The Osceola times., 1881-07-30
Goddard. have chosen. I canno,

leave my sister
lie ,rit to break this decision by
passionate pleading, but the tones were
irin and unshakcn rs she said at last
Goddard, it would be unjust 10 say |
do not love you, for you know that do,
but cannot be false to my charge"
And they parted-he to walk home as
il pursued by furies, thinking bitterly OF
"woman's obstinacy," and yet in his
secret heart hcnoring the girl who
walked so unhinchingly in the path of
duty.
Alice went upstairs, and purying her
ace in the soft cushion of an armchair,
nature took her revenge for the self
control of the last hour. Her eyes
throbbed and burned like balls.of FIRE;
her heart beat in high, sureing waves,
but the hand was icy-cold that she
placed over her mouth for fear that
cry might escape her lips that would
awaken Nell. But despite all her pre-
caution there came sound Of bare feet
on the floor, and little white-robed
form knelt down beside her, and the
dark face with its weird eyes peeped
into hers.
whats the matter, Alicer
"Why. Nell, thought that you were
as.eep. Come, dear, go back TO your bed;
you will catch cold here"
IL don't want to 90. What is the
trouble, Alice" persisted the girl.
And Alice told her all. Nell kissed
her sister passionately, and then, clench-
ing her little brown fists, she said,
tiercely-
IL hate those proud women hate
Goddard Tressil ! And l will pay 'em
back for what they have said, for every
word r.
"Hush, dear !" and Alice dried her
tears hastily, "Nell, want you to pro-
mise me something. VIII you, darling?"
Anything J" said Nell, impetuously.
81 want you to promise me that if it
ever lies in your power to do me favor
for any fthe Tressil family l may de-
pend on performance of that favor"
"oh, Alice; anything, anything but
that"
promise me, Nellie r' a ring of decis-
ion in her voice.
There was silence for few mo-
ments. Then, in subdued tones, came
the words
i promise"
The September sun, with its ripening
tints of amber, lay warm and golden on
the garden walk and terrace of The
Cliffs. The waves of the ocean crept
slowly shoreward, drifting into fantastic
shapes, and then breaking, scattering
the pearly spray far up the land.
Mother and Isabel TIessil stopped
before the open door of the pleasant sit
ting room, IL lost my bracelet down in
the cove this afternoon, and | did not
notice that it bad slipped Oft until | got
home. | must go and recover it before
the tide comes in"
Cannot Goddard 20 for you? ?" said
her mother.
Il don't know where he is"
"Nery well, be careful about the tide
said the mother, anxiously.
81 will be careful, said Isabel, conf.
iently. "Adieu, Ma Mere"
She went down to the foot of the
,litis, which gave her home its name,
by a broad, gently-sloping path. Ther
her path lay along the sands TO the cove
Two long parallel walls of rock made
of from the shore, and during high tide
little cove thus form ed was a mass of
tossing foam, but now it was long mar
row stretch of sand. Isabel Tressil at
length reached the cove and began TO
search anxiously for the missing brace.
let. II was a present from Goddard,
and she valued ii very highly. She was
about giving it up for lost. when sud-
denly she caught sight Of it, almost hid
den by mass of sea-weed.
Isabel caught the bracelet up hastily,
and turned 10 go, saying to herself, 81
must hurry or be caught by the tide"
At the thought her eyes turned to-
wand the termination of the point around
which she must go. Her heart almost
froze with horror at the sight that met
her gaze. The waves curled at the foo,
OF the point, soft as "carded wool"
Help helpp
The cry sounded family above the
beating of the tide on the rocks, ana
reached the ear Of Nell Haviland, who
stood watching the waves as they slow
ly encroached upon the sand.
Some one in the cove" said the Girl
and running along the edge of the cliff,
q bent over the rocky rrccipice. She
saw a woman, evidently half dead with
terror. crouching at the foot of the c'iti
she will be washed away before
can get help. must help her myself
sand Nell TO herself.
There was an almost imperceptiblc
path down the precipitous wall. Though
she was as used to Climbing ~ goat,
Nell found it no easy task to descend.
When she had nearly arrived at the
base she called, you must climb up
this path. will show you how"
The woman. who had not heard Nell
before, turned at the sound of her voice,
and Nell Hsvlland stood face to face
sith Isabel Iressil.
"Oh, Nelll dear Nell, save mep she
cried, clasping her hands imploringly.
A vow registered itself in Nell's soul.
Il will keep my promise If drown
Take hold Of that little BUSH" she
said, "and put your foot there" pointing
to a little projecting stone.
Isabel's terror caused her to catch at
the guiding hand instead OF at the
seeming insecure bush, and her excess
o.. weight caused Nell to fall downward.
A stone disl0dsed struck Nelrs foot, aud
To her dismay she found herself unable
to step. She bractd herself against the
wall and urged remorseftil label TO scale
,he cliff. She tried in vain. The un-
used muscles refused 10 perform the
task given theH. Then, with cold,
crawling waves around them, they
screamed in unison. No answer. Al
last, with moan Of utter despair, Isabel
/ gave it up.
Nell, il is no u.s.; we have got 10
/ drown. But cannot die. cannot die (,
I Oh, God, have mercy !" and in an sban-
lonment Of agony she buried her face