Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-09
AARON BLAIR'S ATONEMENT.
CHAPTER |.

A leafy lane in one of the prettiest
OF the Midland counties lay burning
beneath the glare of hot July sun
a sun 50 fierce that the heavy branches
OF the trees dropped languidly and the
grass was turning crisp and brown.
The white dust of the lane was fine
and powdery, rising now and then in
little clouds when stirred by the faint
breeze. The water OF the broda, half
hidden in the shadow of the hedge,
was warm as it flowed lazily over the
pebbly bottom, the very stones of
which seemed hot too. 1t was a day
for fans and ice water, swinging in
hammock, or sleeping in the shade;
for reading the last most exciting
three-volume novel, or dreaming in
cool shadowy room in the arms OF an
easily-swaying rocking chair; q day
for anything, in short, rather than
Drawing the fierce heat and walking in
the dazzling glare Of the sun.
Two travellers came tramping along
the lane, sending little putfs of dust
rolling family ahead of them as they
walked, keeping shoulder to shoulder,
but showing evident signs Of weari-
ness. Both wore suits of rough light
tweed and straw hats; each carried a
fishing -rod one a landing net and
fishing-can, the other basket and
camp-stools.
The cider Of tho two, who carried
by far the heavier half of the fishing
paraphernalia and who tramped along
with an air Of sturdy endurance, was
shorter, broader, palmer, more COM
monplace than his companion, having
a square, sensible, good -humored face,
only redeemed from absolute ugliuess
BY the two latter characterize ca and a
certain air of reliability. George AL
leyn, however, was not sensitive
about his personal appearance, and,
even in their college days, had not
envied Owen Ormiston, his close friend
who had been nicknamed the "beauty"
by some OF their mutual acquaint-
ances, and who had been less
handsome then than he was
now. George, in fact, had been
rather given to laugh at his friend s
loug-lashed dark eyes, his curly hair,
and his bright complexion, as being
pretty enough for girl, and had made
fun OF the dainty little mustache when
it first made its appearance; had joked
too with a total lack of sympathy over
his friends careful dress-almost as
perfect in its way as ballroom bellies
and held up TO merciless ridicule
the dandy brushes and various toilette
appointments which were considered
indispensable necessi ties by that young
gentleman. But, in his shrewd, rather
sardonic way, George admired his
friend too; and, dcspi the difference
in both their characters and positions,
they were thorough friends, although
they might have drifted easily apart
and lost each other any time in the
last FIVE years.
They had never been better friends
in their lives than they were upon
this hot July afternoon, when they
came to halt in the lane by stile
beneath the shadow Of great tree,
and, letting their burdens fall, leaned
YEARLY against it's welcome support
They painted, sighed, stretched them
selves, and then took off their hats
and wiped their damp foreheads.
"By Jovo, isn't it awful ?" SAID
Owen. "Whew Did you ever feel
such n rooster in your life ?"
"Never felt it worse, certainly" re-
turned Alleyn, yawning as he leaned
against the stile. 1--WE should have
been wiser had VIC stopped at home,
it strikes me-"
You're right I'm half dead
know that And not single fish to
show for it--that's the best of the joke!
was fool TO think they'd bite on
such a dav !" Oven grumbled, pant
ing and tanning himself with his hat.
eff we had caught any, we shouldn't
have been at the trouble of cooking
them. that's certain. The water was
on the simmer, am sure. l say,
what time is it ?''
George looked at his watch.
Nearly six"
"And there's another four miles be-
fore us If there's an inch-can't be
less, can it P''
"About that, should say" assent
ed George. Come on, Owen! We
sha'n't do any good lettering here
and Pm awfully thirsty ~
Thirsty l could drink pailful !
And there isn't anything in the nature
OF pub in this forsaken place, of
course! Well. come along / hope
they'll have the grace to wait dinner;
but doubt it..
"Why ?" Alleyn asked, picking up
See heavy basket and fishing-can,
which were his share of the load.
Lady Elizabeth doesn't dine until
seven. does she P"
''Dines just when she thinks she
willard is quite as likely as not TO
take it into her head to dine a couple
OF hours earlier on this particular
day." returned Owen, shouldering his
burden. ''She is always up to tricks
of that sort. You ask Milly. But
she'll look after us-that's one COM
fort, at any rate"
"Miss Heathp" queried George.
Eyes. l will say this for Milly,
that she's as sensible a girl as | ever
saw-no nonsense about her, you