“Age was never so venerable and beautiful as in this old man,” thought John Lyon Howe to himself.
The old man loaded the young one with many marks of his esteem and affection. The young man returned these with the warmest gratitude and highest reverence.
When John Lyon Howe, with his heart filled with love for Sybil Berners, first entered Black Hall, it was without the slightest suspicion of her responsive love for him. But when they were thrown so much together, he was not very long in making the discovery so delightful to his soul, and yet—so trying too! for, as a man of good principles, there seemed to be but one course left open to him—the course of self-denial! He loved the great heiress, and had unintentionally won her love! Therefore he must fly from her presence, trying to forget her, hoping that she might forget him.
He summoned up courage for the sacrifice, and went into the study of his employer and in a few words told him that he had come to say good-bye.
The astonished old man looked up for an explanation.
John Lyon Howe gave it to him.
“And so you wish to leave me, never to return to the Hall, because you love my daughter.”
The young man bowed in silence; but could not conceal the misery it caused him to make this acknowledgment.
“But why should that oblige you to leave the house?” inquired Mr. Berners.
“Oh, sir! can you ask?” exclaimed Mr. Howe.