The Morning herald., 1876-09-27
[ertrude He111n1ing's
Temptation.

ertruQS AAOAAAAAANO =
Temptation.
,r,rrEp FROM YssTBRDAH's EDITION
}, which it will be seen that Aunt HUI.
Of a white heat Of rage, was not ex-
s;tslv refined in Language. BY the
. s she was frantic; 1 had regained my
,,lar cool composure. >, =,
H1rI Willard is my cousin" I said, land he
y "no ms the same consinly regard he gives
R"t p. he js to marry Elliep she fairly
aomed. "He must ma1ry her!" l
~ leave him cent if he does not. Re-
mher that, he is to marry Ellie"
Would he marry Ellie7 l wondered;
sn ME escaped. He was very kind to her
4 nile was never very strong in cold
sther and fond of petting. Wilfred
ated her like child still. Whenever
wen went to the city he brought her bon
But to me he brought books, music, and
netimes flowers, and gave them to me
n words more precious than the gifts.
did nee me as Aunt Huldah said. He
draise my voice. All, let me write it
re He did love me-he did love me.
had craving to walk down by the
shore once more, to hear the waves, as
|lie and l had often heard them during
summer, before Wilfred came to make
Happiness and the miserery Of our
|es, It was long walk, nearly two
les but had fancy to say farewell to
E old haunts-a cave in the rock, that
q only accessible ataow tide. Ellie and
had spent many hours there, making
etense of study, often during the risk of
waves till we had to take off our
oes and stockings to walk back to the
ore. 1t was rocky coast at the point
earest Croften Place, and there were
|any romantic spots there.
|Wilfred had visited many Of them with
llie, but after the weather had got fine
|ough for such excursions, l was too close
tied down by my nursing duties for the
|ng absence from home.
Ii walked hurriedly in the soft May sun
line, driven by the tnmult in my own
Fart, and seeing nothing on either side
i | raised my eyes to meet the broad
,ean rolling before me. The tide was
ming in. No musings or rest in the old
I'VE to-day. Yet I must see ibid it
l walked slowly now, often hidden from
le sea by the great rocks, till l saw the
ck and-great Heaven; Ellie sitting in
e cave, her hands folded before her, her
ss looking far, far forward, her lips smil-
e in happy reverie-all unconcious of
e waves rising, rising till they would
on sweep into the hollow where she sat.
lready they covered the whole base of
e rock. Already she was in danger, for
e water would cover her shoulders, and
e could not swim.
Involuntgrily 1 hastened toward the
arrest point where I could obtain boat.
wo or three lay upon the shore, turned
'er to dry-little row-boats, such as Ellie
ID had often taken for an hours pleas
ing, for my father had taught me the use
oars in my happy home days. My
lnds were already upon the nearest boat,
hen suddenly sank upon the stones, ut
rly Frustrated by hideous possibility
at rose phantom-like before me.
If l tnrned back now, and went home, no
e need ever know l had ever been
ere, Not human being was in sight.
lie would die, and Wilfred inherit all
e vast estate, ana be free to marry whom.
er he would.
l had skirted the great rock unpreceived
7 the day-dreamer in the cave. If she
as rescued by another hand she would
ever know Of my desertion. 1t was not
urder. I need not dye my hands in
ood. had only to pass on. When the
dy was found no one would connect me
th the tragedy.
| lay face down on the stones while the
lrrying thoughts crowded upon my brain,
0 stunned by the awful temptation tear
6 my heart, to rise and carry out my
heme. l must go home. l said it over
4 the words conveyed their meaning,
ID struggled to my teet.
As stood erect, my brain reeling, the
'ters dancing before my dazed eyes, a
erclng scream rung out upon the air, an
her followed and another. 1t was Ellie's
awake now to the danger Of
r situation; Ellie, drowning within few
rds of where l stood.
l.stooped over and turned over the boat,
aged it to the water, took my place,
d then, by a superhuman effort, raised
y Voice:
Courage, Ellie; I am coming!
The screams ceased instantly. l struck
t with all my strength and rounded the
eat rock safely.
Ellie was standing in the hollow, cling
) desperately to the rock, her white face
'a,ming abeve the black dress, and in the
nbre setting of her heavy Grape bonnet.
ready the wator hod naarIv reached her