Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-03-13

you see from this windows frozen, but
not often, as the current is so strong"
"Is its but you can boat on IL, hope?"
ooh, yes! Are you readyi Let me
have good look at you, lima"
lima folded her white hands demurcly
and stood before her aunt.
"llma," her uncle had written--her pa
rents had died years before--"is like neith-
er Of her parents, save that she has tho
dark eyes Of the West Country, her faith
er's gilt, but only In color. You will not,
| when you see her, accuse me Of undue
| pride In saying she is altogether out Of
the way In her beauty. American girls
are often handsome; but have not seen
one TO equal lima. You shall judge. For
the rest, she Is regular tom-boy; and
she has not q notion Of lovers and such
nonsense. She prefers boating, toboggin-
ming, and tree-climbing; she is as wild as
mountain breeze, but you will find no
evil in her."
Merton Costello had not overrated his
niece's attractions. Her beauty was not
only unusual in degree, but Of an unique
type) showing the rare combination of q
fair, though not very fair, complexion,
dark eyes and brows, and hair of a dusky
gold-real golden hair-clustering all
over her small head, in masses Of short
curls, and straying over her broad white
forehead. There was a world of passion
and strong feeling slumbering in the large
brilliant eyes, which were almost black
eyes that could weep or laugh, look
thoughtful or dance with widest fun; and
how expressive were the sweet tender
lips closing lightly but firmly over the
white teeth!
Miss Durnford half sighed as she drew
the girl to her and kissed her tenderly.-
There was one in this place, she thought,
who might find In belle Canadienne too
lovely for his peace of mind.
ado you know, DEAR" said Miss Durn.
ford, rs she led the way to the dining-room
"you look so fragile and delicate that the
people here will say you are fairy and
have no tangible existence; and l don't
know what you will think of their rosy
cheeks and robust figures"
care they all rosy-cheeked!" asked ii.
ma. care my cousins Sabine!"
awe don't call them very rosy here"
replied Miss Durnford, smiling; "but
they will look like peonies beside your pale
cheeks. You are surely made of alabas
terp'
"Am I!'' said lima, shaking her head
"But l am really strong, auntie; only lat.
terly Canada seemed TO cold for me-"
They sat down to that comfortable coun.
try meal, "high tea" and for some time
lima was answering her aunt's inquiries
about her journey over, from which IL ap-
peared that Miss Costello was n thorough
citizen OF the world, and knew we'll how
TO care for herself. The independence of
this golden-haired damsel of sixteen was
n new experience to old-fashioned coun-
try-bred Miss Durnford, who, strangely
enough, saw no danger in a young girls
rowing among the country hills and lanes
by herself, but great deal in travelling
from London to York alone. Then lima
turned questioner, and asked about her
cousins Sabine.
"You shall see them all this evening""
said Miss Durnford. 81 promised to take
you over. Mrs. Sabine is an invalid. She
is very kind and gentle; you will be very
sure to like her. Then there is Roland;
he is twenty-five, a clever young fellow
He is very fond of hunting and fishing and
all sports.
"Shall like him?' asked lima.
"He is generally liked. l must leave
you to form your own opinion, my DEAR"
said Miss Durnford, suddenly growing re-
served. "Next comes Rose" she contin-
ued; "she is twenty-onc or Twenty-Five;
and jamie eighteen. They will be nice
for YOU"
81 hope shall like them," observed IL
ma, as they rose from the table.
al hope so too, dear. Now put on your
hat and we will go TO the Larches; it is
not three minutes walk from here"
lima fastened for her hat, remarking
as she returned that it was $50 nice to 60
out without gloves"
Miss Durnford smiled.
"The people here" she said, "will stare
you out of countenance. Your arrival
has been quite an event, and your dress
they will think foreign but / suppose it
is the fashion,
eyes" returned lima, opening her large
brown eyes, al always had my dresses
from Paris. DO look odd?"
"Odd, my child! You look charming.
see you don't know much about country
places"
"No, have never lived in the country.
think l should like il for time"
Aunt and niece sailed forth, and GER
tainly Miss Costello was stared at as if
she had been n yisitant from another
sphere; while remarks upon her appear
ance and attire were made with delight
Iul frankness in dialect however which
concealed their purport from the
Canadian. But there was only limited
pportunity for an inspection Of "the for
signer," for the gates of the Larches were
soon reached, and shut out village curios-
ty.
n