The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-06-05

Eleanor colored.
"Ah, you overheard our silly talk.
never meant you should know it, but,
oh, papa, is it not very hard for us. as
well as you?"
my child" answered he, solemnly,
it will be of little use for me to tell you
what bitter cruel enemy I have found
this same world for which YOU sigh.
l may bid you prize this calm peace,
this freedom from sin and sorrow. but
you will be deaf to my words, because
of the siren song the radiant-faced
Hope sings ever to the ears of youth.
NO, my children, long no more for
the busy haunts of men. | am neady
to pray that this peaceful Eden may
prove my grave"
The young creatures, dimly guessing
through what waves of grief and pain
he had reached the peaceful shore of
content, looked up wistfully into his
pensive face and kept respectful ST.
lence.
Now, then" said he, rousing from
his reverie, II shall send you, Ellie, to
the house. You will find the French
lesson l prepared on your table, and
you may translate it as neatly as you
can. Tom has plenty of freshly-made
paper in the drawer"
Eleanor obeyed at once, glancing at
Walter as If expecting him to follow;
but his father laid a restraining hand
on his arm, and Walter remained at his
side.
MY son." said Mr.. Vernon gravely-
so graevely that Walter felt the tears
rising to his eyes-"you are pining for
action; you long for the excitement and
effort required in the battle of life. See,
here in this deserted island is a grand
opportunity for heroism that you have
quite overlooked. Do not be startled,
Walter, when l tell you that have
made a painful discovery today-that
you love Cleaner with an affection more
fcrvent than brothers or a friends.
l put it to your own conscience and
manliness-is it honorable to take adj
vantage of the isolation of her life here,
and win her love before she has OPP
portunity to see others and judge for
herself? There is no doubt, judging
from the Jewels in the trunk, the coat
of-arms on her clothing, and Toms ac-
count of the servants idea of the fam
ily's Importance, that Eleanor is the
child of noble and aristocratic parents.
You know the exclusive pride of such,
for have often told you of it. Now,
then, have you a right to profit by the
accidental circumstance of the ship
wreck, and take advantage of her guile
less, unsophisticated nature? Here Is
your task, grander and nobler than any
struggle for worldly fame and prosper
ity-conquer yourself, Walter; be
man thus early in your boyhood."
There was a yearning, plying ten
derness in the tone that belied the
calm, reasoning words. Walter knew
that his father grieved for him, and
looking up proudly, although his lip
quivered, he said:
II know what you mean, father, and
/ will be worthy of your goodness. FL
lie shall never hear word or hint from
me to suggest there is anything else in
the world besides brothers friend
ship"
His father bent down suddenly and
left such kiss on his forehead as in his
dreams Walter had received from an
unknown angel mother, and was gone.
Walter continued on to the little
wood beyond the cliff, and only him
self, and the pale-leaved blossoms that
we're wet with briny dew knew of the
passionate food of boyish tears that
were shed there.
Thenceforward there was a quiet Dig
nifty of manliness about Walters de-
meanor that puzzled Tom and Eleanor
as much as it pleased his father He
did not take SO many strolls alone with
Ellie, but always managed to find pre-
text for Toms company. He no longer
used the slightest freedom in word or
act, but treated her with as much hon
orable delicacy as he might have used
toward his queen. Her probable rank
and superior station were more fire.
quently alluded to, until, pouting with
pretty vexation, Eleanor declared that
ouC Wouiu tuIOW iHlO Tic sea the SDJTk-
ling chain Of diamonds whose unknown
crest had raised such a formality be-
tween them. Tom in his droll way CO.
incided with her.
Il know" said he. eve alters been
brought up to think nature made
great difference in folks when she
brought 'em into the world. Why, our
folk in - county thought we were
hardly fit for my Lady Somerset to
speak to; but the older grow the more
/ come to reason that our souls are
pretty much equal in the Lords sight,
If so be we all do right. SILVER my
timbers If didn't use to get into cor
ner when one of my shipmates that
went down off here in the Petrol ar
gued with me about 1t. Ye see, he came
from Americky, where, If they BEHAVE
all the folks are lords and ladies, ano'
'cording to his account, they live amaz-
ingly happy. Well, well. the Lord
knows all about it-where's the use
of puzzling over what don't concern
us?-though sartin, here in this ere
forrin place, we don't get any special