Griggs courier., 1893-07-07

and looked after her. He noted, too,
the smell of the sea. The air seemed full
of spray, and the waves broke them
selves on the shore with insistence. 1t
was on the next day that Sybil wore
her air of mystery. Mr.. North's birth
day was approaching. and the children
were getting up play. Instinctively
he connected with this her sparkling
eyes, that seemed of themselves to be
chuclxling over something, and a mys-
terious visit to the town. He re-
membered afterward her look upon
that day.
The play progressed. William North
unbent somewhat and quizzed the chill
dren as to the surprise they were get
ting up for him.
"But Sybils got q real surprise, !"
said Maly. the youngest girl, hurting
out in an access of affectionate conf
dence part Of the secret of her sister.
''Hush!" said Sybil.
"You little blab!'' cried the boyA
''One can't tell you anything!"
''The mysterious visit to the town"
said Mr.. North.
'Be quiet, father, you're not to
KNOW" said Sybil. ''Maly, toldy ou
not to say q word about it."
eyes, Maly shall have her tongue
tied" cried one of the boys.
"You little tell-tale." said the other,
and Maly subsided into tears in SYPHILIS
lap.
Mr.. North watched her as she
soothed the little things distress. Row
gentle she was.
"Oh, my girl!" he said 70 himself,
suddenly. Her goodness seemed re-
vealed to him in that moment.
''There is a springtide tonight" :"
said Arthur. 'Jack and are going to
Tether's Point to see it. Old Tremlin
| says it will be one of the highest ever
known. and there's splendid sea on
already"
The younger children clamored to be
allowed to go, too.
NO." said Sybil; "you. Willy and
Maly must stay with me. Tether's
point is too far for you to walk: be-
sides, it will not be high tide before
your bedtime. Elsie, you can go with
them if you like, but you must put on
your strong boots, and tell nurse to tie
my woolen scarf across your chest
Willy and Maly began to protest.
Mr.. North returned to his severe man
ner and silenced them.
"Sybil says no, and that is enough"
he said. Not another word"
Their mouths turned down.
81 think they might come down to the
beach, sir" said Sybil, seeing their dis
appointment. sit is only Tether's point
that is too far. Maly, be good, and ask
father if you may come down with me
for quarter of an hour before going
to bed"
Maly shrunk behind her elder sisters
skirts.
But Sybil meant to go to Tether's
Point herself" said Elsie. ''You know
you did, Sybil. You told me so. You
| wanted to see the waves"
81 can see them just as well on the
shore here" said Sybil.
''Why should you sacri6ce yourself
to these children?" said Mr.. North,
testify. ''Why can't their governess
take them?'
"She is lying down with headache,
sir, and nurse has q cold, and can't
send one of the other servants out to-
night. Besides, like to go with the
children"
SWELL, just as you like" said Mr..
North, Grossly. He went to his study.
The wind was roaring around the
house and the waves thundered on the
shore. He settled himself to his work.
He dipped his pen in the ink and looked
at the ruled paper before him. He
dipped his pen in the ink again, and
yet again. He wrote . sentence. read
it over, altered a word, and finally can
celed the whole with line. Then he
began once more. The house shook in
the fierceness of the gale. A draught
came from the chimney.
Later on he heard the boys and Elsie
starting. He heard their boots in the
hall. and Elsie's ''strong pair" creaked.
Arthur ungallantly told her that they
made his head ache. Mr.. North smiled
drily as he heard Elsie retort that they
had been Arthur's before they were
hers, and that they would be his still
only that they had ceased to fit him.
'And I'm not surprised" she added,
sAAOuSA SACS AO AAAAASo wv VIZ 4O1 AAS.
The door slammed on the argument.
Then he heard the pattering Maly
and Willy and their excited voices call
ing for Sybil.
Coming, coming, comingr' sounded
in her voice from upstairs. He heard
her bounding lightly down, with a
jump at the last four stems. Then it
struck him that he had spoken Grossly
to her-even though it had been on Ter
own behalf-and as she passed the study
door he called to her.
"What is it, father?''
Nothing. Iwant to kiss you, that's
ALL"
"Dear old father"
81 am bear sometimes"
.Never, father. Never bear to me-"
"Sybil."
"Yes, dear"
"Do the children love me?''
"Yes, father. You are little sharp
with them sometimes
She laid her against his.
''Try to be gentle with them. They
are children. They don't understand"