FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4945, 22 June 1887, Page 4

FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE.

[by a new abtiioe.]

CHAPTER IV.

It was a peaceful summer evening. The band played on the western side of Capstone Hill, and the usual crowd of loungers j gathered near. A few vain persons of ; both sexes walked gravely to and fro on the I Parade, intent only on seeing and being seen ; others sat on the seats and gossiped, listening between whiles to the mus-ie : and light-hearted young folks stood and talked, or strolled together, oblivious of all but themselves, finding in their own gay laughter and lively chatter music more charming than the strains ot any baud. A few solitary l individuals lingered on the edge of the crowd—some solitary and silent from necessity, knowing no one and being too Bhy to make advances toward strangers, others from choice. Among the latter was Noel Cardigan. He was in a somewhat moody humor. Indifferent to all that went on around hint; too listless to move away, he leaned over the wall, idly watching the waves as they broke on the rocks below. Presently ho lifted his eyes and caught sight of a lady moving- across tho beach, and approaching the rocks to the left. She Btopped for a moment, as if considering ; and then, with a quick light stop, began to climb, passing nimbly irom_ crag to crag, until she had gained a considerable elevation. Then she paused and looked about her. A slim, straight figure, clothed in black, she stood out distinct and still against the western sky* Tho faint evening breeze, as it swept up channel, rustled amid her sombre draperies, and the slanting sunbeams softly kissed her smooth young cheek. Noel know that figure well. "What would Jeanie do next, ho wondered ; and, roused to interest, he stood and watched her. After a long look out over tho sea. the young governess sat down and opened a book which she had carried in her hand. Noel could not now soo her face, which was hidden by a jutting crag, but _ho could plainly distinguish the volume as it lay open on her knee. " Now I shall sec how fast she reads," thought he, preparing to count how many leaves she turned over in a given time. But ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed and she had not turned over a single page. "That must bo the driest of books, or else," and he smiled, "her thoughts must be of the pleasantest, I think—l have a great mind " and he quitted his post and walked towards the beach. To the changeful sea, in its great unrest, few turn in vain for sympathy, for its thrilling voice is ever turned to the ears on which it falls. In the splash and sparkle of leaping spray, in the rush and gurgling of swelling currents, the laughing heart hears echoing back the laughter of the sea; while wrecked hopes and lost happiness find a fitting requiem in the sullen roar of its angry breakers, and in the plaintive moan of summer wavelets breaking against the shore. Jeanio Crawford loved the sea—loved it in all its varying moods. She had never seen it in its times of fury; and of its horrors—of tho vain struggle for life, the cry of the drowning, the agony of tho bereaved—she knew nothing personally. To the forlorn little governess the sea had become a sort of friend and companion. Its witcheries had beguiled many a lonely hour, and many a pang of heart-hunger and isolation had been soothed by its soft lullaby. To the sea Jeanio turned when weary or depressed. It was the recipient of all her troubles, and it rarely failed to whisper back soin3 message of hope and comfort from the Divine Being in whose hand it lies. Across the unread pages of her open book Jeanie looked out at the sea. But though her gaze rested on the now placid face of her constant friend, her thoughts were with that newer human friend whose coming had made so great a change in her quiet existence. Of the extent and nature of that change she was herself but dimly conscious. She only felt in a vague way that life was fuller, sweeter, and sadder than she had ever dreamed before. Since the eventful day when little Alico fell into the sea, six weeks ago, Jeanie and ; Mr Cardigan had met frequently, and spent many pleasant hours together; but Noel j little thought when lie poured out his heart no freely to the dark-eyed, sympathetic young governess, that he was preparing for her slender shoulders a burden almost too heavy for them to bear ! Noel's doubts had not affected Jeanie's faith, but she was felt he possesse(J»a growing infra-ence over she was felt that she resist ; and yet Noel had'so won Jfcer esteem and confidence that it pajffied her greatly to think for a moment any influence of his could be other than for good. She had thought—if she had ever considered the matter at all—that all persons who questioned God's Providence were, of necessity, wicked ; and it had been no small surprise to her to find that an earnest, religious-minded man like Mr Cardigan could entertain doubts so sad and awful. It had given a shock to all her preconceived notions, and made many tilings that had hitherto seemed clear and simple enough, a little hazy and insecure Her tender conscience was aroused, and it troubled her with hints of duty and vague warnings of some struggle to come. And yet perhaps after all she was disquieting herself for nought! Mr Cardigan might leave Ilfracombe any day—ho had often told her so-—and then his influence would die away, for once parted they were not likely to meet again. It might be better for her that they should not, but sho was conscious that her wishes inclined in the other direction. The future without her friend looked very blank and desolate ; and she sighed heavily. "Why Jeanie, what a sigh!" said a kind voice at her elbow. The girl started and looked up, and her cheeks grew crimson when sho saw the object of her thoughts standing busido her. " I fear I startled you," said he perceiving her confusion. " You did a little," she answered smiling. " I thought I was quite alone." "So you were until this moment. I only gained your rocky tower in time to hear that terrible sigh. May I venture to ask tho cause of it : Her eyes fell. " I was only thinking." "Then I'm afraid your thoughts could not have been very pleasant, so I will not apologise for having interrupted them," said Noel cheerily. " But how is it that you are all alone f Where are my little friends r 1 " " They are gone to a doll's tea-party." "And what might that be?" enquired Mr Cardigan smiling. " An assembly, in this case, I believe of about half-a-dozen little girls, each bringing her doll with her. One of the party presides over her own little tea equipage and pours out the tea, and the small mammas cat and drink while tho dolls sit | beside them and look on. Mrs Grant accompanied her children, and I havo a few hours at my own disposal." " Why did you perch yoiu-self up here ?" asked Noel, instantly resolving to monopolise the young governess for the rest of the evening. " I thought it wQuld bo a quiet place to read. But whi.t brought you here, Mr Cardigan?" "You did."

