West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-03-02
beautiful eyes on his face. Vance
felt anything but comfortable. There

was something in the expression OF
her eyes he could not understand.
He laughed, or made pretense OF
laughing, and was ABOUT to make
some remark, when she said, earn
estly:
Il am sorry for you," and pick
ing up her work she began plying
her needle once more.
An indescribable expression stole
over Vance Varian's face. He open
ed wide his eyes and watched in
tently the girl who was so sorry for
him. He saw her head droop lower
over her work, and then a glistening
teardrop fell 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 hus-
band. She had spoken the truth
when she said that George Graham
filled her heart with awe. But she
knew nothing of love. 1t is said
that pity is akin to love; if so, Ce-
ella is nearer to love now than she
ever was in her life.
Vance Varian sat in the old gray
church. He had m.de up his mind
not to listen to the sermon, but be
was listening in spite of himself, and
his heart rose within him in rebel
lion. Turn his eyes which way he
would, he encountered the kindling
magnetic gaze of the preacher. The
service was over, and at the door he
waited for Cecilia.
"Will you take walk on the cliffs
before you go home" he asked,
when she appeared.
"Yes," she answered, after some
hesitation.
He took her hand in his, and she
allowed 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 60
ing on in both their hearts?
Suddenly Cecilia turned towards
him, and looking up in his face, she
said:
"You did listen to the sermon? /
was watching you all the time"
He looked down at her, but for a
moment he did not speak. Then,
taking her hand in his, he said:
"If l 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 afame
then the color died away, leaving
her. an unnatural white and she
looked up at him with great fright
ened 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 for this reckless,
unbelieving man, who for ten years
had led a Bohemian life, standing
beyond the pale of respectable so
ciety. What q sinful wre5ch 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 hang
ing to the shrubs that grew some
fifteen feet below. There was nc
rope or anything else about with
which he could save her. He must
descend those jutting rocks.
Don't, don't!' came family from
Cecilia, as, looking mp, she saw what
he was about to do. Il am ready
to die, but you are not"
"His only answer was for her to
keep firm hold few moments lon
ger; and in a few moments longer
fairly hanging between sky and sea,
his arm was around her.
And now came the perilous ascen-
sion, during which every moment
seemed an eternity.
Cecilia helped Vance bravely, by
catching at every jutting rock and
shrub, but athlete that he was. his
strength was fast failing him.
Quick! raise YOURSELF he gasp
ed, 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 roll
ing away of rock, loosening o.
shrubs, and
Cecilia, / love you; pray for me
my God!'
She turned in time to catch one
glimpse Of his white face, as he dis
appeared down the awful depths
and throwing up her arms with 8
groan of agony, she fell, face down