The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-06-05
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BY MT. CALDOR
BY M.T.CALDOR.
CHAPTER y.-fCoSrIsuEn.,

CHAPTER V.--CoNTINuEn.,
"Ah,y said she, fixing her eyes stead
lastly on the dim line where sky and
ocean blended into one, when / sit
here I grow so impatient, Walter;
long to skim like the albatross yonder
with daring wing, along, above the
heaving waves. The world-the world
so beautiful-so grand would see
it. My spirit tires of this sameness; 1t
pants like an imprisoned thing longing
for one taste of the pure air of free
DOM"
"Silly girl! What is freer and purer
than this sea breeze, playing so dain-
tily with your curls? What more
boundless, vast and grand than this
ever-changing ocean at your feet? why
should you sigh for anything fairer?'
Because, fair as it is, it is our prison.
We can go no farther; her we must stay,
confined to the narrow breadth OF this
little island. when the wide illimitapie
world is before us. All, waiter, 1
fathom your kind wish to cheat me into
contentedness. Can / not read your
sympathy with my own warnings! DO
I not see your eyes flash as they turn
toward the point, where, far away, our
home and mother-land waits for US?
Am so dull that cannot perceive the
noble ambition imprisoned in your
soul? What a glorious name might
not the talents and germs OF genius,
dormant and passive here, carve out
for you in the great arena of the world.
When l think of it l grow restless
angry almost"
She started up vehemently and
stretched out her imploring hands to
the ocean.
Come, Gomez she cried, as passion
ately as though the onleaping waves
would bear her words to friendly ears.
"Oh, ocean, mighty ocean-that spared
us from thy yawning graves for liv-
ing tomb, be merciful. Send hither a
bark to bear thy foster children back
to the embrace of mother earth-a mes
senger of hope and mercy. Mighty
Neptune, where are thy spells now?
The girl stood, frozen by the spell OF
her own emotion into statue OF such
wild and matchless loneliness that the
gazers almost hushed their breath in
sudden fear that the myth she had IN
voked might rise from his foamy couch
to seize and bear her away for his bride.
The only reply came in the hoarse
beating of the surf that seemed to moan
wildly, mot yet-not yet"
Her outstretched arms dropped de-
jectedly, the glow died from off her
face, and with deep, deep sigh she
sank slowly back to her seat again.
Her sigh was echoed dismally, yet
Walter answered soothingly:
"Nay, nay, dear Ellie, do not look so
hopeless. l confess you have spoken
the truth. l, too, have these longings-
these wild, intense cravings for action
this dismal lamenting for talents bur-
led in obscurity-and yet often and
often comes a strong conviction that
were our widest hopes gratified, and
we safely restored to all the pleasures,
excitement and honors of the world, we
would look back with a sigh OF regret
to the peaceful innocence Of our life
here"
She shook her beautiful head doubt
ingly.
II can scarcely agree with you-bet-
ter sorrow and sore trouble than SUI
pineness and inaction."
Walter was looking fondly IN her
face.
"It is not strange that you fret and
pine, Ellie dear. A brilliant lot amidst
the noblest and best Of our happy land
doubtless awaits you, but for me 1t
would be one continued struggle; and
though would welcome 1t gladly, yet
1t comforts me to think that in its alb
sence enjoy blessing which freedom
from the island would take forever
from me-"
She looked down at him question
ingly.
"Do you not guess, dearest, that once
i'm your own circle humble Walter
would scarcely presume to intimacy
with the noble heiress."