny bea.'li, she hanging on his arm, while he softly whispered tho words" ladies love to hear," they espied a boat advancing toward them. Sybil raised her telescope to survey the newcomers.

" Roy, Mr, Mark Brantwoll and wife," shVexclaimed, " Guy has doubtless called upou ibom and told theni I was here." " Frionds of yours ?" asked "Willarrl. " Yob; the Episcopal clergyman of Nwhoni I have known sinco my earliest childhood, But hero they aro," The boat at this moment touched tho Bhoro, and Sybil, disengaging her arm, ran down to meet tlica, Willard more liesurely followed, just in lima to see his lady lino folded in the arms of a gentleman who sprang-from the boat. Tho stranger was of middle a;;o, married and a clergy, man; yet Mr. Druiuuiond felt a tinguof oalously and anger at beholding the embrace, But at tho next moment jcol; onsy, anger, overy feeling was swallowed up in intense astonishment, not unmin gled with superstitious horror, For as ihc clergyman turned round Willard recogniaed tho countenance of him ho had seen years boforo in that niysiic vision at the Egyytians. For a moment ho stood regarding him, palo with wonder; and it was only when ho heard tho clear, ringing voice of Captain Campbell, as ho approached him, saying, with a hearty slap on tho should' er: " Why, Druinmond. man alive, wlm t ails you? You aro as palo as a ghost," that he awoko from his trance of surprise, "Aroyou ill?" said Sybil, anxiously, as slio approached, leaning on tho arm of Mrs. Brmitwoll.

"A slight headache-nothing more," 3fti<l Willard, recovering himself by an oflbrt; "nothing worth being alarmed about," he added, seeing Sybil's still anxious oyec

" Why, Sybil, have you grown norvons and cowardly ?"exclaimed Mrßrantwoll, "You, who used to bo us bold and daiin; as a mountain eaglet? Jiut, perhaps," he added, glancing meaningly at Willard, "it is only where some very particular friend is concerned that your fears are thus easily croused, Willard smiled slightly, while Sybil's dark face grew crimson, as she hurried on with increasing ropility, drawinf,' her companio' with her, ami Ic-iving gentlemen behind, When Lhoy reue.';'-il Ihu lodge Sybil «ot aboutpreparing luncheon. When the inoal was over Jim, Brantwoll said: '' And now, Miss Sybil I havo come to carry you off. It is thrco years since 1 have had tho pleasure of seeing yon, and I shall certainly take you with mo now Goko, no «ouie»-l will uot luir oni o