Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-05-10

"Good Terry, pretty Terry" said tn
young girl, stroking the silken name o
her pet; "you have won my gloves 70
me this morning, and you shall have
new silver bit This ugly curb hurt
my beauty's mouth. There, there! Al
the animal began to snort and Quiver
whats the matter? What do you see
| There is nothing here to harm you, Ter
ry. Why, Terry"
But Fannies soothing tone broke of
| suddenly in cry Of alarm, as she, too
caught sight Of the object that had ter
rified her mare.
I Just beside. her the heavy under
growth had parted suddenly. and a
weird. ghostly figure appeared, as II
emerging from the earth-a shriveled
palsied old woman whose still erec'
form and flashing eyes seemed in I'M
natural contrast to her trembling limbs
and wizened .features-a woman whose
fierce gaze was fixed upon the young
rider with such malignant hate that
even thoughtless Fanny was quick to
recognize and shrink from it appalled,
$50 you are riding out. my fine young
lady?' mumbled the old crone. show
ing her toothless gums in a hideous
.smile-"riding out this beautiful morn
ing. Maybe you'd cross my hand with
a silver sixpencc. and let the old wo-
man tell vol Your fortune. 1t ought to
be p rare one. with such a face and
form as yours. Cross my hand. pretty
lady. and let the old woman read your
fortune"
Fannie glanced around her quickly:
Fenton was not yet in sight: SYPHILIS
warning required to her mind. and
made her cold with fear: the old wo-
mans glittering eyes. fixed full upon
her. seemed to read her very soul.
She advanced Il step. and placed her
skinny, yellow hand upon Terry's bri-
die while she still kept her uncanny
gaze upon Fannies frightened face.
Your fine soldier gentleman has
missed his Way" she said, With a ma
licious !eer. Il saw him galloping down
the river lane tiv eminutes ago. What!
are YOU afraid: Afraid! The daughter
Of the proud. naughty master of Give
Towers. afraid of an old woman like
me? Ha. ha, ha! Why. your father
would have poor Rizpahs carcass
thrown to the dogs, if she dared to lay
a finger on YOU l know him. you see.
Ha. ha." There was something fearful
Yes. yes. know him well.''
Then you know he would never
harm the old and weak" answered the
young girl, With dignity.
For. with all her childishness, there
was a proud, noble spirit within Fan
ME Gives breast.
Never harm the old and weak?' re-
peated the old woman, bitterly-'he
4 No ali md 1-S
Try him. my beautiful lady. Tell him
that old Rizpah sin his power. and see
what he will do. Ha.. ha! Why. he
would grind ME into power! He would
crush these palsied bones one by one.
There would not be a hair Of this aged
head left. il Robert Give had his
naughty way.
+. Fannie trelnbled at the old creatures
words She was mad. evidently. None
bur a mad womdn could talk talk thus
wildly Of her papa. And, oh. how quiet
and. lonely the place was! Fenfon
must have lost his way. She must hui
NOR this Door creature: she must try
and get away from. her quietly. for
those fierce. eager eyes warned Fannie
that old Rizpah would be dangerous if
enraced..
.'TeFl my fortune for me- won't you?".
she said. drawing off her pretty gaunt-
let. and placing silver piece in the old
woman's withered hand II have never
had it told vet, SC be sure you make IL
true one"
With trembling eagerness the old wo-
man clutched the girls snowy hand
II will make it true enough never
fear-true enough. Ha ha! Old Riz
pah will make it true enoughr'
And still holding the little hand i'll a
grasp that was almost painful, she be-
gan to humble and mutter over it's del
icate liEes. as if repeating some evil in
cantation.
Fannie's terror was for a moment
CONQUERED by the fascination all young
minds feel in such efforts to unveil the
unknown. >a.
Surely. she. whose present was so
bright and full of promise, had only
dazzling hope and happy love to look
forward to in the future.
With blush and a smile, this dar-
ling of fortune lifted the veil of Fate.
"Well. mother, what do you see?" she
asked, gaily.4 50 rs..,>4~,...,...s-. So, ,-.
What do Z see?' repeated Rizpah,
slowly lifting her fierce, malignant gaze
to the young girls face. Does the
daughter+of Robert Give, the spoiler,
the usurper; ask what I see? Listenj
them she said. sinking her voice to a
low. threatening whisper, that sounded
to the ,terrifed Fannie like the hiss Of a
reptile before it launches its deadly
sting. j II, see. only poverty, ruin, dis
grace: ! see 9 r, broken home and a
blackeped name: I see a false lover. a
false, friend, a false servant. I see a
darkened life and a, broken heart. 1t is
enough. Ha, ha!' Rizpah's wild laugh
Of triumph echoed through the woods.
"Eneugh-aye, enough even for the fair
young daughter of Robert Give! Not
I. but the stars have said it. 1t is
enough-it is enoughw
"Fenton! Fenton!' shrieked Fannie.
as that young gcntleman's horse at
length appeared through the trees. 90
Fenten. come-come quick to me!'
Call him. said old Rizpah, with he1
malignant laugh-''aye call your fine
lover to your side. He cannot change
the fates-he cannot change the future
Call him now! Ha ha! the day will
come when you will call him in vain!
''She is mad she is madw exclaimed
Fannie whose lovely face was asher
with terror, ''Do not harm her FentOn