The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-02-09
| II Ter / ieart's
By JEAN WARNER. .

| or nVe-and-forty years to the old man s
deepest heart. "Ah, papa, yes, we can
trust him. He means us no harm"
| mo harm can touch me while you
are safe, my treasure-my darling-my
own loved child!' was the deep-toned
.murmur that reached the doctors ears,
''Only live, my darling! Live for your
wretched fathers sake-liye to bless
| his blighted life with your >love-and-
| he-he-aye, darling, this night has
! taught him a fearful lesson-he will
strive to live only for your love-you1
| happiness. We will go away, far from
| this cursed spot. We will go away to
another land, and live only for each
| otherr'
"Only for each otherr' she echoed,
clasping his hand to her breast, with a
wan smile. ''Take me away-far, far
away-papa, where we can live only
TO, each other!' ~.
my darling-my ownv' whispered
her father, forgetful Of all things save
| his rapture and his remorse. ooh, for
! give me, Sybil! Alas, my madness had
Well-nlgh blighted my one sweet flow
er forever! My reckless hand had
Well-nigh crushed what would gladly
have died to save! Sybil, Sybil, say
you forgive me!'
Very clear and solemn came the an
sWer. how full Of meaning the doctor
only vaguely guessed:
Il forgive you, my dear papa. All
that-that Las hurt me so much, for
give you
Alas. alas gravely and sadly in
deed. might Sybil speak that pardon.
)GC.nnp
see was tile wound in that gentle
breast.
The snowy flesh might heal, the rude
scar close. and all seem well again;
but Within-deep Within-the woman's
heart would bleed forever and forever,
from a wound that only One could
pity, One touch could heal.
The gray twilight was slowly flush
ing into dawn when the doctor left the
Witches Cave. Sybil was sleeping
sWeetly now, and during her slumber
her father had opened his softened
heart. to the friend who had come to
him as friend in the hour Of his
greatest need.
Dr. Bond knew all now, and that
knowledge had only given him feelings
OF warm, almost tender, sympathy for
the reckless. hayward man, whom
Fate and Providence had thrown. so
strangely in his way
He had attempted at first, by friend
ly argument, to combat opinions and
pre1Udlces that he knew were unreas-
enable; but he found this impetuous
belrg had been too long the sport of
his own fierce passions to lend an ear
TO reason or Judgment. now 90 -'
III nave to go aWay-as far away rs
possible-was Basil Gives answer t.
every argument. II could not trust
myself here. The fiend of hate and re-
venge and hate is too strong within
me. The place is hers, sir-hers by
birth, hers by justice, hers by law, if
we could only get the proof-the proof
that firmly believe Robert Give holds
IN his robber grasp. Give Towers be-
longs OF right to my child!'
The doctor listened gravely. At six
ty we do not readily open our hearts
either to faith or hope.
Syphilis Sybil-the mother of this
mar who stood beside him? Sybil Lee
the wife of Basil Give? The deserted.
neglected-nay, disowned wife? How
his blood boiled at the thought of her
children wandering nameless and
friendless; hiding like criminals in
their fathers land: burying themselves
IN the caverns of the earth. maddeneu
by wrongs and desperate from Unjust
ice!
In the secret depths of his heart the
doctor felt that the claim Of Basil
Give might be, just. He had never
liked the master of Give Towers; there
had always been an inexplicable bar
rier between them, which it seemed as
IT neither cared to cross. For years
and wears Robert Give had faced the
world. cased in the impenetrable arm
OF of universal distrust
II this story be true-as it must be
true. for the fierce, passionate words
OF Basil Give left no room for doubt
If this story were indeed true, ana
Sybils child the rightful owner of
Give Towers. should not he, the friend
and lover of old. uphold that child's
claim, in spite of all the world?
Aye. he would, he must! But mean
while. there was no proof-no proof.
Robert Give, proud. strApg and
naughty, stood in a pcsitfon%hat none
| could assail-his uncle's rightful and
| acknowledged heir. They could only
watch and wait.
1t would be wiser aud better far that
this hot-headed. impetuous Basil were
leagues away.
Il think you arc right" answered the
doctor. as he grasped the hand of Syb.
| lis son. and looked into his dark flash
ing eyes with patcrnal kindness, sighe,
to think how different both lives might
have been if this rash, misguided be-
ing had been his child !. It is better
that YOU should go away with Sybil as
soon as she is able to be moved, which
| will not be under fortnight. It will
be better for her, better for you, better
for everyone. Meanwhile remember
| that you lea~e a friend behind you who
who for many reasons has your in
terests truly at heart-a friend who,
like the warder of some stormy coast,
| is watching for the turn Of the tide.
| And if Won need means-that little girl
has stolen her way into heart that |
thought sealed forever-if, for her sake
| YOU would accept Ri .fas.ss. s*
mo. nor answered Basil, quickly
| no help. Thank you very much, sir
very much! / have money in plenty,
to go or stay where I will I only ask
| YOU to keep my secret. to let me get her
! away from this cursed spot in peace!''
tsBuf tleE-they family at the Tow