Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-04-26
in INV own land: and when your faith

that was full CT bitterness against all
mankind. opened again to the White
faced babe. and learned to love him,
even as my own flesh and blood! He
kept Rizpah from growing mad with
her grief: he drew the poison from
her bosom: and when she sang him to
sleep with the songs of her own race
she forgot le2 wrongs and again was
happy. And when he, too, was
wrohged-when they robbed my nurs-
ling of his name and his birthright.
when his mother died of a broken
heart in MY arms, and his father lefs
Linn, beggared and desolatt-then Old
Rizpah's strong hight arm stood be.
tween her boy and want, and the child
grew and thrived, Wild and fierce. and
strong as those whom the she-wof
suckles and rears-grew up to claim
and win his own. And he will win it,
"RiZpah." said Sybil, taking the
witl.ered Old hand within her own
snowy palms. and speaking gently and
tenderly. Il know what papa owes TO
your noble devotion; know what l
likewise owe to it. But, oh, RlZpal,
think of what his life has been! think
Of the long. weary. bitter years spent
in those fruitless efforts to gain lS
own! think Of the manly prime wasted
in wicked plans for revenge, Justice
call it what YOU will! think, RiZoah.
Of WHAT peace, what happiness, what
safety, we have lost! and. oh, i'll pity
for your nursing, cease to urge him. by
your Wild hopes and dark prophecies,
on the road to ruin! Let us fly from
here. all of us; the air itself seems
heavy with danger. Let us fly from
here. Would to heaven I had never
come near this fated soot!'
You talk like your mother. salu
old Itizual. sccrnfully. drawing her
hand from SYPHILIS grasp-"like your
mother. whose blood ran cold and
W e:lk in her veins, and who was never
the fitting mate for my boy. She was
like the dove in the eagles nest, striv-
ing ever to keep him always quiet. At
first;. l thought YOU had more of YOUR
fathers bold spirit. l thought you had
learned from him how to hate his foes:
thought that. With the serpent's Gull
Ming. YOU had stolen Into their house.
and l hoasted that one step was
gained. But you are no serpent, to
strike Your fierce sting into the foot
that tr;mples you; you are the weak
woman that will not turn, even when
crushed. Go! Rizpah scorns you!'
The young gi.'Ts pale face flushed
slightly at the old woman's bitter IT,
rade. But she glanced at the withered
face, and it's haggard, half-wild ex-
preston made her patient again.
Sybil remembered the days when
this poor, old, half-crazed being had
been the strongest prop of her fathers
fortune - the faithful. unwearying
nurse Of her dying mother-the watch
full guardian of her own childish
sports-sevant. friend, fierce. out.
spoken counsellor, all in one. And
now. tottering on the verge OF the
grave, homeless and friendlcss. be-
cause he whom she had served so long
and faithfully had neither home nor
friends. it was little wonder that poor
old Rizpah's failing mind fixed itself
With fierce tenacity upon the wild
hopes she had encouraged for so many
years. and that she strove to strength
en- her failing powers by recurring to
the dark superstition of her youth.
II am neither the serpent nor the
worm. Rizpah," Sybil said, with
od-Lumored smile. 81 came to Give
Towers much against my will, and
only because a lovely innocent girl,
who has surely never harmed me or
mine. asked me to come as her guess" =
"Her guest! their guest!' repeated
old Rizpah. bitterly. "You, who
should be mistress there, seated at
their table and breaking their bread!
Child. child. it is a wonder you did not
/ strangle at the first mouthful. 1t is q
wonder their wine and water did not
poison your blood! There is no hate
like kindred hate. even as there is no
love like kindred love. All, if you had
| been a boy! But your Poor, weak
mother could only give life to a pulling
| girl!'
would to heaven I had died when
she did" said Sybil, clasping her hands
passionately; "for 1 live an accursed
life. Swallowed by danger; darkened
and embittered by hatred and revenge.
There is no light for me. no beauty,
no''-oh. the thrilling rathos the heart
break of the words-"no hoDe"'
.Aye, there is hope" said old Rlz-
path, catching the last word-"there
is hope, child. Have not told you the
stars have said it? Aye, there is nope
for YOU. Listen to me!' She bent her
withered face close to Sybil, while the
| cunning CLEAN Of madness lit her deep
set eyes. 'tFor three years have lived
in this spot alone, and often well-nigh
starving. For what, eh? For what:
Look here''-the old woman took Sybil
by the hand and led her to the back OF
the hut. where. lifting one of the skins,
she disclosed the dark, narrow opening
of the cave. through which came a
cold. damp draught Of air-"look here
These feeble steps have tracked tina!
cave through all it's windings, and II
leads-ha. ha! where. think you, il
leads? To the wine vaults that IN
derlie the proud towers of the robbel
Give! Let them close their gates and
bar their doors against the rightfu
heir as they will. but his daughter sits
ut their fireside. and his foster-mothel
watches them like the fox in his bur
row. with this in her breast" and Riz
pah flashed the blade of small. kee.
dagger before SYPHILIS affrighted eyes
"Aye, before another Give grasps his
fathers ill-gotten wealth-before Rob
ert Clives son which belongs of right
to the child of my child-this dagge
- n hi