The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-01-26
:marA.


me this morning, and you shall have q
| new silver bit This ugly curb hurts
my beauty's mouth. There, there! as
the animal began to snort and culver,
whats the matter? What do you see !?
There is nothing here to harm YOU, Ter
ry. Why, Terry
But Fannie's soothing tone broke off
suddenly in a cry of alarm, as she. too.
caught sight Of the object that had ter
rified her mare. ~ )
just beside her the heavy under
growth had parted suddenly, and a
weird, ghostly figure appeared, as if
emerging from the earth-a shriveled,
palsied old woman whose still erect
form and flashing eyes seemed in I'M
natural contrast to her trembling limbs
and WlZened features-a woman whose
fierce gaze was fixed upon the young
rider with such malignant hate that
even thoughtless Fanny was quick to
recognize and shrink from it appalled,.
$50 you are riding out, my fine young
lady?" :mutnbled the old ~crone, show
ing her toothless gums in hideous
riding out this beautiful morn
ing. Maybe you'd cross my hand with
| a silver siXpence, and let the old woz
man tell you your fortune 1t ought to
be rare one, with such a face and
form as yours. Gross my hand, pretty
lady. and let the old woman read your
fortune!'
Fannie glanced around her quickly;
Fenton was not yet in sight; Sybirs
warning REQUIRED to her mind, and
made her cold with fear; the old wo-
mans glittering eyes, fixed full upon
her. seemed to read her very soul.
She advanced step, and placed her
| skinny, yellow hand upon Terry's bri-
| die. while she still kept her uncanny
gaze upon Fannie's frightened face.
"Your fine soldier gentleman has
missed his way" she said, with ma
| licious leer. ~ saw him galloping down
| the river lane fv eminutes ago. What!
| are you afraid? Afraid! The daughter
Of the proud. naughty master Of Give
Towers. afraid Of an old woman like
me? Ha, ha, ha! Why, your father
would have poor Rizpah's carcass
thrown to the dogs, if she dared to lay
finger on you. I know him, you see.
Ha. ha" There was something fearful
| in the old crone's discordant laugh
eyes, yes, know him WE'LL"
''Then you know he would never
harm the old and weak" answered the
young girl, with dignity.
For. with all her childishness,, there
was a proud, noble spirit within Fan
| ME Gives breast.
"Never harm the old and weak?' re-
peated the old woman, bitterly-'he
would never harm the old and weak -?
Try him, my beautiful lady. Tell him
that old Rizpah is in his power, and see
what he will do. Ha, ha! Why, he
would grind me into power! He would
crush these palsied bones one by one
There would not be a hair of this aged
head left, if Robert Give had his
naughty way"
Fannie trembled at the old creature S
| words. She was mad, evidently None
but a mad woman could talk talk thus
wildly of her papa. And, oh, how quiet
and lonely the place was! Fenton
must have lost his way She must hui
NOR this, poor creature; she must try
and get away from her quietly, for
those fierce, eager eyes warned Fannie
that old Rizpah would be dangerous if
| enraged
Tell nv fortune for me, won't you?"
she said, drawing off her pretty gaunt-
let, and placing silver piece in the old
Womans withered hand 81 have never
had it told vet, so be sure you make i,
a true one"
With trembling eagerness the old wo-
man clutched the girls snowy hand.
Il will make it true enough never
fear-true enough! Ha ha! Old Riz
pah will make it true enough!'
And still holding the little hand in a
grasp that was almost painful, she be-
gan to humble and mutter over it's del
icate lines, as if repeating some evil in
cantation.
Fannie's terror was for a moment
conquered by the fascination all young
minds feel in such efforts to unvel the
! unknown.
Surely. she. whose present was so
bright and full of promise, had only
dazzling hope and happy love to look
forward to in the future
With a blush and a smile, this dar-
ling Of fortune lifted the veil of Fate.
"Well. mother, what do you see?' she
asked. gaily.
'aWhat do 1 see?' repeated Rizpah,
slowly lifting her fierce, malignant gaze
to the young girls face. docs the
daughter of Robert Give, the spoiler,
the usurper, ask what I see? Listen,
them she said, sinking her voice to a
low. threatening whisper, that sounded
" lue teli lieu II duu1G> like LIE Mss OF u
I reptile before it launches it's deadly
sting. II see only poverty, ruin, dis
grace. i see. a broken home and a
blackened name. l see a false lover, a
false friend, false servant. I see a
darkened life and broken heart. It is
enough. Ha, ha!' Rizpah's wild laugh
of triumph echoed through the woods
"Enough-aye, enough even for the fair
young daughter of Robert Give! Not
l. but the stars Lave said it. 1t is
enough-it is enough!'
"Fenton! Fenton!' shrieked Fannie,
as that young gentleman's horse at
length appeared through the trees. 90,
Fenton. come-come quick to me!'
Call him!' said old Rizpah, with her
malignant laugh-"aye call your fine
lover to your side. He cannot change
the fates-he cannot change the future
Call him now! Ha ha! the day will
come when you will call him in vain!"
''She is mad she is mad" exclaimed
Fannie whose lovely face was ashen
with terror. "Do not harm her Fenton;
the poor creature is mad!'
''What has she said? I'll break every
bone in her wretched old body!", said
the young man fercely. "You cursed
old bag how have you frightened this