Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-16


Yes sir. have watched you day by
day, and have seen that you love her.
have aske about you, and heard you
spoken OF with the tongue OF good report
Bes DIES -"
80 ell, tesides WHAT" he said, seeing
she hesilated.
lyon are both of the elect, - she said in
strangely solemn accents. The seal is
on your foreheads. -
What do you mean?' asked Frank In
bewilderment
She clasped her thin hands together;
her eyes shone with strange brill ancy.
Meant she exclaimed, so loudly that
Frank glanced at the door to make sure
that IL was closed. ''hean!' Can II be
possible that those blessed ones
who are predestlned to he saints
hereafter can walk the earth and know t
not l can see It. can read IL on your
IA con Miss Beatrice IA @. Many are
called, but few are chosen'-few are
chosen. You are OF the few"
"Oh!'' said Frank. He was beginning
to understand that he was dealing with a
re,i !ious fanatic. His bewilderment was
succeeded by plying curiosity, tempted
Ey sarcasm.
"lf one could believe It, it would be
cry sat sfactOry," he cont nued. Tell
me why you feel so sure about it Our
creed must differ from yours"
Greed she burst Odt "You were
chosen before there was any creed In the
world. The seal Is put on the elect
they draw the fir t breath. 1t may be
that a heather who has never heard Gods
name shall sit Oh the steps of tie great
throne, while he wro has lived on earth
the life II a saint shall 90 into everlast-
ing fire. "
THIS is predestination with a VEN
geance," thought Frank. "Why do YOU
feel so sure about Miss Clauson and me! -
he asked.
Il can read it in your faces. You are
to have happiness in this world and in
the next"
~ sic exclaimed, and a shudder as
terror ran through her; al have PRAYED
day and mig t-day and night that an
answer may he given me, that a sign may
be shown to me. The answer has been
given"
"WelL, you found 1t all right, l hope,
sa d Frank, to humor her.
She leaned forward and again clutched
his arm. 81 am 'one OF the many, she
said, in low, thr ling whisper. Her
face wore look of utter hOpelessness.
Frank pitied the poor creature from t G
bottom of his heart
My good woman he said, 'your be-
lief Is simply diabolical one. Get rid Of
it, and trust that there is some mercy to
be shown TO those who ask for II. GO
and talk to Mr.. Morale or the rector, or
some one whose busine S / is to set things
of this kind stra ght. Now | think w
had better say good night
Good night, sir. Thank you" she
said, with sudden return to her usual
calm and respectful name. Then, with
bent head, and hopele snass W itten all
over her, she wake slowly to the door.
A thought struck Carruthers
Wait mo rent" he said. II should
like to write line to Miss Clauson."
Love letters will do no cool, sir.
at is not a love letter, said Frank,
somewhat SHARPLY. Mrs. Miller waited.
He took 81 eet OF paper. After what
had happened he felt he could not address
the woman be loved as "My Dear Miss
Clauson and he did not dare to write
"My lear Beatrice. so his letter began
abruptly, without address Of any kind.
Moreover. it was very short. Here il is:
Now that | have asked my question,
and you have given your nswer, tell me
would you rather left this place at once,
or STAYED on as | intended. " ours, &c. !"
He handed The letter to Mrs Miller. She
took 1t in a reluctant manner. "NOu have
not written anyth ne unkind to her"' she
asked.
Nothing. Take M word for it. -
"And you PROMISE YOU will waltz
81 must wait, whether | like il or not ="
said Frank rather bitterly
600 Knight sir. Mrs. Miller curtesied,
and sto' e noiselessly from the room.
Frank fell back into a reverie. At last
he went to bed, wondering what answer
he would receive to his letter. Ii is to be
hoped the promise he ma @ Mrs. Miller
was to be more sacred than those made to
Horace and Herbert for he blew out the
lamp anyhow, and eft the hearth-rug to
take care of its If
Alas for the "hope eternal" IL was all
but crushed in the morning by note from
Beatrice, which, with the pathos attending
modern emotional inc dents was brought
I'm with his shaving water. It ran so:
PLEASE go away b. CO Then she
added in a postscript" on think me
unkind 1t is better for your sake. +"
He crushed the paper in his hand, and
no doubt cursed. not Bea rice, but his i'll
In k. He could not 60 away that day.
lie felt that such a sudden departure would
set the brothers gossip ng and trying to ac
count for its cause. But, as persons gen.
orally do in such extremities. he received
letter or a telegram, the nature of which
made 1t imperative he should leave on the
morrow.
The moment for departure came. Hor-
ace had taken the reins. Herbert was
beside him. Franks p rtmanteaus were
slowed away in the big wagonette. He
turned to shake hands with Beatrice. al
came here an invalid in body" he said TO
himself; q 60 away with chronic men
tai di ease The exchange is a sorry one"
"Won't YOU come witt us, Beatrice?"
asked Herbert.
She drew back her outstretched hand,
and hesitated. Frank turned his eyes away.
He would limo way plead for this con-
cession. Suddenly, and In defiant way,
which such trivial matter by no means
seemed to call for, she exclaimed, "Yes. l
will come. Wait for me one minute"
In one minute, literally. she was back
ugain, in her hat and jacket, and seated
opposite Frank.
Few words passed between them during
the drive TO the station. mere gaod-by
was all they said as Frank took his seat in
the train; but as that train rolled out of
Cos kba la i,.o