The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-12-15

pride, and the younger people were
Emerrdly discussing her fragrant bohea
and wafer biscuits.
.5 Mrs. Ills had so long held the do
nestle reins in her fathers house that
Fannie had nett her the ambition nor in
8clination to dispute her sway, and con-
tented herself with her own enviable
position as, pet, beauty, and spoiled
darling Of the household --a bright
winged butterfly too gay and joyous to
ever sink into q humble bee.
"a general exclamation greeted their
entrance into the oak -paneled dining
room. FISH 81 VIC %s. " q
Where in the world have you been ~
said Fannie. Il thought Herbert had
run of with you in good earnest. Why,
child, you're as cold as ice, and every
bit Of stiffness is out Of. that lovely
grenadine; and the deWs are so heavy
here, and men never have. bit of
sense! The idea Of that boy dragging
4 you round to see views at this hour of
the night, without even a scarf or a
shawl! And oh, dear, forgot to tell
you, Herbert! Papa will be home to-
night. We got a letter by the evening
mail, and the dear old darling is coming
by the next train. .And-good gracious!
where did put it?-there was a letter
for you, too, Sybil. Such a queer hand
writing. !: What did L do with it? Oh,
here it. is, under your plate. Did any
one ever see such a criss-cross Miss
Sybils Wraye?' I do declare, the girl
has regular ag,le! Why, you're trem
bling like a leaf. Sybil, sit down, and
swallow this cup of hot tea right
away" m, ;. II ,.'>.s 49,. "a
II am a little cold,' said Sybil, sink
ing into the nearest chair, and crush
ing the unread letter into her bosom.
"Therejis such a sudden change when-
when the sun goes down.
E':Herbert ought to have known that,
if you didn't" said Fan; mischievously
delighted at having an opportunity to
retaliate upon her brother for his many
fraternal& lectures. But men are so
needless, that they never take time tc
think. wouldn't be at all surprised il
you had contracted a chill tonight that
would lead to something serious.
These river nlists are dreadfully dan
gerous. Take another cup of tea, dear:
and Mrs. Wyllis, do have a fire lighted
in SYPHILIS room. She must go right t.
bed"
Sybil gladly accepted any excuse that
would lead to her retirement from th;:,
merry group, mid which she felt so
sadly out Of place.
Her room was in the west wing Of the
Towers, and, with it's low ceiling and
dark wainscoting, would have seemed
gloomy but for the bright carpet and
the handsome curtains that screened
the deep-set windows and draped the
high, old-fashioned bed.
A cheerful wood fire already blazed
and cracked on the broad hearth, and
there was quaint air of comfort abou.
the room that the more modern ant,
stylish part of the Towers could not
rival.
1t was one of SYPHILIS preferences to
sleep alone. ana Fannie, affectionately
mindful Of this popularity, had moi
claimed her conpanionship.
But this evening the young mistress
Of Give Towers had determined upon
seeing her charge safely to bed so she
settled herself, meanwhile. Tor a socia.
chat d. s.%~ -
Aren't you dreadfully lonely in here.
Sybl?' she said. sinking into one of the
huge cushioned chairs by the fire, while
her friend brushed cut her long Fair be-
fore the old-fashioned mirror set in the
wall. Dear me, wouldn't sleep alone
in this room for million douars"' 81
'Why not?' asked Sybil, with her
wan smile. 1T seems to me exceeding
ly comfortable" #.<-
"Oh, yes, it's comfortable enough"
answered Fan, with a shrug of her
pretty shoulders; ''but this part Of the
house is as old as the hills, and-they
say it's haunted. An old great-uncle of
ours died here ages ago. That's his
picture hanging over the mantle. I'm
sure he looks cross and ugly enough to
haunt any one. Papa can't bear to
hear these nonsensical tales; but the
old country people round will talk, and
they say Uncle Basil perambulates the
house yet. He was a regular buga boo
to Herbert and myself when we were
children. Our nurse used to spin such
dreadful yarns, of which he was al
ways the hero, and Herbert got so des-
perate one day that he made an attack
upon the picture, and had nearly poked
out the old gentleman's- left eye, when
papa entered and angrily forbade any
further ghost stories." -
Sybil turned from the glass and cast
a swift glance at the dark portrait
over the mantle. J.;
''That was your uncle Bisil, then"
she said, in a low voice, 'He has a
hard face-a hard. pitiless face"
"He was a hard old fellow" said
Fannie, lightly. - He lived. here in this
old hall for years and years, boarding
up thousands upon thousands. Nurse
used to tell us that people were actual
ly afraid to come by the house at night,
it was always so dark and gloomy.
But papa soon changed all that,
.'sYour father was-his uncle's heir,
then?' and the soft cloud Of golden
hair. yelled Sybil's face as she spoke.
"Then he had no children?''
ooh, dear, goodness gracious, no."
answered Fannie, emphatically il '''.He
was a regular sour, surly old bachelor.
He hated women, and wouldn't even
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