Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-06-15
CHAPTER V.

pared for a contest. She rather enjoyed
the prospect of the fray. The necessity
for some outlet to the pent-up excite
ment of the day was laid upon her very
strongly.
Father, have you heard from Sib-
ley?" she asked, abruptly.
On Sibley!'
'As you please about that; but have
You heard from him? Dido tells me you
had letter this morning"
On Dido!"
NO objection in the world to that,
either, e It will contribute to your
peace of mind"
She came forward with the air of
Van Amberg entering the cage of some
particularly untrustworthy animal.
Circumstances must decide whether ca
jolery or the lash (fguratively in this
case) must be used.
The shutting slippered feet came to a
halt just as their wearer reached an
immense upholstered.chair, into which
he dropped with a sigh of physical ex-
haustion.
Ida had taken up position in the low
cushioned window seat, where. clasp
ing her hands about her knees, she sat
slowly swinging one little dusty boot
backward and forward, while she
looked at her father as steadfastly as
she had looked at her mastiff Stepniak
in the woods half an hour ago.
Your boot is dusty, disgustingly
dusty" said her father, peevishly,
totally ignoring her twice-repeated
question.
Both of them are. It has not rained
for two weeks, you know
''And your attitude is excessively IN
ladylike, Ida
$50 is overseeing
She was calmly surveying the offend
ing boot as it swuIg into and out of
sight.
You have not answered my ques-
ton, father. Have you heard from
Sibley?'
''Why should hear from Sibley?" he
snarled, showing a set of perfect teeth,
very much as an angry dog might have
shown his.
why? Because there are only two
male Fairbanks left. Because it is not
right that one of them should shut
himself up senselessly in a luxurious
hermitage, and the other flee to the
uttermost limits of the earth, leaving a
girl to struggle with this horrid planta-
ton. It is not right, father, and if you
have heard from Sibley want his adj
dress. I want to write to him.
What would you say to him?"
Il would tell him to come back home
and take his rightful place as the master
of Glenburnie.''
Il am not dead yet, CIR -
''You are to all intents and pur-
poses.''
1t was daringly uttered taunt. His
eyes glittered dangerously.
His landslide hands, softer, whittier
and smoother than Ida's busy ones
gripped the arms of his chair until
white gristly spots appeared on every
knuclxle.
Look at me, girl!''
''Well, sir, 1 am looking She was,
unf1inchingly.
''What do you See?''
"A very handsome man, in a perfect
state OF health. Not an old man. His
hair is scarcely gray at all. And his
eyes are positively luminous, especially
just now that he is in fury. see
man who, with every faculty unim-
paired, and, presumably, in his right
mind, is yet content to live within the
narrow circuit of four rooms, has his
IOOu W IllIu DIS IL ht @eIC d
cripple or an octogenarian, and has alb
rogated his rights and duties in life as
completely as dead man could"
She took no note of his increasing
frenzy. His voice, choked with pas
sion, did not cause the Auttering of an
eyelid-
81 wonder if you have forgotten, Ida,
that drove your brother Sibley out of
this house?"
NO, sir, have not forgotten it's
s'And do you know what for?''
For daring to tell the truth, as
have just done"
For less-far less" He was bran
dishing his meerschaum pipe menac-
ingly.
''If don't speak 1t to you, father, no
one will. No one cares enough for you
to do it. l want you tn break that
senseless VOW and take your place at
the head of your own affairs; or else
send for your son to do it. Lam tired
of carrying your burdens and his. My
own are great enough" She had
dropped taunts for sericus protest.
TTo BE coNTNUED.l