Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-05-03
CHATTER NV
4 GirliSh Confidence.

Fannie went straight to SYPHILIS room
on her return home.
1t was midnight. and the old cham
Der OF Basil Give was flooded with the
lis.4t of the midsummer noon; and. in
valid as she still was. Sybll sat dressed,
by one Of the diamCnd-paned windows,
that looked u upon forest, river and
~valley-the wide-reaching domain that
Robert Give called his owl.
The sweet face that turned toward
Fannie. en- her entrance. seemed paler
and sadder than usual. Perhaps Sybil
had been weighing al! these proud pos
sessions against the woman's kingdom
in which she could never reign-the
kingdom Of the heart.
did YOU have 4 pleasant time.
DEAR she asked. as Fannie knelt be-
side. ard twinei her arms around her
waist. what, surely'-Sybil took 4
closer view Of the pretty countenance-
w hy. Fannie, you have been crying,
What is the matter? Has anything
happeneds' she said, n~eryously.
Yes answered Fannie, bursting in
TO . fit Of childish tears. something
has happened; and-and / am 50 mis-,
cradle and wretched. Sybil. | don't
huON LIl w NO. IlEL DEIh Is
What, something happenedg' cried
Sybil started TO her feet, Ito Her-to
your brother? oh. where is he? Let
me see him. Where is he!''
HE is downstairs. l suppose. don't
mean anything has happened TO him. l
was only going TO say-that-that he is
as mad as fire because-because-
Fannie broke down again. sobbing,
too wretcheG to notice her friends mo-
mentGry betrayal OF herself.
What is the matter:' asked Sybil,
in a voice thar tenderness could tone
Z the softest music. How have you
offended you brother. dear? Why is
he angry with you?'
"Pecarse-because-I am sure l
couldn't help il. and ever dreamed of
such a thing. | never tiirted with him
"a bit. He was 50 poky-so good, l
mean-and I'd as soon think Of Marry
ing my grandfather" concluded Fan
ME. emphatically.
Marrying your grandfather? What
are 0 talking about. DEAR asked
Sybil. in natural bewilderment.
Why. Laurence Grey. OF course"
answered Fannie petulanrly. HE had
TO &c and fall in love with me-with
me- repeated Fannie, as If Il were the
most surprising thing IN the world.
Ard l feel so hcrril and mean. and
wretched about il. and Herbert is o
because l won't have him. and says
I'm az q little fooi!'
rs that allf" asked Sybil. smiling,
with a long breath Of infinite relief. Il
thought that something far more seri-
Gus bad caused the grief. You have
given Mr.. Grey his answer. and |
should think thar would be the end of
it-that is. if'-Sybirs hand threaded
the beautiful hair earessingly-"n you
are quite sure OF your heart
Sure OF my own hearth repeated
Fannie. wonderingly.
Svbfl smiled again.
II mean. are you quite sure that you
DO not care a little for Mr.. Grey: |
thought him a very noble young man,
Fannie. He has so much dignity. so
much mofesty. and SO much talent"
Il suppose he has said Fannie. du-
bicCsly. as il she had never reflected
much on these accessories before. HE
is RIAL handsome. too, when he puts on
n decent hat and a rundown collar;
and he sincs-oh, Sybil, how beautifni.
" he can sing
Yet you don't care for him, Fan
nie:"
"Oh. YES I do-ever so much, We've
played together ever since | was that
hign -Farnie measured n Lillinu-
tan's height with her hand-"and he
always got me the prettiest flowers.
and the rpest srawberries. and the
rosiest apples. He trained my pony
fer me: and YOU know Terry almost
talks. He brought me my mOckin.
bird. and would always SO to the ends
or the earth for anything l wanted. l
like him betser-better-'
Better than any one you known
asked Sybil. gently. "Are you quite
sure Of that. FannieT'
Yes. answered Fanny. hiding her
blGshing face on her friends breas..
II ~tEink-no. / am quite sure-I Ike
him better than any one. except those
| love: fer liking is not loving, is II,
Syhili ! like him ever so much. but l
corld never. never love Laurence
Grey
II hope you viii never love one less
worthy. dear" answered Sybil. softly:
and then. shrinking. as a light footstep
sounded in the hall without. she added:
Mrs. Wyllis Is still up. Had we not
better say good-nightf'
"oh. don't mind herr answered the
yoCEg mistress OF the Towers. careless
~. "Wyllls Is a regular old cat. She
Is always prowling around ut untimely
hours. watching the servants. and
watching the lights. and watching ev-
erything. l don't believe she ever
sleeps M oil. But perhaps you are
tired. darling. | an forgetting how
sick You have been. Why are you sit.
ting up SO late? And your dress is all
damp with dew. Surely. You have not
been out in the night air. SybilY'
Only for a little walk at sunset"
was the low reply. ! Was lonesome,
and Ii was so beautiful out; but"
Sybil hesiiated. How corld she
| frame the warning that rose to her
Il - l--l-