Cruel As The Grave

Meanwhile Sybil sat, absorbed in despair, and guarded by the second

officer. Suddenly she heard her name softly murmured, and she looked up.

The young bailiff stood before her. He was a sturdy looking young

fellow, swarthy skinned, black haired, and black bearded.

"Miss Sybil, don't you know me? I beg your pardon! Mrs. Berners, don't

you know me?" he inquired in a low tone, as if fearful of being heard.

Sybil looked at him in surprise, and answered hesitatingly: "N-no.

"You forget people that you have been good to; but they don't forget

you. Try to recollect me, Miss Sybil--Mrs. Berners."

"Your face seems familiar; but--"

"But you don't recollect it? Well, may be you may remember names better

than faces. Have you any memory of a poor boy you used to help, named

Bob Munson?"

"Bob Munson--oh, is it you? I know you now. But it has been so long

since I saw you!" eagerly exclaimed Sybil.

"Eight years, Mrs. Berners; and I have been fighting the Indians on the

frontier all that time. But I got my discharge, and came back with

Captain Pendleton. You know it was him as I went out with, when he was a

third lieutenant in the infantry. I 'listed out of liking for him, and

we was together from one fort to another all these years, until Captain

Pendleton got a long leave, and come home. I couldn't get leave, but the

Captain got my discharge. And when he goes back to his regiment, I mean

to enlist again and go with him."

"But how came you to be a sheriff's officer? and oh, above all, how

could you come to take me?" reproachfully inquired Sybil.

"Oh, Miss--I mean, Madam,--can't you guess in your heart? When all the

bailiffs throwed up their places rather than serve a warrant on you, and

Mr. Purley, who was a stranger, got an appointment and kept it, they

wanted another man. And then my captain said to me, 'Munson, apply for

the place; I will back you. And then if you get it, you will have an

opportunity of serving, and perhaps freeing, Mrs. Berners.' And a great

deal more he said, to the same purpose, Ma'am; and so I did apply for

the situation, and got it. And now, Madam, I am here to help you with my

life, if necessary," added the young man, ardently.

"Give me your hand. God bless you, Bob! Help me all you can. I ought

to be helped, for I am innocent," said Sybil, earnestly.

"Don't I know it? Don't everybody with any sense know it? Don't even old

Purley know it, ever since he first clapped eyes on your face?"

"Heaven grant that all may soon!" prayed Sybil.

"They will be sure to, Miss--I mean Madam."