Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-04-04
: Into Deep Walters


COMMITTING struck the vicar in his
- daughters appearance that day
He was grim man, and generally he
remarked little that did not concern
his work. Her eyes sparkled anc
she was full of some mystery. He
was reminded of her childish days
when she used to prepare "surprises,'
and he thought as he looked at he,
that after all she was not much
changed by frightening of frocks an6
twisting her hair up.
Then he retreated once more into
himself.
She had no remarkable beauty from
any classical point of view. He1
features were not regular, and an
analysis of her claim to even pretti
ness would have shown it to be slen.
der. YetS7byl North was pretty, and she
had that nameless charm that is more
potent than perfection. Her mouth
was good and so were her teeth, and
as she was always laughing you saw
them well and knew how white and
even they were. Her eyes were not
large, nor was their color any way
noticeable, but they danced with mis-.
chief and merriment. Her hair was
brown and curly. It was long, too
and she was'very proud of it.
She had the happy temperament
that is not rufled by the thousand
and one small worries of life. She
was not spared any of these, I sup
pose, but she rode buoyantly over
them like craft so light that the
waves carry it safely above the rocks
against which heavier vessel would
be broken. She was splendidly healthy,
and this perhaps made it easy to be
ight-hearted.
Mr.. North was a widower with a
family of six, of whom Sibyl was the
eldest. She kept house for him, and
she helped the governess with the
children's lessons. She played cricket
with the boys in the field behind the
house on the holidays. She mended
stockings, she patched youthful
knees, she knitted and she read to her
father. She had always a lap or
bosom to be cried on by the ive-year-
old boy or the six-year-old sister, and
she could comfort either and turn
their tears into smiles. She packed for
the brothers when they went to
school, and she hid a cake somewhere
among their clothes to cheer their
homesickness.
Mr.. North was a silent man, who
had given himself up to books. He
was short in his manner, and his chill
dren regarded him with ave.. Sibyl
was looked upon as mediator, but me-
diation was little necessary, since all
authority was vested in herself and
the governess. To Sibyl only did he
show the warmer side of his nature.
He liked to have her with him. He
put into her willing hands much that
was precious tedious, too-of his
work, and she copied for him and
made copious extracts. He seldom
praised her in words. It was not his
way.
II should like picture of you," he
said one day suddenly.
Sibyl looked up in surprise.
"A picture, father?"
He was silent for a few moments.
swell, photograph" he said, pres
emily, and speaking slowly. Gas a
family this has been neglected. Your
mother died, and I have no likeness
of her."
He said nothing more and the sub
ject was dropped. Sibyl went on with
her work of correcting proofs. A
smile curved the corners of her mouth
and her eyes twinkled. Her thoughts
wandered.
From the study window she could
see the waves beating on the shore.
The vicarage stood on the Cornish
coast. It was on the outskirts of a
fishing village and four miles from a
town. The smell of the sea and the
taste of brine were in the air when
presently Sibyl put down her work
and went out.
William North opened the window
and looked after her. He, too, noticed
the smell of the sea. The air seemed
full of spray, and the waves broke
themselves on the shore with insist
ence. It was on the next day that
Sibyl wore an air of mystery. Mr..
North's birthday was approaching
and, the children were getting up a
play. Instinctively he connected with
this her sparkling eyes, that seemed
Of themselves to be chuckling over
something, and a mysterious visit to
the town. He remembered : after
ward her look upon that. day.
The play progressed. William North
unbent somewhat and quizzed the
children as to the surprise they were
getting up for him. "
''But Sibyrs got a real SURPRISE -
said Mabey, the youngest girl, blurt-
ing out in an excess of affectionate
confidence part of the secret of her
sister. -. f.
Hush z said Sibyl. ia
you little blab," cried the boys, lone
can't tell you anything szsa
''The mysterious visit to the town."
said Mr.. North. ..s 4.
BE quiet, father, you're not to
know" said Sibyl. Mabey, told you
not to sey . word about it. Z !.