Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-03-22

caught up in Grecian knot under a
graceful straw hat, seemed lovely and
ladylike enough to have stepped from
a throne. ..
His generous heart swelled indignant
ly as he noticed the contrast in the
madam's farewells-how gushingly-
gracious was her embrace of dear Fan
ME, how cold and constrained her
goodbye to Miss Wraye; and he vowed
inwardly that all he could do should be
done to make this beautiful girl, for
awhile, at least, forget the shadow that
seemed to rest so unnaturally OH her
opening life.
He would brighten her path With
sunshine, though it only cleaned a
day.
1t was not a very difficult task for
Herbert Give to b. agreeable. Gifted
with natural charm of manner and
graceful address, a warm heart and Il
lively fancy, he could not fail to please.
even without making any particular
eXertion to do so.
| But the madam's cold, and it seemed
to him, cruel warning, had served as a
spur to his ardent generous nature.
He felt as if he could not do enough to
show this friendless, lonely girl she
| WAS a. WGlcOluc llOllOECu NlSltCI W
his home.
1t was a twelve-hours' journey to
Give Towers, and as the SIN set i'll
purple glory behind the western hills,
the travellers began the pleasantest
portion of Their trip-their sail up the
broad river OH whose sloping banks
was situated Hcrbert's princely home.
Fannie had scarcely set foot on the
yy1S moi NV q Marty
of merry young friends; and after the
first introductions and supper We're
over. q moonlight dance was impro-
! vised on the spacious decks, and the
| sounds of gay music and happy laugh
ter woke the echoes Of the solemn hills
beneath whose shadows the noble YES
sci passed.
Herbert did his devoir manfully,
though somewhat wearily, to several
blooming partners, ere he contrIved to
slip away from the mirtnful scene.
He missed one fairy-llke form from
the light-hearted group-one sweet, low
voice from the silvery chorus-and al
ready he felt void and silence be.
cause Sybil was not there.
He found her all alone, standing at
the stern of the steamer, looking into
the waters that We're here tossed into
turbulent waves and showers of pearly
spray by the mighty wheels.
AS he reached her side, Herbert no
ticed her start nervously and throw
something which she held in her hand
into the seething waters; and, with a
feeling akin to pain, he recognized the
flowers he had given her that evening
floating for a moment, worthless waits,
upon the moonlit waves.
He had fancied she valued them lit
tle-a very little. She had held them
in her hand all the evening, had touched
them tenderly, and once OIL twice in
hailed their perfume, as though it
brought some sweet, sad memory. and
now she had flung them away like
withered weeds.
''Why have you stolen off from us
all. Miss Sybil?" he asked, with as
sumed lightness. 81 did not know young
ladies were so fond Of indulging i'll
maiden meditation fancy free"
81 am used to being alone" she an
swered, simply, "and these tossing Wa
ters have a charm for me. l like to
hear their passionate murmur as the
steamer passes through their heart
By-and-by they will be all still again
all still. We can only see the life anu
the spirit here"
'You would like the ocean BETTER
he answered. 'There you see, you
feel, the life everywhere. There the
swelling, seething, restless waves are
never still, and the proudest vessels
are their sports and playthings, just as
our frail human skiffs are tossed about
on the sea of life.''
els there not always a Fate at the
heinz" she asked, dreami1y-"a stern,
impassive Fate, that steers our little
barques where and when she will? !
have found it SO already"
81 prefer to think l hold my own
helm," answered Herbert, cheerfully,
"and, so far, have found it very fair
sailing And the Fate to whom 1 re-
sign my post must come in very
charming guise, Miss Sybil. have
never seen her except in dreams I'M
tip he paused, and then added, reck-
lessly, until to-day. Why did you
throw away my aowers?" he contin-
ued, eagerly. "Did you not know
breathed a spell upon them?''
II have no right to accept gifts from
you," she answered, coldly. eve are
strangers, Mr.. Give" ......
"Not so," he answered. '''Fannie's
friendship is link between us. You
must call Fannie's brother friend, Miss
Sybil."
"I have no friends" she answered,
with stifed sigh. II can make none.
Forgive me, Mr.. Give, if-if 1 seem
cold and ungracious; but If I am here
as your sisters guest, it IS against my
own will, against my own judgment.
against my own sense Of justice and
right 1 am here in a false position
that 1 scorn to hold under a false"
She paused suddenly, as II some pas
sionate impulse had made her say too
much.
But. with Madam Fleury's cold,
worldly warning still echoing in his
ears, Herbert thought he understood
the girls proud, indignant protest.
She would not be patronized, pitied.
protected. even as his sisters guest.
She would hold herself aloof from his
world and from him. 1t would need
sunshine, indeed to thaw this icy wall
of maidenly reserve; and, with mans
pertinacity, Herbert vowed he would
do it.