The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-01-12
CHAPTER XII.
I'm O. Dream.


Ee-entered the house after his inter
view with DR.. Bond. ':She is sleeping
80 quietly and sweetly now" am sure
ahe will be better when she awakens
nave darkened the rooms as the doc.
coT told me and left her alone. Oh,
brother. brothern' and Fannie clasDed
ner hands upon Herberts arm and
looked UP earnestly into his face,
weren't you frightened almost to
b death? 1 was. I thought that angel
girl was dying, sure enough!'
"You are very easily frightened,
GEAR" said Herbert, lightly. II have
seen ladies faint before
"You need not pretend to be so phil
Gsoprical.' said Fannie, archly. II saw
your face, sir, and you were as white
as a sheet. Come, BERTHE, tell me the
truth. I'll be the most trustworthy of
eonfdants. Don't you love her wee
little bit? Good gracious, If the boy
isn't blushing like June rose! All,
I've caught you, and I'm so glad, Bert
se-so very, very glad!'
"Glad! Of what?' asked Herbert,
bitterly. THAT your brother has been
fool? Evidently, your friend has not
made you her conidant, Or YOU would
know that her heart and hand are al
Geady engaged
Engaged? Sybil engaged exclaimed
FaEnie, with an expression of I'M
feigned dismay. "Why, BROTHER you
must be dreaming. Sybil doesn't care
fig for any man in the world-or did
Gaot a month ago. I've heard her say
80 dozen times. When all the other
girls used to be whispering of their
beaux and lovers, she would never say
- nr1x hot 80 !,
would curl disdainfully And she told
me with her own lips, just before
school broke uD, that she had never
given love or marriage a thought in
alcr life
an such matters, can a young lady's
word be always depended on?" asked
Herbert, cynically. Il believe little
"eauivocation is considered pardonable
Miss Wraye told me, only last even
ing, that she was engaged toto anoth-
err
~ can't believe it! I don't believe
ft!'' said Fannie, excitedly. "You must
have misunderstood her, brother You
don't know Sybil as do. She is the
'soul Of truth. And she told me-in one
% OF those rare moments-for it is very
seldom that Sybil opens her heart
she told me that her life had been too
fuN Of sorrow and darkness for the
= dreams and hopes Of g1irrtln06ed to -r1rlfu u
place in it. And then she added, with
her sad. sweet smile, that she had new
er given a thought to love or marriage
In her life. I remember it 50 clearly"
concluded Fannie, clinching the matter
with girlish decision, ''for Helen Lee
had been married that day, and every
body was raving about her diamonds
and her laces, and she had sent Mad
am Fleury great piece of the wedding
cake to cut for supper, that was SO
gfch it made us all SICK
"And this was just before your school
broke up-just before she came here"
said Herbert, eagerly.
1.-TWO days later" answered Fannie,
positively. II can't be mistaken, for
have Helen Lees cards for the Goth Of
June. And so I'm quite sure" added
looked roguishly up into her brothers
face, 'that if she had fallen in love, it
has been since her coming here
A light stole over Herbert's face as
Inc gazed affectionately at his sisterly
comforter. A momentary ray Of hope
seemed TO break through the dull. gray
cloud that had settled upon his life.
Might he not. indeed, have mis1lnder-
estocGl Sybils broken, incoherent words
Was not her calm confidence to Fan
.nfe more to be relied upon than her
ttmid. nervous refusal of last night
Gould he hope still-hope that in some
-Gar-off, shadowy future, Sybil might
learn to love?
Fannie he said, after moment
suayse, II would not intrude, dear up.
ON the sacred confidence Of friend in
friend. But If it be not betrayal OF
ouch confidence. can you tell me aught
OF Miss Wraye's friends-of her home;
Z do not ask from idle curiosity, but
from an earnest and friendly interest
Father, very naturally, has questioned
sne regarding your intimacy with Miss
Wraye. and when and how it was
&ermed. being, in q great measure
Do aLaQ aouSsa1d IoQ IoJ oIq!suotbso.
..ls7n5 .1noA
'Papa is so queer and poly abou
come things" pouted Fannie. "In
sure Sybil is as good, and a great dea
better than 1 am. if her father isn't az
gich and grand 49,.
"Her, father? Then she has father
Mving?' said Herbert, quickly.
49, "T don't know; I suppose So sale
hOi1W Sic "CdAi
o. locket. with his hair in it-bu era
cious knows whether he is dead o
,aIive. Sybil is so queer she neve
sspeaks Of herself or her relatives, ant
am sure it was none Of my bushes
IN inquire what she didn't choose t
Il ts.Il'' IL a=
A.1And she never spoke to you of he
nome, her friendsY' said Herbert, in =
disappointed tone ...s. = .s=#. s +
~ don't think she ever did," sal
Fannie. refectively. II always far
cled she had lived in the country some
where. she knew so much about tree
and plants, and could teach Mada1
WNEessry more about botany than tbs
/ old frix-pate ever knew herself. Some
now. brother. I don't think the dea
girls home is a very happy or pleas
ant one. and / hope''-Fannie smile
saas again into Herbert's FACET hop
VI won't be very long before some mic
{ How offers her another. 5sl
And with this somewhat unsatisfac
DsasS conclusion, Fannie fitted away