The Yale expositor., 1896-06-12
BY M.T.CALDOR.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER vII.-tCoNTINuED0

on see, thought Isaw sail Off on the
water, and l forgot what l was about
md lent forward too far. Perhaps l
was right, and yell all get away to lib
srty as we'll as me. Ye'd better light a
ire on the cliff at night if you make out
The sail. Poor little Ellie, don't cry So
Toms dreadful sorry to leave We all so
lonesome here, but we mustn't rebel
ag'in the Lord, you know"
Immediately he ran OF into a ram
bling, incoherent talk, that showed his
mind was away in the little hamlet OF
his native town. He laughed once,
md spoke his sisters name in quick,
glad way, like one who has come to a
happy meeting. Only once more he
spoke-this time with something OF his
Did CHEEKY heartiness.
That's comforting" said he. "Oh,
Mr.. Vernon, how glad am we've come
10 love the Bible better'n them rhyming
books. Read that again, please, sir, II
re can see for the dark"
HE thinks We are at our evening
reading" whispered the awed, scarcely
breathing Walter.
Mr.. Vernon looked piteously at the
ashy face, and filmed, unseeing eye, and
then conquering his emotion repeated
;olemnly the psalm 1.-THE Lord is my
Shepherd" The words seemed to reach
the dying ears, for a contented smile
played round the pallid lips. Closer
md closer drew the sorrowfng group.
The CLASSY eye was fixed now; the limbs
40 longer quivered; only faint throb-
bling at the throat told Of life. In
Few moments that had ceased too. In
shuddering horror Walter and Eleanor
dung themselves in Mr.. Vernon's arms.
Folding them closely in his arms he
groaned:
God have mercy upon us-we three
ire left alone"
The scene that followed is too har-
rowing to be pictured. Anywhere, at
any time, death is sad and awful
enough, but there on that lonely island
The strongest and stoutest taken from
their little number-no tongue can de-
scribe the terrible loneliness, the
wretched gloom that followed.
They made his grave beyond the
spring, beneath the Hibiscus tree, and
never was mound more tenderly
;moothed or sorrowfully believed with
tears than the lonely island grave OF
Tom Harris. 1t was not until the sec
md dismal day after his death that the
suggestion of Toms came to Mr.. Yer
mons mind. The sail he had seem
what had become of it? Was it still in
view?
Walter had been Toms pupil in those
athletic exercises that become a sailors
second nature, and was, moreover, rat
lrally active and agile. He volun-
teered at once to ascend the flagstaff,
although his cheek blanched and his
eye studiously avoided the spot where
poor Tom had fallen. Eleanor was
nearly frantic at the proposal, but his
father, after a few earnest words OF
caution, consented that he should make
the attempt. 1t was now three days
since the accident, and there had been
40 breeze on shore, and they had cher
ished the forlorn hope that If a vessel
lad actually been near them she could
not yet have drifted from sight. Wal
!er's face was gloomy enough as he de-
scended. There was faint speck on
he water as far as he could see, but he
lid not believe 1t was ship.
Mr.Vernon suddenly startled to con-
,ciousness OF the insecurity of his own
life, had become morbidly anxious to
leave the island. Without Toms
cherry, self-reliant nature to sustain
aim, he felt incapable of protecting the
youthful beings Providence had left in
his charge. Moreover, he had long
been aware of an inward malady slowly
but certainly eating away his strength.
For himself he asked nothing better
than a grave beside his faithful COM
panion. For the children's sake the
life on the lonesome island seemed in
.olerable.
1T will do no HARM said he
promptly; "let us kindle fire on the
,liff every night for week or more"
With dismal alacrity Walter and
Eleanor gathered the dry underbrush
and moss, and reared the pile on their
pretty white coral throne and as soon as
dusk arrived, with eyes that burned
ieverishly enough to have kindled the
pyre, Mr.. Vernon piled the finder and
flint and in a few moments the rudy
Beam shot up, flashing yellow path far
off into the sea, and rosy glow against
The darkened sky. Those three anxious,
terribly earnest faces and striking
forms stood out distinctly and wildly
in the flaring light. Even in the midst
Of his own narrowing suspense Wal
ter's artist eye took in the grand sub
Unity of the scene, and made a mental
memoranda that was thereafter to 1--we
IN undying colors. The tears were ST.
emily streaming over Eleanor's check;
Walter turned and drew her fondly TO
his side. 1t was not the time now to
.hink Of formal prudence or to refuse
he sympathy so much needed.
"Oh, Walter, we are fearfully in earn
est now. 1t seems as IL we must all
perish IL no ship is near. Toms death
has made our island life intolerable.
Think how horrible it will be to be the
last onew And, shuddering, she chung
Led, % ,io orv,,