Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-11-19
CHAPTER XIV.
"She Went, Thinking of the Sister
Whose Sacrifice Was in Vain.."

tSIt was neither long nor tragical
you were a little child only seven, and
I was in the first bloom of girlhood:
not beautiful-all the beauty and grace
were your dover, my sweet Sybil;
but my face had the charm of youth.
We had neighbors then living at Wood
Grange; it is closed and solitary now,
but in the time of my youth Mr.. and
Mrs. Ryder lived there with their only
son, my lover, Alan.
''They we're wealthy people, belong
ing to a good old family. The father,
Frank Ryder, had made his foutune in
India, and his property all lay there.
''Ah! Sybil, if I could paint Alan for
you! So frank, so fearless, so true,
so fond of me! AS I speak to you the
years fall from me and see again the
bright blue eyes and the careless hair,
the bonniest and kindest face that
ever smiled on me.
81 knew he loved me long before he
said so. Few words passed between
US, but my heart went with them to
him, and it has never come back to
me. We were engaged. All! darling.
I know what happiness is; the sky has
been flushed with a golden dawn for
me as well as for you.
owe were engaged for two whole
years, without much thought Of mar
rage, we were both SO young. Then
old Mr.. Ryder died, and Alan was
obliged to go to India to look after the
property There had been some
heavy losses; the overseer left in
charge proved false to his trust. and
when Alan spoke of going we knew he
could not return for many years.
"Now listen, Sybil. Alan came and
asked me to go with him. My father
was willing, and loved him with all
my heart Yet 1 did not go; and oh
my darling, it was for your sake-all
for you. My mother left you to me
when she lay dying to be my charge.
She whispered to me that when we
met in heaven she would ask me for
her little child; and those solemn
words never left my ears.
'You loved me very much then; |
was sister and mother to you, both IN
one More than that, / was afraid for
you; you were so pretty and imperious
so charming and willful! Our dear
father spoiled you Sybil; and when
Alan asked me to go to India with him,
I should have gone, but was afraid TO
leave you. You were my charge; /
had to answer for you; and it seemed
to me more my duty to stay and watch
over you than to go to India as wife
to the man I loved
Little sister, I gave him up for you,
ny heart was torn with sorrow. |
sent him from me, and remained With
you. Nay, do not cry; the pain is all
over now; but, Sybil do not let my
sacrifice be in vain. For the memory
of what I did then; by the memory OF
my long constant love; by the thought
of that time when | must tell our
mother what has become of her child
send this unworthy love and unworthy
sorrow from you
The white arms were clasped round
her, the dropping head was laid upon
her faithful breast, and the loving
appeal was not made in vain.
There are higher, better, nobler
! things in life, Sybil, than the indul
gence of first, hayward love. Little
sister, you have been careless, will
full child; let sorrow make you a
thoughtful, earnest woman. Do not
| let it close the gates of heaven upon
you; rather let it open them wide, for
your mother waits you there. Look
above it; stand on the heights where
the air is calm and cool-where the
breath of human passion never comes.