West-Jersey pioneer., 1881-03-03

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j to a boarding school or somewhere"
"Why, Goddard, what put that into your
mind ?" exclaimed Alice. "She would not
stay at boarding school one moment. 1t
would kill her to separate us, for l am all
she has in the world, and Ipromised mother
when she was dying, that would never
leave or forsake, the child-sister entrusted
to my care"
"But. Alice, mother and Isabel said"
sGoddard, please tell me precisely what
your mother and sister have said, so that |
may know just how the matter stands"
"Well, they say that they can Welcome
you, very gladly, as daughter and sister,
but they cannot endure the idea of having
Nell under the same roof, and she must
abide somewhere else"
"And you-Goddard?" said Alice, inn
ploringly.
"What can do, Alice? ?" said he in sort
of helpless way that struck chill to the
girls heart.
$50 it is a question of decision on my
part between you and my sister NelP"
eyes, Alice"
Do not blame him too harshly. He had
been much harassed by his proud, naughty
mother and sister concerning this disagree
able subject, and man-fashion he thought
that it could be arranged somehow, so that
this troublesome Nell could be sent quietly
out of the way, and he could enjoy the soci-
ETY. of the only woman he had ever loved in
peace.
Alice fought desperate battle between
love and duty.
1t seemed to her that she could not give
up her betrothed for another's sake; that
she could not throw away her life's happi-
ness for her younger sister; but the stratum
of loyalty to duty that ran through her
nature like silver cord, gave her strength.
white face that met Goddard Tressil's, it
was resolute voice that said:
'.Goddard, have chosen. cannot leave
my sister,"
He tried to break this decision by pas
sionately pleading, but the tones were firm
and unshaken as she said, at last:
ssGoddard it would be unjust to say that
do not love you, for you know that l do,
but capnot be false to my charge"
And they parted-he to walk home as if
pursued by furies, thinking bitterly of ''wo-
mans obstinacy," and yetin his secret heart,
honoring the girl who walked SO unflinch-
ingly in the path of duty"
Alice went up stairs, and burying her
with the friendly darkness around her, ma
ture took his revenge for the selfcontrol of
the last hour. Her eyes throbbed and
burned like balls of fire; her heart beat in
high, surging waves; but the hand was icy
cold that she placed over her mouth for fear
that cry might escape her lips which would
awaken Nell. But despite all her precau-
ton, there came the sound Of bare feet on
the floor and little white robed form knelt
down beside her, and the dark face, with its
wierd eyes, peered in to hers.
"What's the matter, Alice?"
"Why, Nell, thought you were asleep.
Come, dear, 60 back to bed; you will catch
cold up here"
81 don't want to CO. What is the trou-
BILE, Alice ?" persisted the girl.
And Alice told her all. Nell kissed her
sister passionately, then clenching her little
brown fists she said freely.
81 hate those proud women! I hate
Goddard Tressil! And will pay 'em back
for what they have said, for every word!'
Hush, dearp' And Alice dried her tears
hastily. "Nell, want you to promise me
something. Will you, darling ?''
Anything" said Nell, impetuously.
81 want you to promise me that if it ever
lies in your power to do favor for any one
of the Tressl family may depend upon
your performance of that favor"
''Oh, Alice !anything, anything, but that!''
"Promise me, Nellie" ring of decision
in her voice.
There was a silence for few moments.
/ Then in subdued tones came the words:
81 PROMISE
The September sun, with it's ripening
tints of amber, lay warm and golden on the
garden walk and terraces of the cliffs. The
waves of the ocean crept slowly shoreward,
drifting into fantastic shapes and then
breaking, scattering the pearly spray far up
| on the land.
s'Mother," said Isabel Tressil, stopping
before the open door of the pleasant sitting
room, 81 lost my bracelet down in the cove
this afternoon, and did not notice that it
had slipped off until got home. | must
90 and recover it before the tide comes in"
sCannot Goddard go for you2" said her
mother.
81 don't know where he is"
every we'll, be careful about the tide, +"
said her mother, anxiously.
81 will be careful" said Isabel, conf
IDENTIFY. "Adieu, Ma Mere"
She went down to the foot of the cliffs,
which gave her home its name, by broad,
gently slnEing path. Then her path lay
along the sands to the cove. Two long par
allel walls of rock made off from the shore,
and during high tide the cove thus formed
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long, narrow stretch of sand. Isabel
Tressil at length reached the cove and began
to search anxiously for the missing bracelet.
1t was a present from Goddard, and she val
ued it very highly. She was about giving
it up for lost, when suddenly she caught
sight of it almost hidden by mass of sea-
weed.
Isabel caught the bracelet up hastily and
turned to 60, saying to herself, II must
hurry or be caught by the tide.'
/ At the thought her eyes turned toward
the termination of the point around which
she must go. Her heart almost froze with
horror at the sight which met her gaze.
The waves curled at the foot of the point,
soft as 'carded wool.'
n
ssHelp! helpr'