Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-11-15
CHAPT Err XIV.
"She Went, Thinking of the Sister
Whose Sacrifice Was in Vain."


Whose Sacrifice Was in Vain"
1T was neither a long nor tragica
you were little child only seven, and
| was in the first bloom of girlhoOd:
not beautiful-all the beauty and grace
were your dover, my sweet SyDil,
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 were wealthy people, belong
ing to a good old family. The father
Frank Ryder, had made his foutune it
India, and his property all lay there.
All! Sybil, if could paint Alan fol
you! SO frank, so fearless, so true
50 fond of me- AS | 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.
Il 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
know what happiness is; the sky has
been flushed with a golden dawn fo>
me as we'll as for you.
eve were engaged for two whole
years, without much thought of mar.
riage, 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 il
charge proved false to his trust, and
when Alan spoke of going we knew he
could not return for many years.
Nov listen, Sybil. Alan came and
asked me to go with him. My fathe,
was willing, and | loved him with all
L.. heat. Yet | dill not 80; ana 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 fOl
you; you were SO pretty and imperiOus
so charming and willful Our dean
father spoiled you SybiI; and when
Alan asked me to go to India with him
| 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 watl
over you than to go to India as wife
to the man | loved.
Little sister, gave him up for You
my 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 | 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 ClaspGd round
her the dropping head was laid upon
her faithful breast, and the loving
appeal was not made in vain
There are higher. better, noblcr
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.
Trample on it; learn the grandest
lesson life teaches-to suffer and be
strong"
The kindly, earnest face was sub.
lime in its rapt expression of trust ana
endurance.
What became of him-your loyer?'
asked Sybil, suddenly.
Il have never heard his name for six
years she replied. His mother
died in my arms. and the Grange has
been closed ever since. Alan was
very angry with me, Sybil. He could
not forgive my refusal, He never
wrote to me or sent me any message.
We have been strangers all these
years. Sybil tonight, all night
through, remember my words. Do
not let my sacrifice be in vain"
And as the door closed behind that
noble sister Sybil knelt in the moon
light and prayed.
Knowing the fate that hung over
her, angels might have wept as the
golden head was bent in supplicatiou.
1t was a child-like prayer, and the
innocent face grew peaceful when ii
was ended. Her resolve was taken
She would tell Lyster that she could
never deceive her father: he must 90
away again, and leave it to time
Then she would tell her father how
they had met, and so found peace.
Irene's sacrifice should not be In vain
Gha foil aSleen with nravars IN hpr