Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-03-15

and left the room. A few moments af-
ter Cecilia heard the front door open
and shut, and looking from the window
she saw Vance walking hurriedly down
the path. Her eyes followed him as
they never followed the man whom her
father had chosen for her husband. She
had spoken the truth when she said that
George Graham filed her heart with
awe, But she knew nothing of love. 1t
is said that pity is akin to love; IL so,
Cecilia is nearer in love now than she
ever was in her life.
Vance Varian sat in the old gray
church. He had made up his mind not
ITO listen to the sermon, but he was list
ening in spite of himself, and his heart
rose within him In rebellion. Turn his
eyes which way he would, he encount-
cred the kindling magnetic gaze of the
preacher. The service was over, and
at the church door he waited for Ce-
celia. :
evil yon takesa walk on the cliffs
beforeyou 90 home?" he asked, when
she appeared.
"Yes,"she answered, after some hes
itation.
He took her hand in his, and she al
lowed him to lead her up the struggling
path. They assembled the cliff, neither
speaking a word.
They reached the top, and, her hand
still in his, they stood and watched the
boundless ocean stretched out before
them, and listened to the thud of its
mighty waves as they dashed against
the rocks below.
As they stood thus, what was going
on in both their heartsP
Suddenly Cecilia turned toward him,
and, looking up in his face, she said:
"You did listen to the sermon! [
was watching you all the time"
He looked down at her, but for a mo-
ment he did not speak. Then, taking
her hand in his, he said: .
"IfI could have you always near
me it would be an easy matter to be
good"
For an instant only her eyelids droop-
ed, and her face was afanle, then the
color died away, leaving her an un-
natural white, and she looked up at
him with great, frighte ned eyes. Per-
haps he understood that look, for he
dropped her hands, and tremblingly
turned away.
S6Cllld > u6dIG was lCfOdlOu w hCA-
She, the promised wife of that good
man, loved this reckless, unbelieving
man, who for ten years had led a b.
hemian life, standing beyond the pale
of respectable society. What a sinful
wretch she thought herself. She would
never speak to him again, and, scarce
ly knowing what she was doing, she
turned to dy.
Another minute and Vance Varian
. was startled by a cry.
: Cecilia, in her blind flight, had run
near the edge of the cliff, missed hel
t footing, and she was now hanging tC
: the shrubs that grew some fifteen fee
below. There was no rope or any thing
t else about with which he could save
her. He must descend those %juttine
: rocks.
r "Don't, don't!" came family from
Cecilia, as, looking up, she saw wha
: he was about to do. "I am ready tc
die, but you are not"
: His only answer was for her to keep
a firm hold a few moments longer
. and few moments longer, fairly hang
ing between sky and sea, his arm was
: around her.
| And now came the perilous Eascen
sion, during which every moment seem
8 ed an eternity.
/ Cecilia helped Vance bravely, b,
f catching at every jutting rock ant
shrub, but, athlete that he was, hi
strength was fast failing him.
l "Quick! raise yourself" he gasped
s as they neared the top.
a Cecilia raised herself out of his arms
r and found herself safe On the cliff
+ once more; but before she could loo
" around, there was q rolling away o
rock, a loosening of shrubs, and
I cecilia, l love you; pray for me
% my Cod"
re She turned in time to catch on,
sr glimpse of his white face, as he disap
It peared down the awful depths, an
throwing up her arms with a groan c
IS agony, she fell, face downward, on tn
n greensward, and the Cecilia Ogde
IS that Vance Varian knew and loved new
l. er rose again.
woman-a woman that made tina
n worthy man, George Graham, an eS
emplary wife.
The pillars of the church said ths
the minister's daughter had a chang
q of heart.
She went about quietly, doing he
8 duty towards her husband and his par
ishioners in a manner which even the,
could not help approving.
e All! it was well that the heart of &c
ella was revealed only to her Make
and herself, for in its secret chambe
r was enshrined q name that pass
a ed her Iips-the name of Vance Varian
: The Feat or q Crazy Gymnast.
Y "a Cnna~ hG,co~Io Sxy~oooa+ ao1;ono.