Cruel As The Grave

"Flight!" echoed Sybil, staring at him. "Why should I take refuge in

flight? I have done nothing criminal, nor will I do anything so

ignominious as to fly from my home, Lyon," she added, proudly.

"But, Sybil--Oh, Sybil! the circumstantial evidence--."

"Why, I explained all that!" replied Mrs. Berners naïvely. "I told you

all how it was: that when I heard her scream, I ran to see what was the

matter and I drew the dagger from her bosom, and then the blood spirted

up and sprinkled me! It was terrible enough to see and bear that,

without having to hear and endure such a preposterous suspicion! And it

is all easy enough for any honest mind to understand my explanation."

"Oh, Sybil! Sybil! that indeed--I mean your presence at her death, with

all its concurrent circumstances might be explained away! But the dying

woman's last solemn declaration, charging you as her murderess, that was

the most direct testimony! Oh, Heaven, Sybil! Sybil! prepare for your

flight; for in that is your only hope of safety! Prepare at once, for

there is not an instant to be lost!"

"Stop!" said Sybil, suddenly and solemnly--"Lyon Berners, do you

believe that dying declaration to have been true?"

"No! as the Lord hears me, I do not, Sybil! I know you were incapable

of doing the deed she charged upon you! No! I am sure she spoke in the

delirium of sudden death and terror," said Lyon Berners earnestly.

"Nor will any one else who knows me, believe it! So be tranquil. I am

not guilty, nor will I run away like a guilty one. I will stay here and

tell the truth," said Sybil composedly.

"But, oh, good Heavens! telling the truth will not help you! The law

deals with facts, not truths! and judges of facts as if they were

truths. And oh! my dear Sybil! the lying facts of this case involve you

in such a net of circumstantial evidence and direct testimony as renders

you liable to arrest--nay, certain to be arrested and imprisoned upon

the charge of murder! Oh, my dear, most innocent wife! my free, wild,

high-spirited Sybil! even the sense of innocence could not save you from

imprisonment, or support you during its degrading tortures! You could

not bear--I could not bear for you, such loss of liberty and honor for

one hour--even if nothing worse should follow! But, Sybil, worse may,

worse must follow! Yes, the very worst! Your only safety is in

flight--instant flight! And oh! Heaven! how the time is speeding away!"

exclaimed the husband, beside himself with distress.

During the latter part of his speech the wife had started to her feet,

and now she stood staring at him, amazed, incredulous, yet firm and

brave.