The Bowbells tribune., 1900-05-18

After hours Of hopeless wandering.
the old doctor was forced to sink down
upon moss-grown. rock that guarded
a crystal spring, and as he refreshed
himself by draught Of the ice-cold
water. acknowledged that Nature and
Time together were too much for him.
He didn't know where he was. nor
how far he had been; he only felt that
his limbs were sore and his strength
gone. and that he had proved himself
an old fool for nothing.
II don't see why I should concern
myself about the girl, anyhow NUT.
tered the doctor. as sharp twinge OF
rheumatism struck his knee. "Theres
plenty Of policemen in the neighbor-
hood. whose business it Is to look after
robbers and murderers, without my
taking the work in hand. Confound 1t,
there must be some witchcraft about
that girl! Her eyes have been haunt
ing me ever since the first time saw
her-those eyes that are so like-so
like Sybil Lee's!
sWho is it that speaks Of Sybil Lee?
said a voice behind him that made the
doctor spring to his feet, regardless OF
his fatigue and rheumatism. "Who is
it that can look over gulf of five-and-
forty years. and still speak Of Sybil
Lee? All. Master Harry-Master Har-
nv! if she had been wise enough to
walk her way with you, things would
have been different now!'
sWhat the Who are you?" gasped
the doctor. almost startled into pro.
family by the witch-like figure that
met his gaze; for 1t was Rizpah who,
leaning on her long stick, looked oat
upon him from the underground.
"Who ami? Ha, ha! You knew me
well enough five-and-forty years ago,
Master Harry. though I was younger
and comelier than am now. 10 you
remember the old Africans hut where
you came with her to have your tor.
tune read? Do you remember the old
Africans daughter, to whom you
threw dollar for wedding gift! Do
YOU remember RizpahY"
':Rizpah? Rizpah? Good heavens!
exclaimed the doctor. in wonder; the
beautiful young mulatto whom she
my Sybil-used to teach?"
"Aye, aye!" answered the old Wo'
man. bitterly; "the beautiful young
mulatto of five-and-forty years ago IS
the withered old witch Of to-day! 1t IS
the way the world goes-the way the
world goes! And if your Sybll had
lived she would have. mayhap, been as
ugly, and withered, and weazened as
old Rizpah is now. The dead only are
ever young"
"Impossible! answered the doctor,
with a shudder. "But, alas! I forget
the changes that time can make In i've.
and-forty-years-I forget what 1 am
myself"
"You haven't changed so much that
these old eyes could not see Harry
Bond in you STILL" answered Rizpah,
fixing her fierce gaze upon his face.
"You haven't changed so much, Mas
ter Harry. Unless your looks belle
your heart. I can trust you still. II the
thought of Sybil Lee is still fresh III
your mind. if her memory is still green
in you heart. follow me"
"Not unless I am q madman.' was
the doctors mental rejoinder, for the
cleaning eyes and fierce words OF the
old creature warned him she was
crazed. "I've got myself deep enough
in the mud now without wading fur
ther into the mire. At sixty-ive we
never lose our wits for more than
couple of hours at time, and my So
Der senses have come back to me with
this twinge of rheumatism"
"No, my good Rizpah," added the
doctor. aloud. "I've gone far enough
enough on fools errand this evening.
I'm too old nowadays to travel on any
romantic missions. If you've ever had
the rheumatism, you'll help me, In pure
pity, out Of this confounded wilder
ness: for, unless I'm in bed within an
hour, with good drink Of herb tea IN
nv stomach, I'll be crippled for q
week."
"Bah! Are you coward enough to
fear painy" she asked, scornfully.
"Look there''-she held out her long,
thin hand. that was bent and drawn
into a frightful claw. "Pain has
griped my every sinew into shapes ike
that. and vet scorn to let In conquer
me. can defy pain-I can defy weak,
ness-I can defy death, when they
would bid me shrink from serving
those dearer to me than wretched life.
But am a woman! You-ha. ha!
forgot-you are only man! There is
no well-spring that can keep the heart
Of man fresh and green for five-and-
forty years. It is only woman-Weak
woman-that can love and suffer-love
and suffer while shred Of the thing
she worships remains to her-love and
suffer still!'
'The old hag talks like book" NUT
tered the doctor to himself. II wonder
what the deuce she is driving at?
These half-stricken creatures 60 al
ways round and round the point. I've
half mind to follow her. and see
where she will lead me. I'm in for the
rheumatics anyhow, and little extra
folly can't make .me 4mOre. of fool.
She can't take me into much trouble.
at any rate. while have this"
And the doctor felt again for his
pocket pistol. then added. aloud:
"Go on. mother. I'll follow you. since
you put the old man on his mettle,
Lead me anywhere, SO it's outside of
this confounded Cretan twist. where
every path seems knotted up to bewild-
er wandering Christians. Go on! IN
come as fast as these stiffening limbs
will allow. Harry Bonds heart may