The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-04-30

Chester, my boyish rival, who had often
tried. and tried in vain, to usurp my place
beside the girl, had succeeded at last. and
had won her away from me ]! This was
his child-his child and Mary's!
I sank, body and soul, beneath this
blow and. hiding my face in my hands,
| leaned against the door, while my heart
wept tears Of blood The little one gazed
at me, grieved and amazed, and put up
her pretty lip as if about TO cry, while
the perplexed servant stepped to the par
lor door and called my sister out, to see
who it could be that conducted himself
SO strangely.
heard light step, and.a pleasant
voice saying
g Did you wish to- see my father, sir?"
I looked up. There stood pretty,
sweet-faced maiden of twenty, not much
changed from the dear little sister I had
loved so well. looked ather moment,
and then, stilline the tumult of my heart
by mighty effort, I opened my arms,
and said
I" Lizzie. don't you know me ?"
&" Harry! Oh, my brother Harry %
she cried, and threw herself upon my
breast. She wept as if her heart would
break.
I could not weep. drew her gently
into the lighted parlor, and stood With
her before them all.
There was rush and a cry Of joy, and
then my father and mother sprang to-
wards me, and welcomed me home with
heartfelt tears Oh strange and pass
ing sweet is such a greeting to the way
worn wanderer And as I. held my
dear old mother to my heart, and grasp
ed my fathers hand, while Lizzie still
clung beside me, l felt that all was not
yet lost, and, though another had secured
life's choicest blessing, many a joy re-
mained for me in this dear sanctuary oi
home
There were four other inmates Of the
room who had arisen on my sudden en-.
trance. One was the blueeyed chilt
whom have already seen, and VINO now
stood beside Frank Chester, clinging te
his hand Near by stood Lizzie Moore
Mary's eldest sister, and, in distant cor
{ ner. to which she had hurriedly retreatet
when my name was spoken, stood tai
and slender figure, half hidden by th,
heavy window curtains that fell to tn,
! floor.
= When the first rapturous greeting wa
over, Lizzie led me forward with timit
! grace, and Frank Chester grasped m,
hand.
g Welcome home,- my boy" he said
: with the loud, cheerful tones | remember
i ed so well. " Y ou have changed SO tha
! I should never have known you but n
. matter for that-your heart is in the righ
: place, I know 4xag
How can you say he is changed.
i, said my mother, gently. "To be sure
:. he looks older and graver, and more lik
j a man, than when he went away BIT
: his eyes and smiles are the same as eve,
Il is the heavy beard that changes hin
" Heis my boy STILL
|
! "Ah, mother" / answered, sadly, .
' am your boy STILL"
n Heaven help me !! At that moment
9 felt like boy, and it would have been
blessed relief to have wept upon her b.
som, as l had done in my infancy. B.
7 kept down the beating of my heart ar
2 the tremor of my lip, and answered qu
Il ety.. as looked in his full, handson
=, face etss '.z
as !" You have changed, too, Frank, b
=. l think for the better.'
:" Oh, yes-thank you for the comp
ce ment," he answered with hearty laug
"My wife tells me grow handsomer e
~ cry day."
-. His wife !-could I hear that nan
he and keep silence still?
ht "And have you seen my little girl
ID, he added, lifting the infant in his arr
Or, and kissing her crimson cheek. 81 t
on you, Harry there is not such another
the world. Don't you think she loo
de very much as her mother used to 2"
ly. every much!" faltered I.
"a Hallo!" cried Frank, with a ST
nd denness that made me start violently,
len have forgotten to introduce you to
wife. l believe she and you used to
vas playmates in your younger days
one Harry? ?" and he slapped me on
t / back. s'For the sake of old times, &
Of because you were not here at the W
ding, I'll give you leave to kiss her or
2" but mind, old fellow, you are never
ant repeat the ceremony. Come, here
is, and I, for one. want to see how
her will manage those ferocious moustac
e in of yours in the operation"
anv He pushed Lizzie. lauohinp and BIZ