The Eagle's Heart

Harold was about ten years of age when his father the Rev. Mr. Excell took the pastorate of the First Church in Rock River. Many of the people in his first congregation remarked upon the handsome lad. The clear brown of his face his big yellow-brown eyes his slender hands and the grace of his movements gave him distinction quite aside from that arising from his connection with the minister. Rev. John Excell was a personable man himself. He was tall and broad shouldered with abundant brown hair and beard and a winning smile. His eyes were dark and introspective but they could glow like sunlit topaz or grow dim with tears as his congregation had opportunity to observe during this first sermon-but they were essentially sad eyes. Mrs. Excell a colorless little woman who retained only the dim outline of her girlhood's beauty sat gracelessly in her pew but her stepdaughter Maud by her side was carrying to early maturity a dainty grace united with something strong and fine drawn from her father. She had his proud lift of the head.