Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-05-03

ing, thought1ess girl of the dangers
that surrounded her happy home!
How could she speak without compro-
missing her fathers safety, her faith
ers and RiZpah' s?-thOSe two desper-
ate. maddcncd beings, leagued together
against the innocent and unconscious
children of Robert Give?
81 don't think it is very safe to walk
in these woods alone" Sybil added. Il
Il have heard that some-some law
less characters have been seen near
here. 1t is we'll to be careful, Fannie
.Oh dear, I'm not afraid answered
the young heiress, laughingly. "Ey'
erybody knows papa, and almost ev-
erybody fears him. Wherever else they
may go, you may be sure the lawless
characters will keep clear Of the Give
place. Papa is regular bugbear to all
the thieves and trampS in the neighbour
hood
''But-but''-o how hard it was to
speak with Fannie's arm about her
waist, with Fannie's breath upon her
Cheek there might be some daring
and desperate enough to defy even
your father. IL heard of-of man
once-a man driven to desperation by
real or fancied wrong-who for years
and years haunted his enemy's
grounds, cast his shadow upon the
Threshold nay. even'-Sybll voice
sank to thrilling whisper-"found
secret entrance to the very house. ana
all the time this enemy, proud ana pow
erful as your father. was UNCONSCIOUS
of the danger that threatened him, ana
even more darkly threatened MS. fof
he had children. Fannie-noble, Dealltl-
full children-and upon them had de-
scended the legacy of hate ana revenge:
It was on these children this man hau
sworn to visit the fathers crime; II
was the children who were doomed TO
-to-Oh. heaven!
Sybil stopped. shuddering all over,
for the door had opened nolselesslv'
and the black robed figure of Mrs Wyl-
lis stood, a listener, upon the thresh-
old.
sAIiss Fannie" she purrcd softly, as
the two young people started at slght
of her. "your lamp has burned so low
that fear it is dangerous. 1t you nave
no objection, will leave a candle III lts
place. There have been so many dread
full accidents of late that one cannot DC
too carefuI'-her sleepy eyes took one
of their quick, stealthy surveys OF the
room-"one cannot be too careful.
ooh. dear. what a polly old thing
YOU are, Willis" said Fannie, petu-
lantly. 81 know you mean it is time
we were in bed; so, why don't you SO!
Goodnight, Sybil. won't walk in the
woods alone any more, fod your story
has fairly made my flesh creep"
AS she retired to her own room, the
young lady asked:
81 wonder if papa has any enemles'
Wyllis?'
the quiet rejoinder. "There are few
men like him who haven't"
"Do you suppose that he-that my
papa-cculd ever have done any one
harm?" asked Fannie, Indignantly.
:Of course not" answered the house
keeper, softly. "Only, my dear, as you
will live to learn, envy and jealousy
make the worst kind Of enemies. 1t
does not need harm. But Why do you
ask?"
ooh. for no reason III particular, an
swered Fannie. evasively; ''only-only'
as the young lady contided to her own
pretty image in the mirror, few min
utes later-"Sybil did talk so very
queer. 1t sounded-it really sounded as
if she were telling that story about
papa
"Has he an enemy?' repeated Mrs.
willis. softly to herself, as she stole
noiselessly along the carpeted hall, and
paused for moment to listen at Syb'
lis deor-''has he an enemy? Aye
and her face lit up with a crafty
smile of triumph that no mortal eye
had ever seen upon its placid features
che has one at his threshold, at his
at his very meal! An en-
envy that will not falter until she gains
her end!'