The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-05-05
goddard. I have chosen. Ica,,,,.

goddard. I have chosen. I capno,
leave my sister"
He tried to break this decision by mas.
sionate pleading, but the tones we're
firm and mistaken as she said, at last
"Goddard, it would be unjust to saw
that do not love you, for you lnov
that / do, but cannot be false to INV
| charge"
And they parted-he to walk hone as
II pursued by furies, thinking bitterly Of
woman's obstinacy," and yet in his Sc
cret heart honoring the girl who walked
30 undinchingly in the path of duty.
Alice went up stairs, and, burying her
face in the soft cushions of an arm chair.
with the friendly darkness around her,
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 plaeed ovss
her mouth for fear that cry might es-
cape her lips which would awaken Nell.
But, despite all her precaution, there
came sound of bare feet on the floor,
and little white-robed form kneltdown
beside, and the dark face with its weird
eyes peered into hers.
What's the matter, Alice ?"
why, Nell, thought You were
asleep. Come, dear, go back to bed:
you will catch cold up here"
=" don't want to go. What is the
trouble, Alice ?" persisted the girl.
And Alice told her all. Nell kissed
her sister passionately, then, clenching
her little brown fists, she said, fercely
" 1 hate those proud women / hate
Goddard Tressil And will pay 'em
back for what they have said, for every
word I"
Hush, dear =" and Alice dried her
tears hastily. "Nell, / want you to
promise me something. VIII you, dar-
iing?"
Anythingl" =" said Nell, impetuously
want you to promise me that, If 1t
ever lies in your power to do me favor
for any one of the Tressil family, Imav
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-
ments. Then, in subdued tones, came
the words
&C. promise"
The September sun, with its npening
tints of amber, lay warm and golden IN
the garden, walk and terrace of the cliffs.
The waves of the ocean crept slowly |
shoreward, drifting into fantastic shapes,
and then breaking scattered the pearly |
spray far up on the land.
Mother" and Isabel Tressil stopped /
before the open door of the pleasant sit
ting-room.
81 lost my bracelet down in the cove
this afternoon, and did not notice that
it had slipped off until L got home.
must 60 and recover it before the tide
zones in"
" Cannot Goddard go for you said
al don't know where he is"
Very well, be careful about the
ide, !" said the mother, anxiously.
Will be careful, said Isabel, con-
Identity. "Adieu, ma mere"
She went down to the foot of the cliffs,
which gave her home its name, by a
road, gently-sloping path. Then her
'ath lay along the sands to the cove.
'wo long parallel walls of rock made off
rom the shore, and during high tide the
tOAC GONG b1lS WAS - L1dSS VI
Ossing foam, but now it was a long,
arrow stretch or sand. Isabel Tressil
length reached the cove and began to
earch anxiously for the missing brace
It. 1t was a present from Goddard,
nd she valued it very highly. She was
bout giving it up for lost, when sud-
emily she caught sight of it, almost hid
en- by a mass of sea- weed.
Isabel caught the bracelet up hastily
nd turned to go, saying to herself 81
lust hurry or be caught by the tide"
At the thought her eyes turned to-
ard the termination of the point around
hich she must go. Her heart almost
oze with horror at the sight that met
er gaze. The waves curled at the foot
the point, soft as "carded WOOL"
"Help help !"
The cry sounded family above the
eating of the tide on the rocks, and
,ached the ear of Nell Haviland, who
ood watching the waves as they slowly
upon the sand.
Some one is in the cove" said the
ri, and, running along the edge of the
ifs, she bent over the rocky precipice.
be saw a woman, evidently half dead
ith terror, crouching at the foot Of the
iff.
"She will be washed away before l
IN get help. must help her myself"
I'D Nell to herself.
There was an almost-imperceptible
ath down the precipitous wall.
hough she was as used to climbing as
goat, Nell found it no easy task to de
,end- When she had nearly arrived at ,
le base, she called out, You must
limb up this path; I will show yoH
ow."
The woman, who had not heard Ndl
efore, turned at the sound of her voice,
nd Nell Haviland stood face to face with
,abel Tressil.
"Oh, Nell dear Nell, save me p .
,e cried, clasping her hands implor-
lgly.
A VOW registered itself In Nell's
'ul. 81 will keep my promise il I ]
rown." I
"Take hold of that little bush" she
lid, "and put your foot there" point '
lg to a little projecting stone. &
Isabers terror caused her to catch at
le guiding hand instead of the SEEM
gly-insecure bush, and her excess of
eight caused Nell to fall downward. I
stone dlslodged struck Neli's foot, and I
her dismay she found herself unable ]
step. She braced herself against the !
all and urged remorseful Isabel to AZ.
mpt to scale the cliff. She tried in
ain. The unused muscles refused 10 I
srform the task given them. Then /
ith the cold, crawling waves around them
icy screamed in unison. No answer. {
last, with q moan of utter DESPAIR 7
label gave 1t up.
Nell, it is of no use we have got 70
rown. But cannot, cannot die Oh
cd, have mercy !" and, in an abandon, !,
lent Of agony, she buried her face on
ellis shoulder. Z
The words of grand old hymn she I
nd often heard Alice sing came back 10 7
ellis mind. Nell put her arm around s
le trembling form Of the terror stricken c
oman, and then the strong, yourr !
,ice sang out clear and sweet as q bugle- =
ii, finging grand defiance into the :