The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-01-12

in my own land: and when your faith
er was put. 10 my arms, flve-and-forty
Years q go--lll5 my arms, that were up-
lifted TO curse those who had torn nv
own baby from their clasp my heart,
that was full CT bitterness against ali
mankind, opened again to the white
faced babe. and I learned to love him,
even as my own flesh and blood! He
kept Rizpah from growing mad with
her grief; he drew the poison from
her bosom; and when she sang him to
sleep With the songs of her own race
she forgot her wrongs and again was
happy. And when he, too, was
Wrohged- they robbed my nurs-
ling OF his name and his birthright,
when his mother died Of a broken
heart IN my arms, and his father left
lin. beggared and desolate-then old
Rizpah's strong right arm stood be-
tween her boy and want, and the child
grew and thrived, wild and fierce, and
strong as those whom the she-Wolf
suckles and rears-grew up to- claim
and win his own. And he will win itv'
"Rizpah," said sybil, taking the
witEered old hand within her own
snowy palms, and speaking gently and
tenderly, II know what papa owes to
YOUR Noble devotion; / know what
likewise owe to it. But, oh, Rizpah,
think OF what his life has been! think
OF the long, weary, bitter years spent
in those fruitless efforts to gain his
own! think Of the manly prime wasted
IN wicked plans for revenge, Justice
call it what you will! think, Rizpah,
Of what peace, what happiness, what
safety, we have lost! and, oh, in pity
for your nursing, cease to urge him, by
your wild hopes and dark prophecies,
on the road to ruin! Let us fly from
here. all Of us; the air itself seems
heavy with danger Let us, fly from
here. Would to heaven I had never
come near this fated sDotr
You talk like your mother said
old Rizrah, scol'nfully, drawing, her
hand from SYPHILIS grasp-''like your
mother; whose blood ran cold and
weak Ill her veins, and who was never
the lifting mate for my boy. She was
like the dove in the eagles nest, striv-
ing ever to keep him always quiet At
trs' thought you had more of your
fathers bold spirit. I thought you had
learned from him how to- hate his foes:
thought that, with the serpent's cum
nlllS. you had stolen Into their house,
and l hoasted that one step was
gained. But you are no serpent, to
strike your fierce sting into the foot
that tramples you; you are the week
woman tt at will not turn, even when
crushed. Go! RiZpah scorns your
The young gi:ls pale face flushed
slightly at the old woman's bitter tt
rade. But she glanced at the withered
face and it's haggard, half-wild ex-
preston made her patient again.
Sybil remembered the days when
this poor, old, half-crazed being had
been the strongest prop Of her fathers
fortune - the faithful, unwearying
nurse of her dying mother-the watch
full guardian of her own childish
sports-servant, friend, fierce, out
now. lettering on the verge of the
grave, homeless and friendless, be-
cause he whom she had served so long
and faithfully had neither home nor
friends, it was little wonder that poor
old Rizpahs failing mind fixed itself
with fierce tenacity upon the wild
Jones she bad eneonra ged for 50 many
years. and that she strove to strength
en- her failing powers by recurring to
the dark superstition Of her youth.
Il am neither the serpent nor the
worm. Rizpah," Sybil said, with a
good-Lumored smile. II came to Give
Towers much against my will, and
only because a lovely, innocent girl,
who has surely never harmed me or
mine. asked me to come as her guest.
Her guest! their guest" repeated
old RiZpah, bitterly. ''You, who
should be mistress there. seated at
their table and breaking their BREAD!
Child. child. it is wonder you did not
strangle at the first mouthful- 1t is a
wonder their wine and water did not
poison your blood! There is no hate
like kindred hate. even as there is no
love like kindred love-. All, if you had
been a boy! But your poor, weak
mother could only give life to a pulling
girlr'
"Would to heaven I had died when
she did, said Sybil, clasping her hands
passiona tely; 'for live an accursed
life. Swallowed by danger; darkened
and embittered by hatred and revenge.
There is 10 light for me, no beauty,
no''-oh. the thrilling pathos, the heart
break of the words-'sno hope!
AYE, there is hope!' said old Riz-
path, catching the last word-'there
| is hope, child. Have 1 not told you the
stars have said it? Aye, there is hope
| for you. Listen to mel" She bent her
| withered face close to Sybil, while the
cunning CLEAN of madness lit her deep
set eyes. "For three years have lived
| in this spot alone. and often well-nigh
starving. For what, Ell? For what?
Look here''-the old woman took Sybil
Inv the hand and led her to the back of
the hut. where, lifting one of the skins,
she disclosed the dark, narrow opening
Of the cave. through which came a
cold. damp draught of air-"look here
These feeble steps have tracked that
cave through all it's windings, and it
leads-ha, la! where, think YOU, it
! leads? To the wine vaults that I'M
derlie the proud towers of the rohber
Give! Let them close their gates and
bar their doors against the rightfu]
heir as they will, but his daughter sits
| at their fireside and his foster-nothe1
watches them like the fox in his b,l,:
I row. with this in her breast!' and Riz
/ pah flashed the blade of a small, kee.
4 dagger before SybiPs affrighted eyes