Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-03
The Unexpected Return,
g a o., Who ItS

@oshef.
scans you wait three or four month,
until Gar. 90 with you p asked the younI
husbsnd.
81 want TO 60 now. You said all along
thst should 90 in May"
81 know did, But then I supposed
should Be able to 20 with you"
"Wsll, Why can't you7 am sure yor
might il you would"
"No, Lucy, 1 cannot leave homo now.
Bat il you are very anxious to see the old
felix's, csa put you in the stage, and you
will 80 safe enough. Ellen and can tax,
osrs Of little Lucy, NO doubt. How long Z
time do you wish to spend with them p
"About three weeks or so."
every well, Lucy il yos are not afraid
10 30 alone, ! shall not say word.''
81 am not afraid, dear" the wife said,
in voice changed and softensd in its ex.
preston.
"Bat are you perfectly willing to let me
30, Henry 2"
80, certainly" was the reply, although
tho teae in which the word was uttered had
somsshig Of reluctance in it. "Is would b,
selfish in me to say no. Your father and
mother viii bs delighted to receive visi,
just now"
"Aad you think that you and Ellen car
get alenE with little Lucy ?"
30, yes, very well.'
"I should like to 20 so much"
E.Go, then, by all MEANS"
"But won't you be very lonesome with.
out ms?' suggested Lucy, in whose own
bosom feeling Of loneliness was already
beginning to be fels, at the idea of sepa-
ration from her husband.
81 can stand it as long as you cam" was
Gray's laughing reply to this. "And then
! shall hare our dear chill"
Lucy laughed in return, but did not feel
~ happy at tho idea Of "goims home,' as
she thought she would, before her husband s
consent had been gained. The desire to 60,
however, remaining strons,.it was finally
settled that tho visit should be paid. So
oil the preparations were made, and in the
course of a week Henry Gray saw his wife
take scat in the stage, with feeling of
regret at parting, which required all his ef-
forts TO conceal. As for Lucy, when the
pinch came, sho regretted ever having
Thought Of going without her husband and
child but she was too much ash amed to le
her real feelings be known. So she kept
On show Of Indifference, all the while her
heart was auttering. The s'good-bys" was
finally said, the driver cracked his whip and
sR rolled the stage. Gray turned b me-
ward with dull, lonely feeling, and Lucy
drew veil over her face to conceal the un-
hidden tears from her fellow passengers.
That night poor Gray slept but little.
How could he! His Lucy Was absent, and
for the 6rst time from his side. On the
asxt morning, ~ he could think of nothing
but his wife, be sat down and wrote to her,
telling her how lost and lonely he felt, and
how much litsls Lucy missed her !; but still
10 try and enjoy herself, and BY al means
- write 70 him BY return mail.
Az for Mrs. Gray, during her journey of
tHo whale days, she cried full half the time,
and wh,n she got s.hons, . At last, that is, at
her fsfhes's, she locked the very picture Of
distrsss, rather than the daughter full Of
Joy at meeting her parents.
Right glad were the old people to meet
their dear child, but grisved at the same
fins. asd.a little hurt too, At her weakness
and evident regret at having left her hus-
band to make them brief visit. The real
pleasure that Lucy felt at once more seeing
her parsats, whsm she tsnderly loved, was
net strong snosgh 10 sabdus and keep in
senssalnsnt, except for : very short period
- q : time, her yssrning desire to Be sgaia
With her husband, Cor whom she never be-
fore sxpsrisaesd fssling Of such deep and
sarnsss affection. Several timss duriag the
Arst day did her mother 6nd her in tears,
that she wsuld dash aside, and then sndeav.
or to smile and seem cheerful. a
The dsy sftsr bar arrival brought her .
isttss--ths 6rst she had ever resolved from
her husband. How preeioss was every word
Heu oftsn sndoftsn did she read il over uatil
every word was sngraven on her memory |!
Then she sat down and spent some two or
three hours in replying to it. Az she seal.
I'd the frst epistle to her husband, foil Of
tender expressions, she sighed ~ The wish
arose in her mind, involuntarily, thst she
ssuld only 80 with il on its journey to the
village Of .
Long were the hours and wsarily passed,
20 Henry Gray. II was the sixth day Of
trial before Lucy's answer came. Hew
dear . hiss heart vss every word Of her af-
fsetionats ppisslsl Like her, he went over
il 90 often that every sentiment was fixed
in his mind.
"Two weeks longer! How can bear
it'" he said. rising mp .apd pacing tho aosr
backward and forward, after reading her
letter for the tenth time. i'T Fl
On the next day, the seventh Of this
lonely state, Mr.. Gray sat down again to
write to Lucy. Several times hs wrote the
words ~ hs proceeded in the letter, ssssms
hsms sson, but - often oblissratsd them.
He did not wish 70 appear svss, ,aaxious Tor
hse ssbszs ep her psssass' ssssg4t, whs