The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-08-21 00:00:00

SUPPL

Had I been a magician, I should have restored
the town to the state I remembered it to have
been in when I left it forty years before.
On reaching home I found Mary Lindesay
was in the country ; but when she returned my
first care was to visit her. I have said that she
was still unmarried, and though I had long ceased
to love, yet I felt my heart beat as I approached
the well-remembered house. I pictured to my-
self the transport with which she would throw
herself into my arms, and fondly believed that the
joy of our meeting would repay us for the misery
of parting. My heart began to beat more quickly
as I gently knocked at the door ; and when the
servant appeared, I could hardly ask if Miss
Lindesay was within. " Miss Lindesay— Miss
Lindesay," said he, slowly repeating the name, as
if uncertain whom I meant ; " 0 yes, sir," and
then showing the way, I soon found myself alone,
and seated once more in the old-fashioned par-
lour. It was the only thing I had yet seen which
was still the same as I had left it. Looking about
me, I soon discovered old friends in the pictures
which were hanging round the room.
There was but one new one—it was the land-
scape I had asked her to paint ; and there it was
hanging, half-finished, exactly as I had last seen
it. At the other side of the room was the por-
trait of a youthful and beautiful face, which I at
once recognised to be Mary's. I could scarcely
help thinking that all that had passed for the last
forty years was nothing but a troubled dream, so
completely did the scene carry me back to the
days of my youth.
In a short time the door opened, and my heart
again beat quick—but it was a false alarm, only
the servant sent to say that Mrs. Lindesay would
be down presently. What ! thought I, is the old
mother living yet ? she must be a very aged
woman by this time; let me see, when I left this in
the year 17—, she was at least—but here my calcu-
lations were cut short, for the door again opened,
and the old woman herself entered the room.
The old lady's face flushed as she approached,
and she seemed embarrassed. I was astonished
to perceive that she looked as young as when I
saw her last, but making a respectful bow, I con-
gratulated her upon her good looks, and then
eagerly inquired after Mary. The old lady smiled.
" Indeed, William," said she, and I started at the
voice—" indeed we have both paid the tax for
growing old ; in the aged woman who speaks to
you, you see your once-loved Mary." At that
moment, casting my eyes in the direction of the
mirror, I saw the reflection of a withered old man.
I remembered what I had been when I looked
there last, and, as I now saw, that I was as much
altered as even poor Mary, or as she now termed
herself, Mrs. Mary Lindesay. And yet, so gently
and gradually had Time laid his hand upon me,
that till that moment I never thought myself half
suchian antique as in reality I was.
Here, then, was an end to all my dreams. The
hope of returning to Mary was what cheered me
while in India. I foolishly believed that I was to
find her the same fond, blushing girl that I had
left her ; and never reflecting that time would rob
the face of its youth, and the deepest love of its
romance, I expected that when I returned there
would be many a year of happiness and love in
store for us. These delightful visions were base-
less. I came home an old man, and found Mary
an old woman. A short time, however, blunted
the edge of my disappointment. Reconciled to
my old age, I may say that lam happy. Mary
and I have for several years been man and wife ;
we have retired to a sweet spot away from the
bustle of the town, and if we do not feel the rap-
tures of a youthful love, we at least experience the
happiness which springs from a well-founded
friend ship.—The Lady's Newspaper.