Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-05-10

her net, ..vou have won my gloves Tor
me this morning. and you shail nave y
new silver bit. This ugly curb hurts
my beaury's mouth. There, there! as
tho animal began to snort and QulVer,
whats the matter! What do you see!
There is nothing here TO harm you, Ter
~. Why. Terry
But Farnle'S soothing tone broke OH
suddenly I'm a cry II alarm. as she. 100,
rarchr sight If the object that had ter
rlfed her mare.
Inst beside her the heavy under
growth had parted suddenly. ana u
weird. ghostly figure appeared, as II
emerging from the earth-a shriVeieu'
nalsied old woman whose still erecl
form and flashing eyes seemed in mn
natural contrast To her trembling lllhos
and wiZened featurCS-a woman whose
fierce gaze was fixed upon the young
rider with such malignant hate mat
even ~thoughtlesS Fanny was quick 10
recognize ard shrink from il appalled,,
vcu are riding out. my fine young
ladyg' mumhled the old crone. show
ing her tuothless gums in a hideous
smile-"riding out this beautiful morn
ing. Maybe you'd cross my hand win
4 silver siNpCnce. and let the old wo-
man tell you your fortune. II ought 10
he . rare one. with such a face anu
form as yours. Cross my hand. pretty
lady. and let the old woman read your
fortune
Fannie glanced around her quickly;
Fenton was not yet in sight: Sybirs
warning REQUIRED to her mind. and
made her cold with fear; the old wo-
mans g%littering eyes, fixed full upon
her. seemed 10 read her very soul.
She advanced n step, and placed her
skinny. yellow hand upon Terry's bril-
die. while she still kept her uncanny
gaze upon Fannie's frightened face.
Your fine soldier gentleman has
missed his way she said. with a ma
Iicious leer. Il saw him galloping down
( the river lane fiv eminutes ago. What!
are you afraidG Afraid! The daughter
OF the proud. haughty master OF Give
Towers. afraid Of an old IN like
me? Ha, la. ha. Why. your father
would have poor Rizpah's carcass
/ thrown 10 the dogs. if she dared TO lay
a finger on you. | know him. you see.
I Ha. ha," There was something fearful
in the old crone's discordant laugh.
Yes. yes. L know him WE'LL
Then YOU know he would never
harm the old and weak" answered the
young girl. with dignity.
For. with all her childishness, there
was a proud, noble spirit within Fan
ME Gives breast.
Never harm the old and weakT' re-
peated The old woman bitterly-"he
would never harm the old and weak?
Try him. my beautiful lady. Tell him
that old RiZpah is in his power, and ste
what he will do. Ha. ha, Why, he
would grind me into power. He would
| crush these palsied bones one by one.
There would not be a hair Of this aged
head left, If Robert Give had his
naughty way
Fannie trembled at the old creatures
words. She was mad. evidently. None
but a mad woman could talk talk thus
wildly Of her papa. And, oh, how quiet
and lonely the place was! Fenton
must have lost his way. She must hu-
MOI this poor creature; she must try
and get away from her quietly. for
those fierce. eager eyes warned Fannie
that old RiZpah would be dangerous If
enraged.
Tell my fortune for me. won't you?f
she said. drawing off her pretty gaunt-
let. and placing a silver piece In the old
woman's withered hand. Il have never
had it told vet. so be sure you make /,
a tru one.
With trembling eagerness the old we
man clutched the girls snowy hand.
Il will make it true enough never
fear-true enough, Ha ha, Old Riz-
pah will make 1t true enough
And still holding the little hand I'm A
B py,sa m fIat rvs >. aInSncr 40 grF,I -. -
gan to humble and mutter over its del.
icate lines, as IL repeating some evil in
canjation.
Fannie's terror was for a moment
conquered by the fascination all young
minds feel in such efforts TO unveiI the
unknown.
Surely. she. whose present was SO
bright and full of promise. had only
dazzling hope and happy love to look
forward TO in the future.
With n blush and a smile. this dar.
ling OF fortune lifted the veil of Fate.
Well. mother, what do you see?' she
asked, gaily.
What 90 / seeT' repeated Rizpah.
slowly lifting her fierce. malignant gaze
TO the young girls face. Does the
daughter Of Robert Give, the spoiler,
aht hSuEpcE, iSh Nldl l. see. Listen,
then. she said, sinking her voice TO a
low. threatening whisper, that sounded
10 the terrified Fannie like the hiss of a
reptile before il launches its deadly
sting. Il see only poverty, ruin. dis
grace. l see n broken home and n
blackened name. / see a false lover. a
false friend. a false seryant. | see n
darkened life and a broken heart. Ii is
enough. Ha, har' Rizpah's wild laugh
of triumph echoed through the woods.
"Enough-aye, enough even for the fair
young daughter of Robert Clivei No,
L. but the stars Lave said it. 1t is
enough-it is enough
"Fentoni Fenton.' shrieked Fannie,
as that young g~entleman's horse NJ
length appeared through the trees. 20,
FeEtcn. come-come quick to mer,'
Call himr' said old Rizpah, with her
malignant laugh-"aye call your fine
lover TO your side. He cannot change
the fates-he cannot change the future.
Call him now! Ha ba! the day will
come when you will call him in yain.'
"She Is mad she is madr' exclaimed
Fannie whose lovely face was ashen
with terror. do not harm her Fepton.