The Yale expositor., 1894-10-26

and which had grown so thin that
the rings wore slipping of 1t.
'And when your vacation comes
we will have fine times together IL
Is like glimpse OF heaven your be
ing here for these few days" she
went on with feverish hurry, "and,
oh, Tom it's so good to have some
one to speak TO besides servants!'
"But there arc neighbors," said
Tom, looking up at the clouds drift
ing across the vivid blue, and think
ing. though he was by no means
poetical, that even SO were the first
clouds drifting across his own sunny
life, don't they call'"
They called, OF course" said
Mary, holding up her head like
child in disgrace who knows it is
"the other one who deserves whip
ping, land thsy inquired for your
father. and | have seen them whis-
pering together at church. and can
see as plain rs pikestaf that they
think mo deserted woman. People
always take it for granted it is the
woman's fault, chiefly, suppose, be-
ca Sc theg don't expect anything OF
man, and so arc not disappointed.
Mother" cried Tom. "you are
growing bitter-uOt like YOU And
as TO the people, let 'em talk" he
added robustly, and the world let
1t howl! 1t howl5 outside, not in
Ii you have comfort and warmth
| and love indoors -"
"But l have not" almost whis-
pered poor Mary.
"Sit inside, and laugh! What's
the world?" continued the young
philosopher, contemptuously. "Will
it feed you, clothe you, warm you,
bury you? Not much. But it. will
take the last mOrsel OF cake out OF
your mouth to feed itself. ana hand
somely provide you with a character
| that might be that OF your worst
enemy for all the resem Glance it
bears to yourselfl'
"Really, Tom said Mary laugh
ing a little, as the young fellow
paused for breath, "Oxford is cer-
,tainly expanding your IDEAS. But
! you are little hard on tho world.
after all What is it composed OF but
suffering, erring creatures like
ourselves. who may be in worse
trouble than ourselves. at any mo-
ment. or who may die even while
they are blaming or plying US, and
so it is our turn TO pity themP 1t
isn't the outside opinion, | feel, Tom.
it's the loneliness in the house, by
the hearth and here, she pressed
her hand upon her breast as il to
hold down her heart.
Little mother" said Tom, TO
whom the sunshine had suddenly
grown dim. and all the loveliness
around a nero callous hard-eyed
selfishness, that understood nothing
of human misery, Il shall leave Ok
ford and come home to you"
And spoil your career" said
Mary calmly, and blaming herself
bitterly for having loosed the vials
OF her speech aud sorrow. "Never! ]
shall do very we'll here till you come
back, and your Aunt Mamie is com
ing home next month. She will
come straight TO me, OF course,
Then | shall 60 to father" said
Tom resolutely, land get TO the bot
tom OF this miserable affair. I'll
never believe that dad looked at any
other woman but you. or that so true
a gentleman as he is, could behave
as you think he has done"
Think" said Mary fiercely.
"Look here Tom There's an old
proverb. ''Twixt bough and trunk
place no, the finger and you must
not interfere in this thing will
not have it. II you brought your
father down tomorrow, l would walk
out of the house rather than the
same roof should cover us. b"
Mary had ri en-, and was walking
rapidly homewards, just as if the
delicious winding ways of the glades
were not set thick with loveliest
surprises, not one OF which would
last year have failed to ravish her
happy eyes.
but shall go all the same" said
young Tom to himself, nodding as
he followed her, 'and if they won t
kiss and be friends, l shall just
chuck up the varsity and como
home and take care of mother"
[To BE CONTINUED.