Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-04-05

better go to bed, my dear. 1t is late.
and ! nm very tired-very tired he re
peated, YEARLY.
Poor papa," said Fannie. with af-
fectionate anxiety, you look very tired.
Let me get my cologne and battle your
head, us dear mamma uSed TO d0-tllat
always rested you"
Not tonight was the quick answer
that came almost painfully from the
stern, set lipS-"not tonight, my child,
| am better alGne-far better alone.
Kiss me goodnight, my dear, and
and"-Fannie was clasped To her faith
er's breast in n sudden, close embrace
may your mothers God bless you, my
Agnes child!'
Il wonder what makes papa so sol
emnE" solilOquiZed 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
Il strange man in the woods. He don
like to hear Uncle Basil'S name men
toned, and this un!ucky tongue of mine
is always letting it slip; and yet
know Uncle Basil was very good 10
papa. He brought him up like his w
son, and started him in business, and
left him heaps and piles of money.
should think ii couldn't be a very great
crime to speak OF him; and | did think
il would be a delightful thing for Her
bert and Sybil to get married. I'm surf
If locked all Over the world, | could
not pick out a sweeter sister. But,
dear, dear, people do 90 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 II coming to a sudden deter
mination, he pulled the bel! cord. and
told the answering servant that he
wished TO see Mrs. Wyllis.
The ~houseSeeper entered the room
ere he vas conscious of her approach,
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 os her quick, stealthy
glances from beneath the white eye
lashes, at the dark, moody countenance
of her master, and the faintest shadow
Of a smile rested for an instant around
her thin lips; then. in a quiet, respect,
full voice, she asked 'Mr. Gives pleas
ureg'
ssAht xrnr an go horn q H. Gaia o...,
in his restless walk. "Be seated, my
good Wyllis, If you please. l have
something to say TO YOU"
She obeyed him silently, folding her
mittened hands one over the other. and
letting her gray eyes fall demurely be-
meath their yelling lids.
Il merely wished to ask" said the
master Of Give Towers, coming to a
stardstill before the hearth. IF you
have been annoyed by any intruders
here during my absence? L have rea-
son to believe that that ruffian. who
calls himself Basil Give. has returned
to this part Of the country, and l fear
may be bent on further acts Of yio-
lence."
Indeed, sir, I 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
a 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 h~ousekeeper. scornfully. How 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''
Il have prospered-yes." answered
Mr.. Give, thoughtfully. 81 have never
feared aught for myself; yet. as we
grow old, Wyllis. and look back upon
the path we have tr0dden. the brayest
: CT Us sometimes .remble for the young
feet that must com along the un-
known ways; and the shadows we have
passed through unframed seem dark
n terrible when they hang over the
tender beings whom we would shield
from even a passing cloud. If I could
buy of this vindictive being with half
my fortune, / would give it gladly for
for peace and rest"
Have you offered toto compromise
with him. STRIP
AYE; but he will accept no compro-
mise was the bitter reply; nothing
but what he calls ~justice-full and
complete Justice
He is mad" said Mrs. wyllis, com
posedly.
AYE. he is madi" repeated Robert
GIVE, Hereby. LET him dog my path
way as he will. he shall never wrest
from me my children's birthright! Let
hin do his best to poison the cup of
life whose fullnass and sparkle he has
always envied; let him plead as he will
for his child! His child. What is his
child to me? What is his child's FL
ture. compared to the future of mine?
some iow-born, low-bred. nameless out.
cast, unfit TO breathe the same air. to
tread the same ground, with child of
..nfpnttf