Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-04

nusbeJ ont so as to clear tho shore.
The little skifr rocked lightly on the
slow, outgoing tide, and the oars
splashed with II musical rythm very
pleasant to hear. silence fell over
the two II was broken by the voice Of
| Tressil
"Alice, have something important
to say to you tonight"
"What is it about?" she questioned,
wonderingly.
About-Nell" The words were said
hesitatingly, as il he was nerving him
self for an effort.
"About Nellg" she repeated, in sur
prise.
eyes; where is she going to live after
we are married?'
"Going to live? Why, with me, of
course" said Alice, wondering what
would come next.
"It cannot he, Alice. She must be
sent to a boarding. school or some
where
"Why, Goddard, what put that into
your mind 2" exclaimed Alice "she
would not stay at boarding-school one
moment. II would kill her to separate
us, for am all she has in the world,
and promised mother when she was
dying, that l would never leave or for
sake the child d-sistcr iutiusted to my
care"
"But, Alice, mother and Isabel said"
Goddard, please tell me precisely
what your mother and sister have said,
so that may know jus, how the mat
ter stands"
We'll, they say that they can wei.
come You very gladly, as daughter
and sister, but they cannot endure the
idea Of having Nell under tho same
roof, and she must abide somewhere
else
"And you-Goddard ?" said Alice, i'm.
ploringly
"What can l do, Alicel" said he, in
sort of helpless way that struck a chill
to the girls heart.
So it is a question Of decision on my
part between you aud ny sister Ncll?"
"Yes, Alice"
Alice fought a desperate battle between
love and duty.
Goddard, have chosen, I cannot
leave my sister"
He tried to break this decision by
passionate pleading; but the tones were
firm and mistaken, as she said, at last:
Goddard, it would be unjust to say
l DO not love you, for you know that /
do, but cannot be false to my charge
And they parted-hc to walk home "A
if pursued by furies, thinking bitterly
Of Z" woman's obstinacy," and yet in his
secret heart honoring the girl who
walked so unhinchingly in the path Of
duty.
Alice went upstairs, and burying her
face in the soft cushions of an arm chair,
nature took her revenge for the self-con.
troll 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 oyet
her mouth for fear that cry might
escape her lips that would awaken Nell.
But despite all her precautions there
came n sound of bare feet on the floor,
and little white robed form knelt down
beside her, and the dark face with it's
weird eyes peeped into hers.
What's the matter, Alice?"
why Nell. 1 thought you were
asleep. Come, dear, go back to bed;
you will catch cold mp here"
81 don't want to go. What is the
trouble, Alice ?" persisted the girl.
And Alice told her all. Nell kissed
her sister passionately, then, clinching
her little brown fists, she said, fiercely ::
Il hate those proud women! I hate
Goddard Tressil And I will pay EN-
back for what they have said, for every
word
"Hush dear " and Alice dried her
tears hastily. Nell, l want you to
promise me something. Will you, dar-
ling ?"
Anything !" said Mel impetuously.
=" l want you to promise sc that il it
ever lies in your power to do rle a favor
for any one of the Tressil family I may
depend upon your performance of that
favor ?"
"Oh, Alice, anything, anything but
that"
"Promise me, Nellie?" a ring of de-
cision in her voice.
There was silence for few mo-
l mania Thon IN auhduod tnuoa cana