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

was grim man, and generally he
remarked little that did not concern
his work. Her eyes sparkled and she
was full of some mystery. He was
reminded of her childish days when
she used to prepare surprises, " and
he thought as he looked at her that
after all she was not much changed
by lengthening of frocks and twist
ing her hair up.
Then he retreated once more into
himself.
She had no remarkable beauty
from any classical point of view.
Her features were not regular, and
ananalysis of her claim to even 1,ret-
tiness would have shown it to be
slender. Yet Sibyl North was pret-
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 were 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
and one small worries of life. She
was not spared any of these, sup
pose, but she rode buoyantly over
them like craft so light that the
waves carry it safely above the rocks
against which a heavier vessel would
be broken. She was splendidly
healthy, and this perhaps made it
easy to be light hearted.
Mr.. North was widower with a
family Of six, of whom Sibyl was
the eldest. She kept house for him,
and she helped the governess 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
resd to her father. She had always
a lap or bosom to be tried on by the
5-year-old boy or the G-year-old lit
tie sister, and she could comfort Ell
ther 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 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 governess. To Slbyl
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. Itwas not his way.
II should like a picture of you, )"
he said orc day suddenly.
Sibyl looked up in surprise.
IA picture, fatheri''
He was silent for few moments.
"Well, photograph, he said
presently, and speaking slowly. "As
a family this has been neglected.
Your mother died, and l have no
likeness of her. -
He said nothing more and the sub
ject 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 tie shore
The vicarage stood on the CornisL
coast. 1t was on the outskirts Of a
fishing village and four miles from
town. The smell Of the sea ani.
the taste of urine were i'll the ;lil
when presently SiGyl put down her
work and went out
William North opened the windo"
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
insistence 1t was on the next day
that Sibyl wore an air of mystery.
sdr. North's birthday was approach
ing and the children were getting
up a play. Instinctivcly he connect
ed with this her sparkling S.,es, that
seemed of themselves to he chuc-
king over something, anda mys'erl-
Gus visit to the town He remcm-
bered afterward her look upon that
day
The play progressed William
North unbent somewhat and ouizzed