The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-08-13
an Gttellcut STORY.
THE RECONCILIATION.
A Story of two E'roa.d EEeisTts.
CHAPTER l..


A mild May morning, fresh and pleasant, and
bright; the soft air full of the songs OF happy
birds; the wild flowers lifting up their heads in
the sunshine; and the green leaves rustlng and
waving in the woods, as if they We're whisper
ing secrets to the gentle wind that stirred them.
1t was q lovely day--a day to be happy in;
and yet sadlencd look was visible on the
sweet face of Faith Egorton, as she left the door
of her house and went slowly down the gravel
walk that led to the road gate.
Her home-the home of her husband and
chillren--was a pretty brown stone cottage,
oyerhung with vines, and surrounded by beds OF
fragrant flowers. Behind the house was level
and beautiful grove, in whose cool recesseS she
had often lain when child, and watched the
1ckering light and shade come down upon the
ground; for the earliest years Of Faith, as well
as those latter ones; had been spent in this qui-
ct place. Here she had been born--here her
kind mother had died-here she had lived with
a dear and only brother-herc she had married
her first love, and here her children We're spring
ing up-and here she hoped to close her dying
eyes; with all the old familiar scenes smiling in
beauty around her
She leaned upon the little gatc and looked
wist(ully up the road. She was waiting there
for the coming of her best and earliest friend
and the sound of wheels made her start, and
sent a color into her pale cheek that had long
been a stranger there A dusty stage coach
came whirlng up beside the gate stopped long
enough for a laly to alight and give some orders
respecting her baggage and dashed way again.
The new conner did not see Faith for moment
so screened was she by the branches of wild
rose that grew beside the gate. The traveller
lifted her veil, and exposed broad high fore
head shaded by silky masses of black hair, a
face well featured but grave and full of thought
and deep, dark eyes, whose gances were kind
and her smiles were beautiful.
How strange a contrast between these two
women! the one fair haired and soft-eyed, with
meek and quiet face, on whose features con
tentment and home happiness were most plain
ly stamped; the other dark and proud, and self
sustained, with look that said to the most
careless observer "Oh, l have suffered" To
one life had been fair summers day, with on
ly now and then'alight happy cloud; to the 9TH
er-ah! what to her but bleak and stormy
winter, where everything she loved withered and
died! And yet there were of the same age, of
the same station in !ifc and side by side they
had of of c.hn md ,,lo oxraI Lat IN, +Io
childhood that lay behind them.
The tears sprang unbidden to the eyes of
Faith Egerton, as she saw the steadfast look
with which her visitor regarded the scene
around her. She lifted the latch of the gate
and stepped out beside her.
Gertrude - Gertrude - Alewynne- won't
YOU speak to me?" she said.
Faith, dear Faith, is it you?" said Gertrude,
They were claspod in each others arms at
once. Faith wcpt bitterly, but Gertrude was
pale and calm, and smoothed the fair hair Of her
friend with a caressing gesture such as one
might use to soothe little child.
"Come Faith" she said at last as if weary of
her tears! this is but a sorry welcome to give me
after 50 long ajourney. You know never Ii
ked to see you cry"
"But you are so changed, Gertrude!" replied
Faith.
''Wel if amp said Gertrude. at is some
years since we met, dear Faith, and they have
not been marked with rose leaves for me- You
must not expect to find me to be quite the same
at twenty-five as at fifteen. Life changes us all
you know"
Il know" answered Faith, sadly; "but nev-
er knew it So well till now.'
s"Well, we will let that drop" said Gertrude.
"And now are you going to ask me in, after my
long journey"
"pray, forgive me" said Faith, blushing at
her inattention. II will show you to your cham
Der myself 1t has been ready for you this
week.
They went up the walk together. Two fair
haired children ran out to the door to meet
them. Tie youngest, a boy Of some two sum
mers, held up his little hands to Miss Alewynnc
with sunny smile She stopped down and