" 7 brought you !" she exclaimed.

" Yes. I was on the Parade and saw you climbing up so nbnbly that I was inspired with the desire to follow you. And here I ant."

"But how did you know it was me ':" asked Jeanie, with a quick, inquisitive glance. " I could not be mistaken oii that point," answered her companion, quietly. There was a moment's silence, and then Noel said, "Do you propose to spend the the evening here, Miss Crawford ?"

" Oh, no," she responded, laughing. " The t tide is going out, you see, so I intended to scramble over tho rocks to Ladies' Bay, and then walk homo from thenco tho usual way. But "

"But what?" enquired Mr Cardigan. "Do you object to my company, or do you think that I cannot follow whore you lead V The girl shook her head, and her eyes innocently revealed that his company was by no means unwelcome. " Then to what does that ' but' refer P" persisted Noel, with a smile. " I was going to say," explained Jeanie, " that I hope you will not be shocked to see me do what I would not permit my pupils to do, or do myself if they were here. I love to scramble over rooks, and don't mind slipping down a few times, or wetting my feet; but lam afraid that is very indecorous behavior for a governess," with a wistful look into his face. But reading no condemnation there, she went on impulsively " Oh, Mr Cardigan, you cannot imagine what a relief it is to forget somotimes that one is a governess—to throw off that affectation of being always sedate and sensible that the position seems to demand, and to be just natural, and let ono'a innate Jlin come to tho surface."

" Supposing any to exist." "Ah! but it does oxist," said Jeanie, demurely. •' Sometimes when I am able to take a quiet walk by myself I sing and dance as I go along, and behave in the oddest manner. If you saw me you would think I needed sending to school, and never dream that I was myself a prim, precise governess." "Those epithets do not apply to you, Jeanie. Besides, I do not see why any governess need be prim and precise." "Not of necessity, perhaps; but there seems to be something in teaching that insensibly inclines one to become stiff and starched—at least I think* so. And then there is tho responsibility of one's own personal example," added Miss Crawford, gravely, " That makes mo careful in all I say and do. It would be so terrible if any influence of mine shoidd lead an innocent child to do wrong." Noel looked at tho young creature before him. With her sweet face and guileless ways, what was she herself but an innocent child '<

" How old are you ?" he asked, abruptly. " I was twenty-one on my last birthday," she answered, much surprised. ■' A child-woman !" ho murmured, with his eyes fixed upon her in an absent kind of way. Jeanio blushed beneath his steady gaze, and feeling embarrassed, turned from him and began to step lightly over the rocks in the direction of Ladies' Bay. Noel sprang after her in a moment. "Do lot me help you," ho entreated. " Thank you, Mr Cardigan ; I think I can do very well by myself," she replied, kecpimj a little in advance of him. In .ofew seconds ho gained her side. "Come Jeanie, give me your hand or you will fall." , ~ . But she only shook her head and smiled provokingly. " Look to yourself, and let us see who will first bu in Ladies' Bay," she answered, saucily. [to be continued.]