The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-16
INTO DEEP WATERS.

daughter S"appcaTance tnat uay. H0
was Il grim man, and generally he
remarked little that did not nee
his work. Her eyes sparkled and she
was full of some mystery. He wa
reminded Of her childish days when
she used to prepare surprises, and
he thought rs he looked at her that
after i'll she was not much changed
liz frightening Of frocks and twist
ing her hair up.
Then lie retreatcd once more into
himself.
She had no remarkable beauty
from any classical point of view.
Her features wer not regular, and
an analysis of her claim to even pref
tincss would have shown it to be
slender. Yet Sibyl North was pref
ty. and she had that nameless charm
that is more potent than perfection.
Her mouth was good and SO were
her teeth, and as she was always
laughing you saw them we'll and
knew how white and even they were.
Her eyes we're not large nor was
their color any way noticeable. but
they danced with mischief and mer-
riment. Her hair was brown and
curly. 1t was long, too, and she
was very proud OF it.
She had the happy temperament
that is not rufled by the thousand
ami III small worries of life. She
was not spared any of these, l sun
pose, hut she rode buoyantly over
them like n craft SC light that the
waves carry it safely abovethe rocks
against which a heavier vessel would
be broken. She was splendidly
healthy, and this perhaps made it
easy TO be light hearted.
BIZ. North was a widower with a
family of six, of whom Sibyl was
the eldest. She kept house for him,
and she helped the governcss with
the children's lessons. She played
cricket with the boys in the field be-
hind the house on the holidays. She
mended stockings, she patched
youthful knees, she knitted and she
read to her father. She had always
a lap or bosom to be tried OIL by the
5%-year-old boy or the 6-year-old lit
tie sister, and she could comfort Ell
Their and turn their tears into smiles.
She packed for the brothers when
they went to school, and she hid a
cake somewhere among their clothes
to cheer their homesickness.
Mr.. North was a silent man who
had given himself UP to books. He
was short IN his manner, and his
children regarded him with awe.
Sibyl was looked upon as mediator,
but mediation was little necessary
since all authority was vested in her
self and the g%overness. To Sibyl
only did he show the warmer side of
his nature. He liked to have her
with him. He put into her willing
hands much that was precious-and
tedious, too-of his work, and she
copied for him and made copious ex.
tracts. He seldom praised her in
words. twas mot his why.
Il should like picture Of you,"
he said one day suddenly.
Sibyl looked up in surprise.l
"A picture, fathers"
He was silent for q few moments.
Well. a photograph" he said
presently, and speaking slowly. AS
q family this has been neglected.
Your mother died, and / have no
likeness of her"
He said nothing more and the sub
]eot was dropped. Sibyl went on
with her work of correcting proofs.
A smile curved the corners of her
mouth and her eyes twinkled. Her
thoughts wandered.
From the study window she could
see the waves beating on the shore
The vicarage stood on the CornisL
coast. 1t was on the outskirts Of a
hshing village and four miles from
q town. The smell Of tile sen nnl
the taste of brine we've in tho air
When presently Sibyl put down he.
work and went out.
William North opened the window
and looked after her. He, too, no
ticed the smell of the sea. The air.
seemed full:of spray, and the waves
broke themselves on. the shore with
lnsistence. It was on the next day
that Sibyi wore an mir of mystery.
Mr.. North's birthday was approach
ing and the children were getting
up a play. Instinctlye1y he connect
ed with this her sparkling eyes; that
seemed themselves to- be chnc-
Sl'ng over sometlling, and amysteri-
|ous visit TO the town. Heremem-
bered afterward her look upon hat.
day.
The play progressed. William;
Ncfth nnbenta meWhatandspsz2ed