The Cecil Whig., 1871-04-01

entirely to Marion's knowledge, and when
we had travelled some distance over the
hills, was rather surprised that she sud-
denly came to a stand-still.
"Why, where can the gate be ?" she said
in a puzzled voice.
"What gate?' asked.
"The gate" she said; "there ought to
be one here. Don't you remember passing
through it as we cameo
eyes l remember" l said.
"Oh Sara, Sara," walled my cousin,
"we have lost the wayr' and she began to
cry.
did not cry but was completely over
whelmed with dismay.
"Don't cry, Marion," said looking at
the dim outlines of the ridges through the
darkness.
eff we have lost the way we must find
it again.
We trudged resolutely on, ankle deep in
snow, and, after half an hours wandering
in various directions, we once more stood
still. Marion's tears were still flowing.
"Oh Sara," she said, "we shall be frozen
to death and it is my fault. What shall
we do?'
l tried to soothe the timid girl, but my
teeth were chattering woefully, and l felt
the tears freeze on my cheeks.
How long we passed weeping and wan
dering l know not; but, after a time, there
came upon us a feeling of numbness and
deadly faintness. | have often read and
been told how fatal it is when persons thus
situated yield to this feeling,-yet l was
powerless to resist it; and almost simulta-
ncously my cousin and sank together.
said few words of prayer to myself, and
then a confused ringing sounded in my ears,
mingled with the loud barking of a dog,
and the shouting Of mems voices, one of
whom knew.
"Here they are! Hurrah! Thank
Heaven! Hurrah. We are not too late"
l saw the flash of a lantern in my eyes,
then 1 was lifted in pair of strong arms,
aud borne swiftly along.
is it Sara?" said a voice close to my
ear; and l answered, in a faint whisper,
eyes"
Marion told me after that she had no
recollection of being found; but had not
entirely lost all consciousness myself
Guy and Captain Anesley, and two men
servants and the dogs, had found us. They
carried us some distance to the lodge, and
l,ar l,,,+ +lo
keepers wife, while the servants returned
to the Manor for a vehicle.
1t was nine o'clock when we were fairly
at home. Beyond a feeling of great weac-
iness that evening, we felt no ill effects
from our adventure.
The next morning every one turned out
for ride with the dogs, it being a beauti-
full day in spite of the thaw. l did not
want to go, SO hid myself in the library
with Nicholas Nickleby, and prepared for
long morning of quiet reading.
When one calculates on pleasure of
this sort, one seldom gets it. Soon after
was seated another truant walked in, in
the shape of Captain Anesly.
"How are you after your narrow escape
last night ?'' he said standing ON the rug
opposite me.
told him was pretty well, and thanked
him for coming to find u.s.
"Dont speak of it, he said, quickly
s'You do not need telling that. l would
do much more than that for a less pleasure
than l experienced last night
did not quite know what he meant, but
1 felt annoyed that the color came in my
cheeks.
Captaie Anesley came one step forward
on the rug.
"Sara," he said, and I caught the ring
of pain in his tone, "you have seen how a
woman has cast me off for my lack of gold.
dare say you know how stand; l haven't
a half-penny but my pay, and no expecta-
tions whatever; yet,-knowing you know
all this, Sara,-I dare to tell you that love
YOU"
Yes, it was only the lips sealing the
assurance of the eyes. l had dimly known
all this before, now knew it for 4 reality.
hesitated a moment, then | told him the
truth, that 1 had promised my mother
never to leave her, for she had no one in
the world but Flora and me, and that we
were very poor-poorer than even he was,
for woman's labor is but little paid. All
this was said, while tears of shame DIM
med my eyes.
"And do you think that for all this l
love you less??' said Captain Anesley, tax
ing my hands in his own tenderly. "Sara
l never loved before. l don't think that
YOU have either. Must we part?'
eyes," answered, sorrowfully; " can
not desert my MOTHER
Then, like all lovers, my lover talked
heroically of Drawing poverty; but I shook
my head, for | had known-better than he
ever knew-how bitter poverty was; and
| thought, too, of poor mamma left all
alone at home nursing her visions Of bright
ness.
"Oh Sara, my darling, only be mine, .
he pleaded earnestly; then the next moment
he passionately exclaimed, elf she is a
good mother, she will not take our happi-
ness from us.
At last yielded a little.
"Cyril," l said, ''let me at least wait
until | go home. will then tell my
mother how it is, and she shall decide.
do not fear to decide by her decision, fol
she loves me, and would make any sacrifice
for me-
Then we parted, and thought it was
well that l had not yielded farther; it
would be SO much easier to write the sac
refusal than say it. knew it would be a
refusal, for did not mean to let my mother
make any sacrifice whatever for me, and
found it so hard to withstand his passion
ate appeals. | could not trust myself to
hold out,
| The following evening Cyril Anesley