The Yale expositor., 1896-06-12


darling, till sleep shall come; and then
my father shall sleep in Toms room,
so you need not feel lonely, while fshall
keep the fire blazing brightly all night.
Will you try and sleep, Ellie?"
He drew her gently down the cliff in
to the pretty rarlor that was called her
room, and as he had said, took her in
his arms, and sat down in the rocking
chair he himself had made for her, and
in his clear, sweet voice began low
hymn. His soothing tones stilled the
tumult in Eleanor's heart; the sobs
ceased, the tears no longer trickled
down her cheek, and presently the
weary, swollen eyelids closed softly,
and her quiet, regular breathing told
him she slept Laying her carefully
upon the couch, Walter went back to
his father, who stood with bowed head
and folded arms at the foot of the cliff
Have you any hope, father" he
asked calmly.
Eyes, my son, the hope that depends
upon prayer. Heaven knows how
have poured out my soul in petition that
help may come to you. Joyfully, gladly
would l propose that the price of your
safety might be my own worthless life.
l am content If the ship will come to
take your two fresh young hearts to
human companionship, though l myself
may never set foot upon the land of my
birth. I have so much hope, Walter"
You talk so lightly of your life it
grieves me deeply. What it has been
| know not; you have never told me, but
that it is now our greatest consolation
and joy, feel more deeply than words
can say"
Some time, Walter, you shall know
all. Perhaps it is selfish in me that
would hide the past till the last mo-
ment. 1t will not be long before you
will understand everything. Go in
now, and leave me TO tend the fire."
mo, indeed" was Walters decisive
reply. 81 am young and strong, fit for
night watches. Besides, Eleanor is
restless and nervous; when she wakens
you can best comfort her."
The last suggestion overruled his de-
termination, and Mr.. Vernon went back
to the house.
What eager eyes scanned the empty
horizon when morning broke over the
sea! What dispirited faces gathered
round the breakfast table! What list
less melancholy pervaded the whole
day!
Without a word of explanation, just
before nightfall, Walter went to work
and gethged a fresh pile of brushwood.
Mr.. Vernon's head war bowed upon his
hands, and he did not notice the move
ment; but Eleanor followed sadly, and
pointing to the charred, blackened
rock said mournfully:
1T is like our hopes, our lives, Wal
ter"
Walters lips quivered. He would
not show the weakness to her, but leap
ing lightly upon the rock began to ar
range the wood. Heedlessly his eye
fell upon the distant sea, and 10! wild
transport dashed off his black look of
despair; an eager light irradiated his
eagle eye.
Saved! saved" shouted he, Keeling
into the arms Of the astonished Flea
nor weeping like a girl.
She thought him crazed and shrank
back in terror. Recovering himself, he
cried earnestly:
THE ship is there-sbe is coming.
Oh, Ellie, we are savedw
When Eleanor at length compre-
hended his meaning, she bounded for
ward to the rock, and satisfied that 1t
was indeed a large ship-masts, hull
and all plainly visible-she flew like a
frantic creature to Mr.. Vernon, and
flinging her arms around his neck,
sobbed herself in transport OF delight.
Walter had grown more calm, and
FASTENED to state the joyful intelligence
clearly. Mr.. Vernon took their hands
and solemnly lifted his eyes upward.
Never came prayer more thrillingly
the twilight air from that lonely island.
Now, then, we must work, Walter"
said his father quietly. Might is close
at hand, and the reef is dangerous. l
think you and I can get poor Toms
canoe out into smooth water and warn
them from the sunken rocks. At such
time as this Eleanor will not shrink
to be left alone to tend faithfully the
beacon light. Our preservers must hot
suffer for obeying our signal of dis
tress."
Walter was already on his way to the
beach. The experience of the last few
days had swept away all trace of boy
ishposs. With the firm, elastic tread of
confident manhood he dashed down to
the boat. A sigh went out to the men,
DRY of him whose hand had last secured
the rope of bark, but the eagle eye was
fixed steadfastly on the outer sea-and
this was time for action and not for
lamentation. His father, with some
thing Of youths vigor, leaped to his
side, carrying bunch of the knots they
had long ago prepared for evening IL
Elimination, the flame of one among
them streaming up sickly and pale in
the waning daylight.
What wild, exultant hopes, what sad,
bitter memories stirred those two tu-
,,,nItr1ua baa cbo1l couo p,,t