Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-01-05

grasp of mind that many people wond-
spiritual belief was so lamentably
wrong.
She went in for everything in the w0-
mans rights way--in spite of her not
being herself "man's Left" she made
speeches ut elections in favor of Liberal
candidates. very fair speeches. too, for
a woman. who as rule cannot be said
TO shine in that branch of display. She
went heart and soul into certain social
questions which most men would rather
have their wives leave alone. She read
every book Of note that came out, not
meaning novels. Then, too. she dressed
herself Ike an old picture. and her col
lection of antique volins and pots was
something absolutely wonderful. OF
the pair she had the stronger mind.
Eustace Vane repeated all his wife's
remarks and theories with II good deal
of shaw. haw," which gave them the
air of being his own. He looked hand
some, and that was about all.
For five years this state Of things had
continued. There were supplemented
! folk IN tho ne ghborhood who wonder
ed with n look askance. why the Al
mighty did not send n Judgment down
upon them, crushing Vanedene and its
occupants at one blow; forgetting that
the day of miracles is over, and that
God moves in u mysterious way. And
there were other simple folk. to whom
troubles come thick and fast, who felt
themselves aggrieved that life went so
smoothly for the owners OF Vanedene.
What was the good They asked of being
faithful and believing, il The green bay
tree--was permitted to flourish under
their very eyes? 1t is enough to dis
hearten anyone.
But after awhile there came II change!
1t crept upon that portion of the world
which called the Vanes friends very
gradually. Mrs. Vano's name was
withdrawn from prominence in sever
al of the societies to which she acted as
president secretary. one OF the eXecu-
tive committee. and the like, and
she sank to the comparative obscurity
of a subscribing member only. She
d did not at present feel equal to the du-
ties, she explained.
People wondered little, and al
length the real meaning oozed out.
There was ut last prospect of an heir
coming to the Red House. Then peo-
pie wondered no longer. but most Of
them laughed instead. and asked one
another what manner of child it would
be.
II should think" one lady laughed
it evil be born with q full allowance
of teeth and be able 10 play half u dozen
instruments and speak several Ian
guages fuently."
But it wasn't. II came into tn,
world and squalled just like any 9th
er baby. 1t gurgled over its food ant
crumpled up its pink dimpled hands
; just like any other. 1t was n yer!
pretty child. even ut that early stage o
; its career. with big blue eyes and sof
silken hair as smooth rs silk. Eustac
Vanc went and stood beside his wife
bed with his hands i'm his pockets, re
gardng them both through his eye
glass, finally telling her that they mad
as charming a picture. by Jove as h
ever remembered to have seen. Thei
he bent down and kissed her, touchin,
the child with his lips. rs Il it were al
afterthought And after that he wen
down to his club and announced. whe
: he was congratulated. that his sma
son was very queer little beggar.
very queer little beggar indeed.
Strangely enough, neither he no
any one else noticed the change whc
had come over his wife. She did nc
recover very fast. and the affair ha
: pulled her down far more than an
one would have thought possible for
woman who could tramp her 20 mile
q day and be fairly fresh ut the end {
I it. For many days she lay in her be
or on her sofa strangely silent, restin
g her cheek against the child's blond
u head. From her window she could sc
u the old church and the churchyar
Q where her father slept; the churc
y where, in the days OF her childhood
r she had prayed. and sung Sunday aftt
II Sunday. as she never did now. Sh
Q could see the pure white cross whic
Q marked her fathers resting-place. an
q she knew by heart the words:
y His works do follow him.
Eight years he had been dead sh
IS had not thought so much of him in a
IS those eight years as she had done sine
J. her baby came, How proud ho woul
1t have been to see his grandson-ho
e delighted to have added another to til
70 long list of Vanes in the baptism
1t register.
10 "Eustace." she said suddenly OF
Of day, when the child was more than
l. ,,,>rkL Ill s.T obnu1d lilo IN hava