The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-02-07

her arms round his neck, and whispered
to him, "Oh, Louis, Louis! how l wish
l could teach you to see Charles with
my eyes!'
He felt her tears on his cheek as she
spoke, and tried to reassure her.
"You shall teach me, Rose-you shall
indeed. Come, come! we must keep up
our spirits, or how are you to look your
best tomorrow"
He unclasped her arms, and led her
| gently to chair. At the same mo-
ment, there was knock at the door,
and Roses maid appeared, anxious to
consult her mistress on some Of the
preparations for the wedding ceremony.
No interruption could have been more
! welcome just at that time. 1t obliged
Rose to think of present trifles, and 1t
gave her brother an excuse for retir-
ing to his study.
He sat down by his desk, doubling
and heavy-hearted, and placed the let
ter from the Academy of Sciences open
before him.
Passing over all the complimentary
expressions which it contained, his eye
rested only on these lines at the end:
During the first three years of your
professorship, you will be required to
reside in or near Paris nine months out
of the year, for the purpose OF deliv-
ering lectures and experimenting ex-
periments from time to time in the la
| boratories." The letter in which these
lines occurred offered him such a po-
sition as in his modest self-distrust he
had never dreamed Of before; the lines
themselves contained the promise Of
such vast facilities for carrying on his
favorite experiments as he could never
hope to command in his own little
study, with his own limited means;
and yet, there he now sat, doubling
whether he should accept or reject the
| tempting honors and advantages that
were offered to him-doubting for his
sisters sake!
Mine months of the year in Paris"
he said to himself, sadly, "and Rose Ia
to pass her married life at Lyons. Oh!
if l could clear my heart Of it's dread
on her account-if could free my mind
Of its forebodings for her future-how
gladly / would answer this letter BY
accepting the trust it offers mel"
He paused for few minutes and re-
nected. The thoughts that were in him
marked their ominous course in tho
growing paleness Of his check, in the
dimness that stole over his eyes. "lt
this cleaving distrust from which l
cannot free myself should be in very
truth the mute prophecy of evil to
come-to come, l know not when-if it
be so (Which God forbid, how soon she
may want friend, protector near at
hand, q ready refuge in the time of her
trouble. Where shall she then find pro-
lection or refuge? With that passionate
woman? With her husbands kindred
and friends?"
He shuddered as the thought crossed
his mind, and opening Eiank sheet OF
paper, dipped his pen in the ink. "Be
all to her, Louis, that have been," he
murmured to himself, repeating his
mothers last words, and beginning the
letter while he uttered them. 1t was
soon completed. 1t expressed, in the
most respectful terms. his gratitude for
the offer made to him, and his inabil-
ity to accept it, in consequence Of do
nestle circumstances which it was
needless to explain. The letter was di-
rected, sealed; it only remained for him
to place 1t in the post-bag lying near
at hand. At this last decisive act he
hesitated. He had told Lomaque, and
he had firmly believed himself, that he
had conquered all ambitions for his
sisters sake. He knew now, for the
first time, that he had only luIed them
to rest-he knew that the letter from
Paris had aroused them. His answer
was written, his hand was on the post
bag, and at that moment the whole
struggle had to be risked over again
risked when he was most unfit for it!
He was not a man under any ordinary
circumstances to procrastinate, but he
procrastinated now.
Might brings COUNSEL I will wait
till Tomorrow" he said to himself, and
put the letter of refusal in his pocket,
and hastily quilted the laboratory.
1