Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-05-10

| she guided her horse with q IStleSS
uncertain hand, she seemed to heal
without needing, Herbert's effort a,
conversation: she answered absently
and at random.
Panied and mortified, Herbert him
self grew moody and taciturn, and they
had gone on for some moments in ST.
lence. when Sybil suddenly seemed tc
arouse herself by painful effort, and
said. in a grave and earnest tone:
II want to make request of you, Mr.
Glive-a strange request; one that you
will not understand, and that cannot
explain. ,,....q 7.., -
ITO ask Of me is to obtain, Miss
constrained reply.
"No: do not KNOW" she corrected.
''for l am aware that my request will
seem an utterly unreasonable one. l
want you''-she gave one of her fright
ened glances around her a sshe spoke
and lowered her voice almost to wills
PERI want you to leave home. Mr..
Give: to 90 abroad, if possible, for an
| indefinite time"
''TO leave hOme?" echoed Herbert, in
unconcealed surprise. ITO go abroad
NV dear Miss Wraye, you are income
prehensible!
Il know it, she answered. in Il de-
spairing tone. Il told you could not
explain. Yet. tits as Fannie's friend l
speak: as-as"-her voice faltered, las
your friend. There is danger threaten
ing you here. MIR. Clive-terrible dam
ger; and-and, until that danger is re-
moved, | beg of you to leave home"
Herbert's face flushed
Danger threatening me here. in my
own home. and you would have me flee
from it. like a coward? My dear Miss
Wraye. YOU must have but a poor opin.
ion Of my manhood. of my courager
There are perils against which man
hood. courage. all are vain," she an
swercd, in voice thrilling with pain.
There is Il danger which no hand,
however strong. can combat-dark. IN
known dangers. from which flight is
the only safety; and-and' her soft
eyes fixed themselves upon him. full Of
terrible meaning. Mr.. Give. it is such
danger that threatens you. Oh. for
your own sake. for the sake of all You
love, be warned in time! Fly. fly. be-
fore it is too late!''
But his face only set itself sternly
into the likeness of his father-into a
stranger and more forbidtling likeness
still. that of his great-uncle. Basil Give.
You forget that you speak to a man,
Miss Wraye' he answered, proudly
Ito a man in whom obedience to such
warning would be both weak and
eowardly. To fly from any danger is
womanly but to fly from an unknown
danger would be the basest pusillani-
nifty" :...: -:
Then YOU will not hear r1e-you viii
not heed 'me?' she cried in a. tone.
whose pathos went to Herbert'S heart.
surely. surely. the curse Of Caesar dra
is mine!';. ,: -. 49,.
"Sybil. Sybil:" cried the young man.
throwing of. the mask of formality and
speaking in a moved voice, for God's
sale. have done With. these mysteries!
What is this shadow under which you1
Young life IS whitening? What cloud is
it that hangs between you and, the sun
shine of love and hope? For l know
that no other love, no other tie. binds
your heart. Il. know. darling-forsiNe
Inc if hold the precious secret dropped
from; Your. unconscious lips-1 know the
hrSt pure love OF that maiden heart is
all my own. -. : s..,.-. -
You know that-that--" II. fl.
OH. the beautiful blush that stole like
dawn over that pallid face. the light
that trembled in those downcast eyes.
the CULVER Of those parted lips! For one
bright moment the spell was broken.
the statue lived, the woman breathed:
Il know that you do care for me a
little. Sybil.'' was the happy answer.
Tell me. darling. is it not so? There is
no other love binding your heart? Only
one little word, Sybil-one little word
will lift the weight of suspense from
my heart Say that l have no rival,
Sybil-your hand and heart are free.
Darling, l can wait patiently. 1 will
not harrass you with VOWS of love if
you will only tell me that have some
far-off hope of winning you at last
Hope, hope? No, no, there is no
hope" she answered, the life-light fad
ing from her face. "But it is neither
love nor lover that stands between US,
Mr.. Give. You mistook my words
strangely if you thought so. I have no
thought Of other or other lover when
tell YOU the barrier between US is one
We ne'er can cross. But-but"
hesitated for a moment, and then she
went on. in clear, sweet and sorrow
full yoice-''if it will make you believe;
me. trust me, listen to me more willing
~, VIII speak: TO you as E0ne dead
might speak from a far-off sphere, and
tell Won that, but for the dark abyss
that yawns between, us, I-I-might
have loved YOU, might have listened to-
YOU, might have found earth's sweetest
happiness at your side. 1t can never
be however, never, never! But for
the sake Of what might have been, in
pity for the heart that you have walk
ened, only to make it suffer more keen
~, listen to me-fy and save yourself
from dangers that I know, yet cannot
avert!'
81 cannot listen to you, sybil,' he an
swered .gravely. II would brave death
willingly at your bidding. but I cannot
sacrifice my manhood. If danger threat
ems those dear to me. must stay and
share it.. And for your other words,
Sybil, there is a whispering hope in
them that will hold through life and
death. AS long as no other tie, no 9TH
er love. stands between, you are mine,
mine! Mine, darling, despite your fears,
your tremors-despite your own little
timid self! Mine. though l wait for
years ere I can claim you. Mine, al
though thousand shadowy perils