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

the shadow OF fear and terror over all.
She guided her horse with a listless,
| uncertain hand, she seemed to hear
without needing, Herbert's effort at
conversation; she answered absently
and at random. iHS@4s .@@@ .5, Il 4 s.
Panied and mortified, Herbert him
self grew moody and taciturn, and they
| had gone on for some moments in ST.
lence. when Sybil suddenly seemed to
| arouse herself by a painful effort and
said, in grave and earnest tone: ia5
| Il want to make request Of you, Mr..
| Clive-a strange request; one that YOU
will not understand, and thatI cannot
explain %%<>
$40 ask Of me is to obtain. Miss
Sybil, as you know" was the somewhat
| constrained reply. 81. 1T
| EMO: / do not know" she corrected,
| "for / am aware that my request will
seem an utterly unreasonable one. I
want you'-she gave one Of her fright
ened chances around her sshe spoke,
and lowered her voice almost to Whis-
per-"I want you to leave home, Mr..
Give; to go abroad, if possible, for an
indefinite tine.' H.
'"ro leave home?" echoed Herbert in
unconcealed surprise. 'To go abroa l.?
MY dear Miss Wraye, you are incom-
prehensible! +.
81 know it, she answered, in a de-
spairing tone. Il told you could not
explain. Yet, it's as Fannies friend I
speak; as-as"-her voice faltered, las
your friend. There is danger threaten
ger; and-and, until that danger is re-
| of IN HOY,
Herbert's face flushed.
danger threatening me here, in my
own home, and you would have me fee
from it. like a coward? My dear Miss
Wraye, you must have but a poor opin,
ion Of my manhood, Of my courage!'
''There are perilS against which man
hood. courage, all are vain," she an
swered. in voice thrilling with pain.
''There Is a danger which no hand,
however strong, can combat-dark, IN
known dangers, from which flight is
the only safety; and-and''-her soft
eyes fixed themselves upon him, full of
terrible meaning, ''Mr Give, it is such
danger that threatens you. Oh, for
your own sake, for the sake of all you
love. be warned in time! Fly, fly, be-
fore it is too later
But his face only set itself sternly
into the likeness of his father-into a
stranger and more forbidding likeness
still. that Of his great-uncle, Basil Give.
"You :forget that you speak to a man,
Miss Wraye:' he answered, proudly
Ito a man in whom obedience to such
a warning would be both weak and
cowardly. To fly from any danger is
womanly but to fly from an unknown
danger would be the basest pusillani-
nifty"
'Then you will not hear me-you will
not heed me?' she cried in a tone
whose Dathos went to Herbert's heart.
"Surely. surely, the curse of Cassandra
is mine!'
"Sybil,. sybil!' cried the young man,
throwing Off the mask Of Formally and
speaking in a moved voice, "for God's
sake have done with these mysteries!
What is this shadow under which youl
young life is whitening? What cloud is
it that hangs between you and the sun
shine of love and hope? For I know
. that no other love, no other tie, binds
your heart l know, darling-forgive
me If | hold the precious secret dropped
from your unconscious lips-I know the
first pure love Of that maiden heart is
all my own
~ gu know that-that-''
Oh the beautiful blush that stole like
a dawn over that pallid face, the light
that -trembled in those downcast eyes,
the culver Of those parted lips! For one
bright moment the spell was broken,
the statue lived, the woman breathed!
II know that you do care for me a
little. Sybil." was the happy answer.
'Tell me, darling is it not so? There is
no other love binding your heart? Only
one little word, Sybil-one little word
will lift the weight Of suspense from
my heart. Say that 1 have no rival,
Sybil-your hand and heart are free.
Darling, 1 can wait patiently. l will
not .harrass you with VOWS Of love if
you will only tell me that I have some
far-of hope Of winning you At last
Hope, hope? No. no, there is no
hope!' she answered, the life-light fad
ing from her face. But it is neither
love nor lover that stands between US,
Mr.. Give. You mistook my words
strangely if you thought so. l have nc
| thought Of other or other lover when |
tell you the barrier between us is one
we ne'er can cross. But-but"-
hesitated for a moment, and then she
went on. in clean, sweet and sorrow
! ful VClce-'lt 1t Will make you believe
me. trust me, listen to me more willing.
ly, 1 will speak to you as one dead
might speak from a far-off sphere, and
tell you that, but for the dark abyss
that yawns between us, I-I--might
have loved you, might have listened to
you. might have found earths sweetest
happiness at your side. 1t can never
be now-never, never, never! But for
the sake of what might have been, in
pity for the heart that you have wax
ened. only to make it suffer more keen
ly. listen to me-fy and save yourself
from dangers that I know, yet cannot
| AVERT!
II cannot listen to you, Sybil," he an
sWered ,gravely. II would brave death
willingly at your bidding, but I cannot
sacrifice my manhood. If danger threat.
ems those dear to me, must stay and
share it. And for your other words,
Sybil, there is a whispering hope in
them that I will hold through life and
death. AS long as no other tie, no 9TH
er love. stands between, you are mine,
mine! Mine, darling, despite your fears,
your tremors-despite your own little
timid self! Mine, though I wait for
years ere I can claim you. Mine, al
though a thousand shadowy perils