The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-05-29

as come along see-well, no matter.
but l can't help laughing to think
we're calling them children. I begin
to think they're getting along to be
young folks mighty fast"
Mr.. Vernon started up and said hur-
riedly, while shade crossed his fore
head:
Il will go and meet them"
whats the matter now, / wonder?"
soliloquized Tom, removing the odd af-
fair, half hat, half turban, to wipe his
moist forehead. Pm sure there's no
need o. meddling with honest love-
making; it's lawful for magistrate to
marry couple, and since we hain't
parson, why won't Mr.. Vernon do jest
as well?"
Meanwhile Mr. Vernon had taken
path which led him up a cliff which
jutted over the water. He paused a
moment in involuntary admiration OF
the scene before him.
The huge white rock Of coral forma-
ton rose out of the empowering green
like a throne indeed, and all around
it, catching here at tiny stalk there
at down-reaching branch, festooned
vines, whose brilliant-hued flowers
seemed like garlands flung at the feet
of royalty. Overhead canopied the
feathered spray of the inimitably
graceful palm tree, and below, far be-
low, foamed the surf, dashing it's frothy
columns against the coral piers that sup
ported the rock, and above all spread
out the intense blue of a tropic sky,
arching down afar off to meet the line
of distant sea. Yet it was not upon in
animate nature that Mr. Vernon's mild
gray eye dwelt so fondly, but
on the graceful living tableau
the browning charm upon the
coral rock-for there, sitting lightly
as bird upon its perch, was
slender, willowy form, not round
enough for childhood and too aerial
for womanhood. A thin robe Of thin
muslin, gathered by girdle at the
waist, fell down upon the rock, hiding
with an Elusive veil such rose-tinted,
naked feet-slipped clear from the
awkward sandals Aphrodite herself
might have envied. The round white
arm, resting carelessly on the rock,
supported head whose youthful grace
and loneliness no maids mirror ever
rivaled. The sunny ripples Of curls
overlooked with their ring of bronzed
gold the vine that garlanded her head;
the clear eyes shone with q deeper blue
Il +ho l., ~,
breast; the sweet lips Knocked saucily
with their vivid carnation the pale rose
of the cheek. And this was little Ellie!
The transformation was as marvellous
as that which changes the hard, dull
coil Of green into the wonderful beauty
Of the newly-opened rose.
No wonder there was look Of al
most idolatrous affection in the dark
eyes Of the handsome youth who re-
clined carelessly at her feet. A sigh
escaped Mr.. Vernon as with newly
opened eyes he read Alright the Ian
guage of his sons face. For ten years
had these children been his pupils;
from his hand they had received the
invigorating draughts of knowledge; in
mis- steps had they followed to the out
skirts of the immortal fountain Of
Science; for them had he delineated
the beautiful sights his artists soul
drank in so eagerly; and, more than all,
tremblingly. solemnly had he knelt
with them before the Throne of Grace.
All his acquired gifts and natural gen
ius had been exerted to the utmost to
atone to them for the deprivatior5 Of
their lot, and he, their guide, their
teacher, their closest friend, had been
blind to their inner lives, and had
needed the voice of sharp-eyed Tom to
point it out to him.
He strobe a step forward, and then
paused again, for Eleanor was speak