Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-03-29

pride. and the younger people were
merrily discussing her fragrant bohea
and wafer biscuits.
Mrs. Wyllis had so long held the do
nestle reins in her fathers house that
Fannie had neit hGr the ambition nor in
clination to dispute her sway, and con
tented herself with her own enyiable
position as pet, beauty, and spoiled
darling of the household bright
winged butterfly, too gay and joyous TO
ever sink into "A humble bee.
A general exclamation greeted their
entrance into the Cak-paneled dining
room.
"Where in the world have you beenF
said Fannie. Il thought Herbert n
run off with you in good earnest. Why,
child. you're as cold as Ice. and every
bit of stiffness is out of that lovely
%grenadine; and the dews are so heavy
here, and men never have a bit or
sense, The idea of that boy dragging
you round to see views at this hour OF
the night, without even Il scarf or Il
shawl, Amd-Oh, dear. 4 forgot TO tell
YOU. Herbert! Papa viii be home 10
night. We got n letter by the evening
mail. and the dear old darling is coming
by the next train. A~nd-g0od gracious!
where did I put it?-there was a letter
for you, too, Sybil. Such Il queer hand
writing. What did / DO with it? Oh
here ii is. under your plate. Did any
one ever see such q criss-crosS Miss
Sybil Wrayet' | do declare, the girl
has IA regular ague! Why, you're trem
bling like a leaf. Sybil, sit dom, and
swallow this cup of hot tea RICH.
away"
Il am a little cold" said Sybil, sink
ing into the nearest chair. and crush,
ing the unread letter into her bosom.
There is such a sudden change when
when the sui goes down"
Herbert ought TO have known that
if you didn't" said Fan, m~ischieyously,
delighted at having an opportunity tc
retaliate upon her brother for his many
fraternal lectures. But men are so
Needless, that they never take time to
think. | wouldn't be at all surprised II
you had contracted a chill tonight that
would lead TO something serious.
These river miSts are dreadfully dan
gerous. Take another cup of tea, dear;
and Mrs. Wyllis, do have a fire lighted
in SYPHILIS room. She must go right Il
bed
Sybil gladly accepted any excuse that
would lead 10 her retirement from thai
merry group, mid which she felt so
sadly of place.
Her room was IN the west wing Of the
Towers, and, with its low ceiling and
dark wainscoting, would have seemed
gloomy but for the bright carpet and
| the handsome curtains that screened
| the deep-set windows and draped the
high, old-fashioned bed.
a cheerful wood fire already blaZed
and cracked on the broad hearth, and
there was a quaint air of comfort about
the room that the more modern and
stylish part of the Towers could not
rival. .
1t was one Of SYPHILIS preferences to
sleep alone. and Fannie, affectionately
mindful of this popularity, had not
claimed her companionship.
But this evening the young mistress
of Give Towers had determined upon
seeing her charge safely to bed; SO she
settled herself, meanwhile. for a social
chat.
aren't you dreadfully lonely in here,
Sybil?" she said, sinking into one Of the
huge cushioned chairs by the fire, Will
her friend brugned out her long hair be,
fore the old-fashioned mirror set in the
wall. Dear me, l wouldn't sleep alone
in this room for a million d~ollars!'
why rots' asked Sybil, with her
wan smile. 1T seems to me exceeding,
ly comfortable"
"Oh. yes, it's comfortable enough
answered Fan, with a shrug OF hel
l nraftN l1ntlIppSs sshItf mis- m tt IF fIr
house is as old as the hills, and-they
say its haunted, An old great-uncle OF
ours died here ages ago. That's his
picture hanging over the mantle. Tn
sure he looks cross and ugly enough To
haunt any II Papa can't bear tc
hear these n~onsensical tales: but this
old country people round will talk. ana
they say Uncle Basil perambulates the
house yet. He was a regular buga-bOC
TO Herbert and myself when we were
children. Our nurse used to spin such
dreadful yarns, of which he was al
ways the hero, and Herbert got so des
perate one day that he made an attack
upon the picture, and had nearly pokeC
ont the old gentleman's left Eye, wheI
papa entered and angrily forbade any
further ghost stories"
CO oN bit u lltd NIC SiusS LII Al
a swift glance at the dark portrait
over the mantle.
"That was your uncle Bisil, then
she said, in n low voice. "He has +;
hard face-a hard, pitiless face
"He was q hard old fellow" sale
Fannie. lightly, HE lived here in thit
old hall for years and years, boarding
up thousands upon thousands. Nursi
fused TO tell us that people We're actual
ly afraid to come by the house at night
it was always so dark and gloomy
But papa soon changed all that"
"Your father was-his uncle's heir
them" and the soft cloud of COLDER
hair yelled SYPHILIS face as she spoke
''Then he had no children?"
"Oh, dear, goodness, gracious, no..
: answered Fannie, emphatically. III,
was a regular sour, surly old bachelor
He hated women, and wouldn't evel
i. have a housekeeper-only Mrs. Wyllis
OF course, l wouldn't have you men
, ton it for the world. but she was
; sort of charity-child then, and the pee
pie she was bound to used to send he
up every day or two, to straightel
IfIlcln RnSils room and rt1p pyramids fin