Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-12-01

smiling sadly as she withdrew her
hand, you must not give me too warm
a welcome"
And now, having exchang ID greet
ings with each member of the family,
Prudence again seated herself IL Tho
chair at John Ingleteld's right hand
She WAS nalura ly gil of quick and
tender sensibilities, gladstone in her
general mood, but with bewitching
pathos interfused among her merriest
words and deeds 1t was remarked of
her, too, that she had faculty, even
in childhood, of thrc wing her own
feelings like spell over her compan-
ions such as she had been in the
days of her innocence, SO did she APP
pear this evening Her friends, in the
surprise and bewilderment OF her re-
turn, almost forgot that she had ever
left them, or that she had forfeit q
any # her claims TO their affection.
In the morning, perhaps they might
have looked at her with a tered eyes,
but by the Thanksgiving fireside they
felt on that heir own Pruden had
come back to them and were thankful
John lnglefield's rough visage bright
ened with the glow IF his heat as it
grew warm and merry within him
On, or twice he even laughed till the
room rang gain, yet seemed startled
by the echo of his own mirth. The
grave young minister became as frol-
icsome as a schoolboy. n airy, too, the
roseb bud, forgot that her twin blossom
had ever been torn from the stem and
trampled in the dust. And as for Rob
ert N GORE, he gazed at Prudence with
the bashful earnestness of love new
born, while she, with sw ct maiden
coquetry, half smi ed upon and half
discouraged him
In short. il was one of those inter
walls when sorrow vanishes in its own
depth of shadow and joy starts forth
in transitory brightness When the
clock struck s, Prudence poured out
her fathers customary draught of
herb tea, which she had been sleeping
by the hreside ever since twilight.
God bless you, child" said John
Ingletield, as he took the cup from her
hand; you have made your old fIther
happy again. But we miss your
mother sadly, Prudence, sadly. 1t
seems as if she ought to be here
now"
Now, father, or never" replied
Prudence.
1t was now the hour for domestic
worship, but while the family were
making preparations for their duty,
they suddenly perceived that Prudence
had put on her cloak and hood and
was lifting the latch of the door.
prudence, Prudence, where are yoa
going?" cried the. ali with one voice
As Prudence passe out of the door
she turned toward them and flung back
her hand with a gesture of farewell,
but her face was so changed that they
hardly recognized it. Sin and evil
passions glowed through its comeli-
ness and wrought horrible deformity ;
smile beamed in her eyes as a trIum-
plant mockery at their surprise and
grief.
Daughter" cried John Inglefield
between wrath and sorrow, stay and
be your fathers blessing, or take his
curse with you"
For an instant Prudence fingered
and looked back into the fire-lighted
room, " lille her Gountenance wore a..
most the expression as If she was
struggling with fend, who had
power TO S ize his victim even within
the hallowed precincts of her father 5
hearth. The fiend prevailed and
Prudence vanished into the on err dark
ness. When the family rushed to e
door they could see nothing, but hearc
the sound of wheels rafting over the
frozen ground.
That same night, anon the painted
beauties OF the tAeater of neighbor
ing city, Their, was one who e dissolutt
I. 4 e,ek,