A Devotee

our affection

us; and form

poor pr

tt

he did discover-that he often wished to be alone, and that she must not go into his study unless she were asked to do so. She learned gradually when to join him when he paced in the rose-garden, and when it vexed and wearied him to have her by him. And she learned, too, after the first horrible experience, which neither could remember without anguish, when, with blue lips, he had begged her not to touch him; that when he had an attack of the heart she must not betr

ate, its expression-a hard lesson for an over-demonstrative nature, not long out of its teens. But Sibyl learned even that for his sake. And there her knowledge stopped. It never reached beyon

ad dug deep. For hero-worship was necessary to Sibyl, but not a hero-only that she should consider him one. The sham was to her the same as the real. She saw no difference. Like many another woman, she would have adored an ass's ears, wondering at the blindness of the rest of mankind. But if the truth about those ears had been forced upon

perennial wonder at the enigma of feminine human nature had a new element added to it-that of amusement. She played with h

e was naturally drawn to those of deeper convictions and larger faiths. She liked the luxury of being moved by them, stirred by them, lifted beyond herself by a power outside of herself. She loved to nibble the edge of their hard-earned bread and feel that s

been on this subject. It certainly had lapses when Sibyl conversed with him seriously, especially when she coupled his feelings with her own on the greatest subjects, never doubting that they were identical. But after a short time he dared not speak to her of anything really dear to him.

he believed to be deep because they were unorthodox, which were the natural food of her little soul, and he rec

ere not even perceived. Unobservant persons are sometimes surprised at the real devotion-and Sibyl's was real-of which a shallow and cold-hearted nature shows itself

Peggy's new gowns and lovers, or as to whether Molly had enjoyed her first season. If this had been pointed out to her, she would have glibly ascribe

r, her interpretation of them, and, instead of being rather High Church, had now decided to be 'wide,' which state, it soon appeared, was not compatible with b

e to do anything with her life, for she would neithe

as she had a cold, Mr. Loftus drove into the nearest town and brought a mind weighted with political matter to bear upon the requisite number

mes asked, and Sibyl generally had to confess, 'Not la

re married?' he asked one day tentatively. 'No doubt your

trick, and he could not do that unless he happened to be sitting down when called upon to perform it. If he were on

it, or part of it?' as

she had never tho

s yours now,' she sa

tate, in repairs, and new farms and buildings. I am like the man in Scripture who pull

that his soul might not be required of him till all those expensive improvements wer

'Wilderleigh will come round. You have

face, as he put back a little ring of hair

afraid, Sibyl, her husband

' said Sibyl, spri

ating his long, thin body by a few jerks into the groove which a masculine lap presents. Mr. Loftus did not want him, a

life?' asked Sibyl, dipping her pen in the ink. It was all one to

said Mr. Loftus, considering. 'And if it is an annuity, it doe

expressed, and offering, in such a manner as to make refusal almost impossible, a sum of money more than

rossed her mind when she left us, or even to offer to pay for Peggy's and Molly's bridesmaids' gowns, altho