Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-07-05
silen,.ed. the flowers dead.


come, and found himself. like s;rang-
err in his fathers house. asking for
Miss Give.
Everything was in perfect order; no
wheel of the well organized household
system seemed disarranged by the
| stS.soage of the master hand: yet there
was a strange hush. an unnatural re-
| preston. over the whole house that Op-
pressed Herbert like breathing pois.
! oned air.
! He entered the drawing room. and. in
| his mothers ebony rocking chair. b!
! the marble hearth. a woman sat busy
with her knitting-a pale. slender wo-
man. who rose to meet him with a
certain still. crafty triumph in glance,
and manner and tone.
You are late. indeed" she said. with
a Sigh. and. lifting her black-bor-
dered handkerchief to her eyes. land
YOU come to sorrowing home, Her.
bert poor boy
My sister-where is my sister,"
asked the young man. in husky voice.
While his spirit rose at the unusual ia
milarity of the housekeeper address.
Where is Miss Fannie:'
Dear Fannie is in her room.'' an
swered Mrs. Wyllis. in her lowest
tone. Indeed. she seldom leaves it.
She is much broken-sadly broken.
You would scarcely know her now.
Your poor father
Has her health failed?' interrupted
Herbert. who felt an ndescribable OBJ
lection to hearing the details of his
fathers death from this woman's lips.
Where is she? IL must see her al
onoe.''
The white eyelashes We're lifted for
one moment. and the steel-gray eyes
were fixed upon the speaker with
glance. half of pity half of scorn. as
he thus quietly assumed the masters
tone.
There We're some matters of which
l wished to speak" she began.
(Which l can hear at some other
time interrupted Herbert. haughtily.
My present duty is first to my sister
my poor. broken-spirited darling.
After that l am ready to discuss any
household arrangements you desire to
mention. 3"
HE lords it grandly." murmured
Mrs. Wylls to herself. with her still
smile. as Herbert left the room. "Ah.
yes! very grandly. with his must and
tame him. even as l tanned his proud,
strong father. The honor Of the
Clives-the Clives.-ha, ha! it is my
l hold it in my grasp-aye, hold them
in my power Their dead fathers
name must be kept sacred-their dead
fathers honor unstained! Even as>that
dead father sinned and suffered for
eli
him. All. yes. yes. it is double game,
becca Willis. the charity child. whom
too blind to see-I sit in the mistress
velvet chair and hold the stakesv'
She tapped her breast. While a tri
umphant light glittered in her white
eyes. and then. folding her mittened
hands. she bent her head and gazed
steadiastly into the fire.
Up stairs in Eannies little boudoir,
brother and sister sat. clasped heart to
heart.
The first few moments of that meet
With one glad cry of mingled JOY and
sorrow, Fannie sprang into her broth
er's arms. and sobbed out her pent-up
n.ent Herbert held her pressed to his
heart. well-nigh bursting with it's
weight Of grief.
All. she was changed--sadly changed.
Even in the uncertain light he could
see how delicate was the face, erst
round and rosy as laughing Hebe's-
how hollow the once sunny. laughing
eyes-how frail the graceful form!
.Isappjo Fannie my, rnOr 1ittlp SiS. |
ter. you have suffered much, and alone
all alone."'
"All alone" she repeated. sadly. Oh. /
Herbert. you know not how much !
alone! If you had not come soon. dear,
| would have died-died broken-heart
ed! Alas. alas. the prophecy was true
the old woman's prophecy was true!
The very day she spoke. sorrow came |
uron me-scrrow and'-she bowed her I
head On Herbert's breast. and whis- /
pered the word; lisgrace"'
What dc you mean?' he exclaimed, |
starting. ''Fannie-sister. what word
is that to come from lips like yours:"
Have YOU not heard?" she muir
INJURED. casting an affrighted glance
around her. "Oh. brother brother,
such cruel whispers. such cruel ru-
mors. l could bear all. all. = she
sobbed our. IF they would let poor
papa rest in his grave but evil tongues
have followed him even there!.'
What DO they say asked Herbert
tiercely. Il am here now to defend +
my fathers memory. and. by Heaven. /
will Go it. Who dares to cast i slur
upon the name of Robert Cliye|'
Hush. hush.'' Fannie whispered. |
do not speak 50. II cannot tell you
how or whence the rumors came, but
they say papa had 10 right TO Give
Towers: that he hell it only by-by-
oh. how can l speak the word OF my
own papa?-by fraud. And She
Fannie sbuddered as she spoke--she
seems to know. She has limited that I
she knew what. for our sakes. she
world rot reveal
''She?" repeated Herbert. angr!ly- !
'Wlle-that old cat doing by the fire
old Willis. whom l have always de-
spised: Has she had her claws upon
you. my poor little pet? Has she dared
to torture you by her lying whispers?
BY heavep. will wiring her secret. If I
she have any. from her sIavering lips"
''Do not speak quite so loudly, if you |
please. Mr.. Cliye.'' said soft voice be-
hind them.