The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-01-05
Or, UNDER A SPELL.
BY JEAN WARNER.

charm about that pure, sweet face,
that made it stand out purer and fair
er from the very shadows that sur
rounded it?
And an artist, should he paint her,
He would paint her unaware, ~ .:=
With halo round her hair"
1t was with something Of g. poets
feellng that Herbert regarded Sybil.
Though she was far removed from him
forever, though another claimed her
heart and hand. even the pangs Of
hopeless love and hopeless loss could
not dim in his memory her beautiful
image. She would always be his ideal
OF all that was lovely and pure in wo-
manhood-an ideal that from affair he
might worship, though her could never
hope to win. ..-
His heart was sore this morning
sore with the wound Of q first disaD-
Dointmcnt. All the other pain seemed
lost IN the thought that Sybil was re-
moved from him forever. He had no
right to defend or protect her. She be-
longed to another-was pledged to an
other: to One-the words seemed
branded into his very soul-to one
whom she loved, honored and must
obey.
Poor child! perhaps it was peril to
this loved one that overhung her young
life like q darksome cloud; perhaps it
was grief at separation; perhaps for
tune froWned upon a too ambitious
love, or perhaps friends forbade a hap
py union.
The pain in his own heart made Her
bert generously sympathetic with Syb-
lis anguish. Love must ever be mer-
ciful to love.
He passed into the library He had
always, since his return from college,
had his own desk and chair there. The
mornings mail had been brought in,
and his letters were awaiting his PC
rusal.
There were several from old chums-
one ON delicately-tinted paper, from
a pretty cousin, begging epistle, and
then a rude envelope, addressed in a
cramped, almost illegible hand, to
Herbert Give"
He opened it with some surprise, and
read the following lines
Sir am not one to strike in the
dark. and so send you this to warn
you that a desperate being, who fears
neither God nor man, has taken the
law into his own hands and is deter
mined upon justice. Beware Of me,
for I have determined upon my rights
at any cost-at any cost!
Basil Give"
Basil Oliver repeated Herbert, won
deringly. And VIII othe dickens is
Basil Give? The only one I ever heard
OF died five-and-twenty years ago. 1t
can't be that Fannie's dream is so
quickly realized, and the grim old gen.
ten an UP stairs has really stepped
down from his canvas into life? Faith
err and Herbert looked up to his pa
rent. who at that moment entered the
room. Il have received a very singu-
lar letter from person who signs him
self 'Basil Clive''
"Ah!' Mr.. Give bent over his let
tiers for a moment, perhaps to conceal
the gray pallor that crept over his stern
face. There is a desperate sort Of
character who goes by that name, and
has endeavcre1 several times to claim
relationship with us; but he is an i'm
poster. whose pretensions it is much
better not to notice. Let me Sc his let
ter"
Herbert handed it to his father, who
glanced over it quickly, then tore it into
shreds and flung it into the waste
basket.
"All bombaSt!' he muttered. '"The
Door fool has been mad on this subject
for wears and years.
"Strange | never heard of him." said
Herbert
II preferred that you should neither
hear nor speak of him. continued Mr..
Give. with that darkening Of his brow
that his daughter dislked so much.
"He is nothing to us. He is low
born. low-bred ruffian! And if he or
his should ever attempt to cross my
threshold. would spurn them from it
like the dogs they are!'
1t was a rare thing for the polished
Mr.. Give to use such rude and forcible
language, and Herbert looked up at
his father in mute surprise.
But a fairer picture than he had ex-
pected to see met his gaze.
Just on the threshold Of the library
stood his sister her beautiful face
! bright with dimn'ing smiles, and one
white arm thrown around the slight,
sylph-like form of Sybil, who, with her
rflle .9elicafe features and floating
hair. formed such a graceful CONTRAST
to Fannies blooming loneliness.
"Here she is. .papar' cried the petted
darling Of the household. ~ made her
eat some breakfast, ands he feels ever
! so much better. Syhil, this is the dear,
darling old duck Of father that l
have told you so much about; and,
papa, this is the dearest friend I have
in the whole world-Sybil Wraye."
Courteous gentleman that he was,
Mr.. Give. senior. was obliged to rise
and acknowledge so naive an introduce
ton. o.
II am happy to meet my little daugh-
ters FRIEND" he said, stepping forward
and holding out his hand to the girl,
whose delicate beauty at once disarmed
even paternal criticism.
But the Clark froWn still fingered
| around his broWs. and Sybil. CHANGING
into that stern naughty countenance.
| Da1ed and shuddered. and. ere he could
touch her had, fell fainting at Robert
Gives feet.
| CHAPTER x.
Doctor Bond.