The Bowbells tribune., 1900-05-04
lg, thoughtless girl of the dangers

CnaC surrounded ner nappy nome
How could she speak without compro-
missing her fathers safety, her faith
er's and RiZpah' ?-those two desper.
ate. maddencd beings, leagued together
against the innocent and unconscious
children of Robert Give?
II don't think it is very safe to walk
in these woods alone," Sybil added. II
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. "Ev'
erybody knows papa, and almost ev-
erybody fears him. Wherever else they
may go, you may be sure the 1awless
characters will keep clear of the Give
place. Papa is a regular bugbear to all
the thieves and tramps in the neighbor-
hood"
"But-but''- 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. II 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''-Sybil's voice
sank to a thrilling whisper-'found
secret entrance to the very house. And
all the time this enemy, proud and pow
erful as your father, was unconscious
Of the danger that threatened him, ana
even more darkly threatened his. For
he had children, Fannie-noble, beautl-
ful children-and upon them had de-
scended the legacy Of hate and revenge
If was on these children this man had
sworn to visit the fathers crime; 1t
was the children who were doomed to
-to-Oh. heaven!'
Sybil stopped, shuddering all over
for the door had opened nolselessly'
and the blacll-robed figure OF MIS-. Wyl-
lis stood, a listener, upon the thresn-
old.
"Miss Fannie" she purred softly, as
the two young people started at sight
of her. 'your lamp has burned SO low
that fear it is dangerous. II you nave
no objection, I will leave candle IN lts
place. There have been so many dread
full accidents of late that one cannot be
too careful'-her sleepy eyes took one
Of their quick, stealthy surveys OF the
cannot be too careful.
"Oh. dear. what poky old thing
you are, Wyllis:' 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:
II wonder if papa has any enemles'
81 suppose he has, Miss Fannie" was
the quiet rejoinder. ''There are few
men like him who haven't"
'sDo you suppose that he-that my
ever have done any one
larm?" 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
loes not need harm. But why 90 you
ask?"
ooh. for no reason in particular an
;wered Fannie, evasively; 'tonly-only'
as the young lady contided to her own
pretty image in the mirror, few min
ties later-"Sybil did talk so very
queer. 1t sounded-it really sounded as
f she were telling that story about
papa"
"Has he an enemy?" repeated Mrs.
Wyllis, softly to herself, as she stole
along the carpeted hall, and
paused for moment to listen at Syb.
is door-'has he an enemy? Aye"
and her face lit up with a crafty
smile Of triumph that no mortal eye
lad ever seen upon it's placid features
-"he has one at his threshold, at his
at his very meal! An en-
emy that will not falter until she gains
her endr'