North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-09-21


dressed her with more than usual tenderness
Why did the young girls heart throb so
wildly when her Gus in pressed fraternal
kiss upon her brow2 Why did she watch
SO anxiously for his return, when he left her
for few hours and why did her little
he nd tremble and futter SO when he clasped
it within his, and called her his own dear
Alice.
1T was because Alice loved. Yes, with all
the truth and fervor of a first affection she
loved her cousin Henry. He was everyth ing
to her. Was she sad. her cousin alone had
power to cheer her droopiag spirits, and,
with single kind word spoken, in his OWN
soothing tones, he could bring a smile into
the pale cheek of the gentle girl. Was she
| i'll, he was ever beside her, and while she
lay languidy upon her couch he read aloud
| from her favorite authors.
| "Clcaveland knew full we'll that he was
regarded with affection by his cousin, but
never for a moment did he deem that her at
tschment to him could be other than a de-
voted sisterly love. He dreamed not that
the fair young being loved him with an affec
ton that naught but death could chill he
knew not that every tender word he uttered
sank far into the inuermost depths of hea
heart no, for had the knowledge been his.
my tale Tould not have been a mournful
one.
| Henry Cleaveiand wonld have deemed it
PROCLAMATION to think Of Alice with other than
brotherly attachment, and thinking thus
restrained not his affections, and when his
eyes rested upon the beautiful Ida Lisle. he
felt that he had found one whom It would
not be wrong to love,
"Poor Alice ! from the moment Ida be
came resident of her fathers mansion her
doom was sealed Yet she was utterly un-
conscious that any change had taken place,
and for many months she lived on, apparent
ly secure in her cousins affection.
"From early childhood, Ida Lisle had been
the most intimate friend of Alice Cleaveland
and rather than give the latter one moments
pain she would have sacrificed everything,
even the love Of Henry Cleaveland. But she
imagined not the state of Alce's heart, and
with her ignorance of this, she allowed her
self to love when love was, alas to be the
harbinger of death TO her young and trusting
friend.
"Ore morning, Alice, feeling better than
usual, went out to walk. She was gone for
long time, aud returned worn out and i'll.
for she had overrated her strength. Hastily
she threw herself upon sofa in the parlor,
acute and distressing pains shooting through
her frame, and frequently causing her to close
her ey es with agony.
"Ida hastered towards her, and bent sor
rowfuly over her friend, and as she gazed
upon the paid face of the sufferer, the burn
ing tears streamed rapidly from her eyes.
| The gentle Invalid observed them, and ten
derly pressing the hand she held in her own,
she murmured
"Weep not for me, dearest Ida; do not
mourn thus. If it be the will of tho Great
One that suffer, I may not repine-I will
try to bear it ALL"
But o, Alice" replied her weeping com
panion, chow can behold, unmoved, your
delicate limbs racked with these dreadful
pains o, that could take them upon my
self, sweet Alice Gladly, willingly. would
bear them, to afford you one moments re
lief"
L know it, my own Ida" said Alice, te
derly "yoa would lay down yonr life for my
sake, would you not ?' .
At that moment foot-step was heard
approaching, and Henry Cleveland entered.
! What, Alice ill ! he exclaimed, advanc-
ing to her side how came this sweet cous
/ in 2"
i 1t is nothing" she replied, while smile
of wei come appeared upon her face in the
midst of all her sufferings 1t is only
one of my old attacks, l shall soon be we'll
again."
"Just then Cleveland's eye rested upon
Ida, as she stood mournfuIly beside, Alice,
her dark eye so ftened with recent weeping.
A thousand tender emotions came pressing
upon his heart, and he felt that he loved Ida
Lisle far better than any other that the
world contained. Long and earnestly did
he gaze upon that fair face, observing not
the death-like paleness that overspread the
countenance of his young cousin.
A strange feeling, such as she had never
before experienced, crept over the heart of
Alice Cleveland. A forebodng, a chill, such
as she had never known till then, seemed to
paralyze her frame her head swan, her
brain became confused, and in an instant she
lay pefore her sousin aud friend cold and ad-
parently dead.
"Alice, Alice - shrieked Ida, raising the
dropping form in her arms, "dear Alice, look
up and speak to your Ida. 0, Henry, she is
so very cold. o, save her-cal assistance,
she must not die,n