The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-12-15
CHAPTER III. (Continued.)
u And then Fanny's merry voice called
them from the cabin door. and the
strange interview was over. ~ n.
CHAPTER III.
Sunset Hill.

-.
There are few fairer spots on earth
than the mountain slope from which
arose the granite crests of Give Tow
ers The background Of misty-blue up
lands; the siivery river, winding:
through the messy vale; the dark for
est, tossing it's whispering boughs to
the mountain breezes, and the grand
old mansion, so broad, so stately, yet
20 unpreteatious- almost seeming it.
self a part Of natures handiwork, so
well did the massive proportions and
simple architecture accord with the
landscape around it.
1t was evening, and a merry group
was gathered on the velvety lawn III
Gront Of the house.
Gay croquet mallets were welded by
pretty hands, and the musical click Of
the balls was mingled with the MUIR
muir Of sweet voices and the ripple of
silvery laughter. -"
Fannie Give was there, very Hebe,
In pale rose colored muslin and floating
gibbons; her friend, cousin and. con-
slant cavalier, Fenton Forest, a dash
ing young navy officer, gorgeous in but
tons and beard; Laurence Grey, a tall,
Alender, thoughtful young student
friend Of Herberts's, and his sister Ma
rtan, a liquid-eyed brunette; and last,
though by no means least Of all, with
her golden hair ripping over robe
that seemed woven Of morning mists,
Sybil Wraye, pale, slender and beauti-
ful, with the heir of Give Towers ever
beside her, hanging, entranced, on her
slightest whisper, watching eagerly for
her faintest smile.
When the game was over, she would
have escaped with Marian and Fannie
to the rose garden, but Herbert was
quick to Getain her.
"Have you forgotten your promise to
me, Miss Sybil? You were going with
me this evening to Sunset Hill. It.=is.
Just the hour to see all it's beauties.'
"Fannie will come with usS" said the
young girl, glancing toward her friend
''She has seen it a hundred times; be-
sides, Fan never had much of an eye
for the beauties Of nature" was the
brothers laughing reply "She prefers
the beauties Of art. The hill is not a
quarter Of a mile distant, Miss Sybil,
and there are no ogres to be met with
on the way, although could not have
promised you as much three years
ago" ~.s.,.> =. w.:
"Ah" she said, with a slight start.
al II had scuffie about here with one
OF the most notorious villains that ever.
went unhung," continued the young
man, lightly, "and l came very near
saving the hangman that trouble. But
such reptiles are hard to kill, and by
the time I had recovered the senses
which he had pretty we'll knocked out
of me, he had dragged himself off to
the river, where he may lie to this day,
tor aught know" a..
did he attack your? asked Sybil, in
very low voice. "Did he try to rob
Tou?'
Il don't know as I should have re-
scented that so much" answered Her.
bert. smiling. "A genuine Jack Shep-
spard might have appealed to my Bo-
hepsian sympathies. No: this fellow
met me with mysterious threats and in
comprehensive menaces. always had
the greatest objection to mystery; I
can stand open, honest villainy very
we'll, but underhand business maddeus
me- love the sunlight myself. Miss
Sybil. and can bear no darkness around
me. 9ut enough Of an uninteresAine
subject. Here we are at Sunset Hill'
1t WAS less hill than a ridge of the
mountains which, crowned by a crest
of stately cedars, looking over valley
Of gathering shadows to the golden
west.
Far beneath flowed the river slowly
yelling itself in silvery mists; far
beyond it were the realms of sunset
piilared in purple, and stretching out
In vistas too dazzling for mortal eye
20 reach.
Sybil stood for minute on the sun
hit height, silent and breathless then
her gray eyes deepened; faint rose,
which might have been only a rehec.
ton Of the glorious sky above, flushed
her transparent cheek; and, forgetful
Of her companion, unconscious of the
Admiring gaze he fixed upon her lovely
face, a song, soft and low as the even
ing twitter Of the birds, trembled from
her lips. go. 49, o.. +.
=, 'sThou in the sunlight
$50! And in the shade; ~
Yet, ,ah. by the sunlight r.
The shadow is made!
Thine be the gladness +.
And mine be the gloom; 6
! For love, through thy triumph, y
Is only my DOOM s.. ~.
IT. "SybiP'-in the sudden tenderness
which mastered him, Herbert forgot
the. formal prefix he had hitherto given
her name-"Sybil, you must sing those
4ad notes no more. Poor little war;
bier! what thorn is piercing your ten
Ter breast, that draws forth from your
lips such plaintiye melody? Trust me
,Fith pour sorrow, Sybil; / let me be
yoqr brother, your friend may, what.
words areX those for me to utter?-I,
who havest learned, in three short
& weeks, to love you with the love that
surpasses all others with a love that
\ would shield you from every danger,
4 every sorrow, every PAIN with love
that trembles at its own height and
\ depth, at its own despairing strength,
4 perbapsrtits own wild folly. Sybil -
Hush, hush, hush Y she whispered,
turning to him a face from which every
B restige Of life and color had faded.
You must not speak so to me me!
\ nj am a stranger to you. Y gu know
uaught Of me. y
II know that you are the loveliest,
rest, most perfect OF women z con-
y 3-r.sued Herbert, impe tuously;; II know
1xy ont yroi ~, NJ M g,