Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-05-24

Secret
By JEAN WARNER.

''No harm can touch me while you
are safe, my traaSurc-my darling-my
own loved child!' was the deep-toned
murmur that reached the doctors ears.
"Only live. my darling! Live for your
wretched fathers sake-live to bless
his blighted life with your love-and-
he-he@ayr, darling. this night has
taught him fearful lesson-he will
strive to live only for your love-your
happiness. We will go away. far from
| this cursed spot We will go away to
another land. and live only for each
| othcr!"
only for each other!" she echoed,
clasping his hand to her breast, with a
wan smile. Take me away-far, far
away-papa. where we can live only
TO, each other!'
! MY darling-my own" whispered
her father. for"etful of all things save
his rapture and his remorSe. ooh. for
give me-. Sybil. Alas. my madness had
we!Engh blighted my one sweet flow
! er forever. My reckless hand had
well-ni%h crushed what would gladly
have died to save! Sybil. Sybil, say
YOU forgive me-"
Very clear and solemn came the an
swcr. how full of'meaning the doctor
only vaguely guessed:
Il forgive you, my dear papa. All
tllat-that has hurt me so much, l for
give YOU
Alas. alas! gravcly and sadly in
Geed. might Sybil speak that pardon.
Deeper and deadlicr than eye could
sec WAS the wound in that gentle
breast.
The snowy flesh might heal. the rude
scar close. and all seem we'll again;
but Within-deep within-the woman's
heart would bleed forever and forever,
from a wound that only One could
/ pity. One touch could heal
The gray twilight was slowly flush
ing into dawn when the doctor left the
Witches Cave. Sybil was sleeping
sWeetly now. and during her slumber
her father had opened his softened
heart. to the friend who had come to
him as Il friend in the hour of his
gleateSt need.
DE-. Bond knew all now. and that
knowledge had only given him feelings
or warm. almost tender, sympathy for
the reckless. maynard man, whom
Fate and Providence had thrown so
strangely in his way.
lie. had attempted at first. by friend
ly argument. to combat opinions and
prcludices that he knew were unreas-
enable: but he found this imDetuous
being had been too long the sport of
his own fierce passions to lend an ear
to reason or judgment now.
III have to go aWay-aS far away as
Dossible-was Basil Gives answer to
every argument. II could not trust
myself here. The fiend of hate and re-
veEge. and hate is too strong within
me. The place is hers, sir-hers by
birth. hers by justice, hers by law, if
we could only get the proof-the proof
that firmly believe Robert Give holds
in his robber grasp. Give Towers be-
longs Of right to my childv'
The doctor listened gravely. At six
ty we do not readily open our hearts
either to faith or hope
Sybil-his Sybil-the mother of this
mar, who stood beside him? Sybil Lee
the wife of Basil Give? The deserted,
neglected-nay. disowned wife? How
his blood boiled at the thought of her
children wandering nameless and
friendless; hiding like criminals in
their fathers land; burying themselves
in the caverns of the earth. maddeneu
by wrongs and desperate from Unjust
ice!
In the secret depths of his heart the
doctor felt that the claim of Basil
Give might be just. He had never
liked the master Of Give Towers; there
had always been an inexplicable bar
rier between them. which it seemed as
if neither cared to cross. For years
and years Robert Give had faced the
world. cased in the impenetrable arm.
or of universal distrust.
If this story be true-as it must be
true. for the fierce, passionate words
of Basil Give left no room for doubt
if this story We're indeed true, and
SYPHILIS child the rightful owner of
Give Towers. should not he, the friend
and lover Of old uphold that child's
claim. in spite Of all the world?
Aye. he would, he must! But mean
while. there was no Lroof-no proof.
Robert Give. proud, strong and
naughty. stood in a position that none
could assail-his uncle's rightful and
acknowledged heir. They could only
watch and wait
1t would be wiser and better far that
this hot-headed. impetuous Basil We're
leagues away.
II think you are right" answered the
doctor. as he grasped the hand of syb-
lis son. and looked into his dark flash
ing eyes with paternal Kindness sighed
to think how different both lives might
have been if this rash. misguided be-
ing had been his child. 1t is better
that you should 20 away with Sybil as
soon as she is able to be moved, which
will not be under fortnight. 1t will
be better for her. better for you, better
for everyone. Meanwhile remember
that you leave friend behind you who
who for many reasons has your in
terests truly at heart-a friend who,
like the warder Of some stormy coast,
is watching for the turn Of the tide.
And if you need means-that little girl
has stolen her way into: heart that
thought sealed forever-if, for her sake
you would ACCENT
"No. not answered Basil, quickly
no help. Thank you very much, sir
verY much! l have money in plenty,
to 20 or stay where will. only ask
you to keep my secret. to let me get her
away from this cursed spot in peacev'
"But they-they family Mt the Tow
crs-will be anxious about your daugh-