Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-10
mako some light remark, when she said,

make some light remark, when she said,
earnestly:
II am so sorry for you" and picking
up her work, she began plying her needle
once more.
An indescribable expression stole over
Vance Varian's face. He opened wide
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 after 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 moth
ing 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 listen
ing in spite of himself, and his heart rose
within him in rebellion. Turn his eyes
which way he would, he encountered the
kindling magnetic gaze of the preacher
The service was over, and at the church
door he waited for Ceciiia
"Will you take walk on the cliffs be-
fore you go home ?" he asked, when she
appeared.
eyes," she answered after some hesi-
tation.
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
Ill DOun tnelf neaftS.
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 i'll his, he said
i" If could have you always near me
it would be an easy matter to be good"
For an instant only her eyelids
dropped, and her face was ahame, then
the color died away, leaving her an I'M
natural white, and she looked up at him
with great, frightened eyes. Perhaps
he understood that look, for he dropped
her hands, and tremblingly turned
away.
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 Bohs-
mian life, standing beyond the pale of
respectable society. What sinful
wretch she thought herself. She would
never speak to him again, and, scarcely
knowing what she was doing, she turned
to fly.
Another minute and Vance Varian was
startled by a 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 anything else
about with which he could save her. He
must descend those jutting rocks.
"Don't, don't!' p came family from
Cecilia, as, looking up, she saw what he
was about to do. 81 am ready to die,
but you are not.
His only answer was for her to keep q
firm hold a few moments longer and
few moments longer, fairly hanging be-
tween sky and sea, his arm was around
her.
And now came the perilous ascension,
during which every moment seemed an
eternity.
Cecilia helped Vance bravely, by catch
ing at every iutting 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 a rolling away of rock, loosen.
ing of shrubs, and
Cecilia, L love you; pray for me-my
God!"
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 a groan of
agony, she fell, face downward, on the
greensward, and the Cecilia Ogden that
Vance Varian knew and loved never rose
again.
In her stead rose calm, sorrowful
woman-a woman that made that worthy
man, George Graham, an exemplary
wife.
The pillars of the church said that
the minister's daughter had change of
heart.
She went about quietly, doing her
duty toward her husband and his parish
ioners in manner which even they
could not help approving.
All it was well that the heart of Ce-
ella was revealed only to her Maker and
herself, for in its secret chamber wes en-
shrined name that never passed her
Gps-the name of Vance Varian.
A Tough Subject.
The ROctOn Ru1Ief;o cox,c &ba1, bo1 n