The Yale expositor., 1898-02-18

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.ASSxS-S[ spring up in her
heart. She tried
hard to do her duty, to school herself
in the knowledge that for her life was
to be without love. But it was hard.
She was young and impressionable;
the earl was handsome and fascinat-
Ing. There were times when an ire
sistible impulse came over her-an i'm
pulse to beg him to love her. She re-
sisted 1t, and every time she did so re-
sist her heart grew colder and harder.
1t is difficult for flower to blossom in
blighted cold-the buds droop, the per-
tune dies. 1t requires the warmth
and brightness, the kisses and smiles
of the sun to bring it to perfection. So
1t is with a half-formed character like
Hildreds- the sunshine of love and
happiness would have brought it to a
fair and blooming maturity. The chill
OF neglect and Indifference changed It,.
Lord Caraven," said Hildred one
day, who is the person-gentleman, l
should say, perhaps-who comes here
so often?
do you mean John Blantyre. my
faithful friend and steward?" he
asked laughingly. He comes every
day"
rs that his name? do not like his
face"
why not, Hildred?" he asked.
1T is not the face y an honest man,
unless Nature has for once made a
mistake in her own handwriting"
1T is not handsome face, certain
ly," said the earl; "far from It,"
II am not speaking of mere beauty
OF feature-and perhaps l judge him
harshly," she replied. But it does
not seem to me an honest face. would
not trust the man for-do you trust
him, Lord Caraven?"
II trust him mplicitly-indeed, do
not believe l ever overlooked his ac-
counts"
She looked at him in wonder.
Never overlooked his accounts!
How very careless of your she said.
Il am not careful by nature" he told
her, laughing.
But" she observed, earnestly, "such
carelessness is wrong. You put a
terrible temptation in his way by not
keeping a check upon him"
Il suppose" said Lord Caraven, in
dolently, that l find it easier to let
myself be robbed little than to look
after matters for myself"
The dark, eloquent eyes, as they
were raised to his, expressed great
deal.
What do you do with your life?"
she asked. 1T seems to me that you
have no idea of duty"
''Nor have /. know well what to do
with my life-I enjoy it,"
There can be nothing more to add"
said Hildred. But if were you, Lord
Caraven, should look after my &C
counts"
She thought great deal after that
conversation. 1t had opened her eyes
more fully to her husbands character
than anything that had passed before.
She decided to study him.
Was he generous? She thought at
first that she might say yes" They
were riding one day, and they met
poor woman begging with a little child
in her arms; she was poor, hungry, all
In tatters, with pinched face and sad,
weary eyes, pitiful spectacle of want
and restitution. AS they passed by the
earl took out his purse and literally
emptied 1t on the ground at the wo-
mans feet. She looked dazed and be-
wildered at this sudden bounty of for
tune. He did not wait for any thanks,
but rode on.
st WISH" he said, that I could col
lect all the poor people In the world
together, and make them rich"
"Was that generosity?" she said to
herself. Eyes. it must be-"
They rode on until they came to
small cottage-one belonging to the
Ravensmere estate-at the door OF
which stood a man still young but
crippled and bent double with rheu-
matism. A little cry Of pain came from
Hildred's lips as she saw him, but the
young mans eyes were fixed with an
evil light on the earls face.
Hildred stopped to say a kind word
to him; the cripple came out and stood
in front of the earl's magnificent horse.
my lord" he said In a hoarse
voice, 81 have you to thank for these"
pointing to his shrunken limbs
"and for these, also"-poin'sng to his
useless hands.
"what do you meanT Lord Cara
ven demanded, his face flushing with
anger.
IL mean this, my lord-that I was
strong young man when l took this
cottage and brought my wife home
here; now" he cried, in sudden pas
sion OF despair-"now look at me-"
what have to do with that?"
asked the earl. angrily.
This much, my lord-I spent all my
bit of money on this land; had none
left for ranafrfnQ the houaa-vour