The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-03-29


not understand. He laughed. or made
a pretense of laughing, and was about
to make some light remark, when she
said, earnestly: 49,, $50 ne. --s-
"I am so sorry for you," and, picking
up her work, she began plying her nee
die once more.
An indescribable expression stole
,ver Vance Variants face. He opened
vide his eyes and watched intently the
girl who was so sorry for him. He saw
her head droop lower over her work,
and then glistening teardrop fell down
Upon her white hand. Vance Varian
watched no longer, but rose abruptly
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 filled her heart with
awe. But she knew nothing of love. 1t
is said that pity is akin to love; if 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
to 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 &C.
celia. t-ta
evil you take walk on the cliffs
before you go homeP" he asked, when
she appeared.
eyes, 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 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 hearts!
Suddenly Cecilia turned toward him,
and, looking up in his face, she said:
"You did listen to the sermon! I
was watching you all the time"
He looked down at her, but for mo-
ment he did not speak. Then, taking
her hand in his, he said:
eff could have you always near
me it would be an easy matter to be
good." -.-..s.-ss-z-...
For an instant only her eyelids droop-
ed, and her face was aflanle, then the
color died away, leaving her an un-
natural white, and she looked up at
him with great, frightened eyes. Per-
haps he understood that look, for he
dropped her hands, and tremblingly
turned away. e.5 III -.-
ID Cecilia's heart was revealed to her.
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 fly.
Another minute and Vance Varian
was startled by cry.
Cecilia, in her blind flight, had run
near the edge of the cliff, missed her
footing, and she was now hanging to
the shrubs that grew some fifteen feet
below. There was no rope or any thing
else about with which he could save
her. He must descend those iutting
rocks.
"Don't, don't!" came family from
Cecilia, as, looking up, she saw what
he was about to do. az am ready to
die, but you are not" .s- 90.
His only answer was for her to keep
firm hold few moments longer;
and a few moments longer, fairly hang
ing between sky and sea, his arm was
And now came the perilous .ascen-
sion, during which every moment SEEM
ed an eternity.
Cecilia helped Vance bravely, by
catching at every jutting rock and
shrub, but, athlete that he was, his
strength was fast failing him.
"Quick! raise yourself" he gasped,
as they neared the top. %
Cecilia raised herself out of his arms.
and found herself safe. on the cliffs
once more; but before she could look
around, there was 8 rolling away of
rock, loosening of shrubs, and
4 Cecilia, / love you; pray for me
my God!" O.. f.,
She turned in time to catch one
glimpse of his white face, as he disap-
peared down the awful depths, and
throwing up her arms with groan of
agony, she fell, face downward, on the
and the Cecilia Ogden
that Vance Varian knew and loved new
er rose again.