Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-06-21


Fannie-see Robert Give. IL he viii let
me-" the doctor said. more cheerfully.
as Laurence rose 10 60. "and I'll give
you my opinion then about writing 10
Herbtrt. No use alarming rhe boy un-
necessarily; trouble will come to him
fast enough"
Trouble will come 10 him fast
enough These words. and the doe.
tors solemn Scriptural quotation.
haunted Laurence Grey. as he rode
homeward through the bleak winter
woods. past the white wastes OF mead
ow land. the shrouded gardens and de
serted lawns of Give Towers-ihe
Eden of his boyhood's and manhood's
dreams.
Only a few months ago. and the SUI
light shimmered through the rich foil
age of spreading trees upon springine
fountains and blooming flowers. Only
n few months ago birds warbled theii
love songs in the fragrant shadows OF
the grove the brooklet laughed in the
sunbeam: a summer sky smiled upon
a summer world. Young hearts bound
ed ~joyously TO the whispers OF love aud
hope: young voices blended In gay
song and merry laughter: young lives.
bright with beautiful promise. made
these still and lifeless paths a paradise.
Now, Laurence Grey was not a ro-
mantle dreamer, but the dark, heavy
snow clouds, hanging like a pail
around Give Towers: the dead silence
that reigned over lawn. the garden and
terrace: the shadow that dwelt within
AL seemed ominous of coming evil.
He reached home. Miss Marian was
watching for him at the WINDOW. He
little knew the secrets of his sisters
envious heart. or he would new have
confided TO her the object of his mis-
sion. He little guessed the secret joy
and triumph that filled her breast AT
sight of the gathering clouds that
caused him such generous and heart
felt pain.
And so he told her. without reserve,
the substance of this interview with
DR.. Bond, adding that he feared some
heavy trouble was impending over
Give Towers-some secret sorrow
crushing its master to the earth.
Miss Marian listened sith the great
est apparent sympathy. 1t was sad
for poor Fannie. very; but she had sus-
DNtANb tol jill liAlt AllSiN was q shNl-
eton hidden in Give Towers-some
trouble known to none.
However that may be, sister," in
terrupted Laurence. grayely, sit is our
duty TO keep all we have heard sacred,
as though entrusted TO us under The
seal of friendship. There is a poisoned
sting on the tongues OF gossips that in
flames every wound"
1hx-wL--Eg rs
Marian, Indignantly, "how could you
suppose for one moment that / would
gossip about anything which concerns
poor, dear FAM"
Nevertheless, when Miss Felicia
dropped in that evening, after the
storm, the dark allusion OF Miss Mari
an TO the trouble at Give Towers har-
rowad up her 'recollections TO such an
extent that she could talk of nothing
else.
She was compelled TO drop in at the
sewing society, on her way home. and
relieve her mind by a few moments
chat with several of the Oldest inhab-
itants. who shook their heads gravely.
and always thought Robert Give was
abiding something behind that SOL
emn face he wore.''
SYPHILIS strange coming. and strange
disappearance; Herbert's sudden de-
parture and prolonged absence-aIl
were brought forward to swell the tide
OF gossip that, before night. ran high
and Clark against the unhappy Gives.
Something was wrong at Give Tow
ers-something that kept its master a
gloomy misanthrope, in his secluded
study. and made its heir a homeless
wanderer In foreign lands. Something
was wrong. rumor whispered, darkly-
very wrong.