The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-12-22

cleared away land then-rnen you nda
better go to bed, my dear. It Is late,
and am very tired tired!' he re-
peated, wearily.
.Poor.. papa! said Fannie, with at
| fectionate anxiety, 'syou look very tired.
Let me get my cologne and battle your
| head, as dear mamma used to do-thal
! always rested you" ..sao.. 4
mot to-night!'' was the quick answer
that came almost painfully from the
stern set lips-"not tonight, my child
am better alone-far better alone
Kiss me goodnight, my dear, and
and''-Fannie was clasped to her faith
er's breast in sudden, close embrace
may your mothers God bless you, my
Agnes child!'
II wonder what makes papa so SOL
emn?'a solilcquized Fannie, as she pre-
| pared for her peaceful slumber. There
is something wrong, surely. haven't
seen him this way before since the
| evening Herbert had that quarrel with
| a strange man in the woods. He don't
like to hear Uncle Basips name men,
! toned, and this unlucky tongue of mine
is always letting it slip; and yet
| know Uncle Basil was very good to
papa. He brought him up like his own
| son, and started him in business, and
left him heaps and piles Of money.
should think it couldn't be very great
crime to speak of him; and did think
it would be delightful thing for Her
bert and Sybl to get married. I'm SURE
if locked all over the world, could
not pick out a sweeter sister. But,
dear, dear! people do go so crooked,
and when it seems just as easy to walk
along smooth and straight"
And with this conclusion, which was
an unusually cynical one for our pretty.
philosopher, Fannie turned her rosy
cheek to the pillow and peacefully
slept
For a quarter of an hour after his
daughter had left him, Robert Give
paced up and down his spacious libra
~, with clouded brow and stern, set
lips.
Then, as if coming to sudden deter
mination, he pulled the bell cord, and
told the answering servant that he
wished to see Mrs. Wyllis.
The hcusekeeper entered the room
ere he was conscious of her approa ch,
and stood, with folded hands, beside
the marble hearth, on which, despite
the advanced season, a few logs were
burning with welcome heat. ~
She cast one OF her quick, stealthy
glances from beneath the white eye
lashes, at the dark moody cOuntenancc
Of her master, and the faintest shadow
of smile rested for an instant around
her thin lips; then, in a quiet, respect.
full voice, she asked "Mr. Gives pleas.
urew .-,>
''Ah! you are here" he said, pausing
in his restless walk. "Be seated, my
good Wylljs, if you. please. have
something to say to you"
She obeyed him silently, folding he,
mittened hands cne>over the other, and
letting her gray eyes fall demurely be-
meath their yelling lids.
! II merely wished to ask" said the
! master of Give Towers, coming to a
! staEdstill before the hearth. eff you
have been annoyed by, any intruders
here during my absence? I have >rea-
| son to believe that that rufian, who
calls himself RI sill Give, has returned
| to this part of the country, and fear
| may be bent on further acts of VIC
! lence"
! "1Edeed, sir, am sorry to hear it,
was Mrs. Wyllis' meaning reply. "No,
we have not been annoyed in any way
as yet; though really, sir, as far as my
! humble judgment goes, you were too
| lenient before-far too lenient. You
should not have suffered so dangerous
| character to escape so easily" -.
| II hoped and believed that I was
/ done with him forever" Mr.. Give went
( on, in an excited tone; but the fellow
seems to haunt my Path like an evil
fate. Only this morning I received an
other threatening letter, couched in the
most ambiguous terms. He dares to
menace me through my children
| ""Ah! empty words, sir!'' answered
the housekeeper, scornfully. GLOW can
such a wretched being harm you or
yours? Have you not prospered, in
spite Of his threats and curses, in the
past? How can they affect your chill
dren in the futureS" -.
II have prospered-yes, answered
Mr.. Give, thoughtfully. II have nevel
4 feared aught for myself; yet, as we
grow old, Wyllis, and look back upon
the path we have trcdden, the bravest
CT us sometimes tremble for the young
feet that must c"me along the un-
known ways; and the shadows we have
passed through unframed seem dark
and terrible when they hang over he
tender beings whom we would shield
from even a passing cloud If could
buy off this yindictiye being with halt
/ my fortune, would give it gladly for
for peace and rest. . ~
). "Have you offered toto compromise
with him, STRIP .l, s%2= +
"Aye;; but he will accept no compro-
mise was the bitter reply; .snothing
but what he calls justice--full and
complete Justice 4
HE is mad" said Mrs. :Wyllis, com
posedly. 1.
aye, he is madv' repeated Robert
/. Give, fiercely Let him dog+my path
way as he will, he shall never wrest
from me my children's birthright! Let
him do his best to poison the cup Of
4 life whose fullness and sparkle he has
| always envied; let him plead as he will
for his child! His: child! What is his
i child to me? What is his child's fr
ture, compared to the future Of minea
some loW-born, low bred. nameless out.
cast, unfit to breathe the same air. 70
tread the same ground, with child Of
miner
~ no was the white -robed figure that
81 gliding, nOiSelcSSly. by the half.clnsnd