FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4946, 23 June 1887, Page 4

FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE.

[ill' A NEW AUTHOR.]

CHAPTER V,

Thoy had a merry scramble. Noel entered into the spirit of the enterprise, aud Jeanie forgot her forebodings as they pressed forward, talking, laughing, and sometimes slipping, each striving to be first. And when at length they stood on the smooth shore of the little bay tho girl's eyes were radient and her checks rosy with the healthful and unwonted exercise. " Ah! Mr Cardigan, I have beaten you," she cried, with innocent glee. " You have," he replied, smiling. " Are you quite sure that you tried your best and did not allow mo to win !" she questioned, a little doubtfully. " Quite sure. ' Strive honestly or not at all,' is my motto. I have no experience in rock climbing of late, and I am not so agile as I used to be." "And you don't think me a hoyden, Mr Cardigan : * "You, Jcauic ! " and his tender tone was sufficient answer. They walked on in silence for a few minutes, Noel communing with himself and presently arriving at a definite conclusion. " Woidd you like to know what I think of you, Jeanie? " " I—l don't L-iow," she faltered, agitated by something new and significant in his manner. " I will toll you," he resumed. " I honor and trust you, and I love you dear. Will you be my wife?" The bright color in Jcanie's checks ebbed suddenly away, and her heart fluttered curiously. " Have I frightened you, Jeanie ? " said Nioel, tenderly taking her trembling little hand between his own. " It is so sudden —I never thought—go on," she stammered artlessly, with a little gasp between each sentence._ A new and beautiful light awoke in Noel's grave grey eyes. " From the first you were to me different from all other women ; and day by day, as I learned to know you better, I saw how true, and sweet, and innocent you were, and my heart slipped out of my keeping unawares. You aro my first and only love, and will be till I die. Jeanie, have you no word for me?" Then for the first time the girl looked up, and in her dimmed dark eyes the young man read his answer. But, lover-like, he was not satisfied. "Tell me that you lovo me," he pleaded softly, as he drew her to him. "Letme hear you say ' I love you, Noel.' " " I love you, Noel," she whispered, and then, with a sort of sob, her head fell on his shoulder. The sun went down, the evening waned, long shadows crept across the bay. " Why, how late it is!" exclaimed the young governess, in dismay. "We must g, home at once." "Must we?" returned her companion, regretfully. " I don't want to go, Jeanie. I am loth to leave our ' kingdom by the sea.' "

"Ah! and so am I. Ours has been a short reign, Noel. Oh, I wish," she added fervently, " I wish I could seize the present and hold it fast—so fast that it could not slip away, I shall never bo so happy again." " Why, that's rank treason, love, when we are going to spend our lives together," said the young man, laughing. "But I don't know that we shall," she answered, wistfully. "Vi by not ? Have you not promised to bo my wife ?" She shook her head in silence.

" Then promise me now, he entreated. " I have no wealth to offer you, only an hon3st name and my heart's true love ; but to minister to your happiness will bo the delight of my life. I never dreamed of being so happy as you have made rac by those few whispered words. But, sweet as they were, they are not complete. Finish the sentence, Jeanie, and add, ' and I will be your wife.' " " I cannot," sho replied, much agitated. " Ask me for no promise. Oh, let me be happy just for to-night." The passionate tone, the pained expression, the tearful eyes, filled Noel with surprise and concern. His declaration had been too sudden, ho had frightened her with his demands, ho thought with compunction.

'' JTorjjive me. I have been selfish and inconsiderate," ho said, remorsefully. " You shall not be hurried. Take any time yr.u like to consider the question, and I will not ask for an answer until that time has expired." " I do not wish to keep you waiting," she answered, nervously. " I will give you my answer to-morrow —to-morrow evening." " So be it," returned Noel, not displeased to find that the time of suspense was to bo so short, although ho hoped and believed that he knew what her answer would be. " Shall I call at Captain Grant's, or will you meet me somewhere?" "I will meet you." " Where—here ?"

"No, no, not here," she answered hur-

ricdly. " I will meet you on the Parade." "Shall wo say tho lower walk'r" suggested Mr Cardigan. " Uidcss you would be afraid?" he added, remembering little Alice's misfortune. " Oh, no, I shall not bo afraid," she replied, with a faint smile. They walked home through the gathering twilight. Jeanie's hand rested on Noel's arm, and in her truthful eyes he read a love which he fondly hoped would be his till death. "What are you thinking of that you look so grave ?" he asked presently. "I was wondering whether, under any circumstances, it would be justifiable to wish to die." "Why, Jeanie, do you wish to leave me?" he exclaimed, conscious of a superstitious thrill of fear. "No, if wishes were of any avail, I should be always where I am now, at your side," she answered, shyly. " Then what put so serious a thought into your head ?" "It came quite naturally. I was thinking how happy I was, and" then I wondered if this happiness was too great to last, or if a cruel to-morrow would take it from me. It would be hard to lose it, and I almost wished that if that were to be my fate I might not live to fulfil it—that I might lie down happy and peaceful to-night and never wake up any more." "These are morbid thoughts," said Noel. But he caressed tho little hand that lay on his arm, and thought tenderly, "How little used she is to happiness! And what was to become of me?" he asked in an aggrieved tone.

* Would you bo sorry ? Would you miss me, Noel?" she questioned, looking intcutly into his face.' " Miss you!" and as he uttered the words a vision of Jeanie lying stiff and cold, with her sweet eyes closed for ever, rose suddenly before him. " Miss you !" he repeated, passionately, you, the one love of my life. Do you think me heartless, that you ask such a question f" " No, not heartless; only I have heard that Tovo is but a trifling matter to men. It is but one of many interests. It makes no impression on their lives, and its object is Boon forgotten." '' And do you think that I could soon forget you, Jeanie ? Not so. My nature is not pliant. My lovo will ccaso only with my life. Whether you becomo my wife or not, from henceforth your influence on my life and character will be greater than the influence of any other living creature." "Will it?" she said, half frightened, " I did not think you cared for me so much." Aud in her voice them was a tone almost of pain. In a little while thoy reached their destination. Captain and Mrs Grant had gone out for a stroll, and the children had disappeared for tho night. Noel followed Jeanie into the dim, desorted drawing-room, and they stood together by tho open windoAv. A neAV moon shone far up in the clear sky, shone down, on tho gardon and tho nodding ros«s, and* tho silent room was perfumed with the breath of mignonette. " Good night, Jeanie," said ho fondly, bending his head to tho pale young faco beside him. "Good night, Noel," sho answerd, as she leaned against his shoulder. And a timid little hand, trembling at its own audacity, stole round his neck. "He will never know how dearly I love him," she thought. "He will never know." [to be continued.]

AM. BOWER and F. W. MANEY ( have this day entered into partnership, and have purchased the well-known Blacksmith and Stabling Business of Mr Joe Wells, Tennyson-street, and hope for a continuance of the support so long accorded Mr Wells. The business will be carried on under the name and style of A. M. Bower and Oe. '

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