The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-07-02
sweet smiling hoe--a group of merry children
to climb my knee-all these delights were hid
den within that little ring of goldl
CHAPTER II.


the door of my father's house. The lights in
the parlor windows and the hum of conversa-
ton and cheerful laughter, showed me that
company was assembled there. l hoped my
sister Lizzie would come to the door, and that
/ might greet my family when no strange eye
was looking turiously on.
But no, a servant answered my summo ns.-
They were too merry in the parlor to heed the
long absent one when he asked for admittance.
bitter thought like that was passing through
my mind, as heard the sounds from the par
lor, and saw the halEsuppressed smile upon the
servants face.
IheSitated for a moment before / made my
self known, or asked after the family And
while stood silent, a strange appariton grew
up before me. From behind the servant peered
out small golden head-a tiny, delicate form
followed, and sweet, childish face, with blue
eyes, was lifted up to mne-so like to those of
one who had frightened my boyhood, that l
started back with sudden feeling of pain.
"What is your name, my little one?" ask
cd, while the wondering servant held the door.
She lifted up her hand as if to shade her
eyes, q had seen that very attitude in another
in my boyhood many and many time,) and
answered in sweet, bird-like voice:
"Mary Moore
"And what clse?" l asked quickly.
"Mary Moore Chester" lispod the child
My head sank down like lead. Here was an
end to all the bright dreams and hopes of my
youth and manhood. Frank Chester, my boy
ish rival, who had often tried, and tried in vain,
to usurp my place beside the girl, had succeed
ed at last and won her away from me-! This
was his child-his child and Mary's!
sank, body and soul, beneath this blow
And, hiding my face in my hands, l leaned
against the door, while my heart wept tears of
blood. The little one gazed at me, gricved and
amazed, and put up her pretty lip as if about to
cry while the porplexed servant stepped to the
parlor door, and called my sister out, to see who
it could be that conducted himself so strangely.
heard light step, and pleasant voice say
ing:
Odd you wish to see my father, sir?'
looked up. There stood pretty, sweet.
faced maiden of twenty, not much changed
from the dear little sister I had loved SO WELL
| looked at her for moment, and then, stilling
the tumult of my heart by a mighty effort, l
opened my arms and said:
"Lizzie, don't you know me?''
"fIarry! Oh, my brother Harry" she Cried
and threw herself upon my breast. She wept
as if her heart would break.
could not weep. | drew her gently into the
plghted parlor and stood with her before them
all.
There was u rush and cry Of Joy, and then
my father and mother sprang towards me- and
welcomed me home with heartfelt tears. Oh,
strange and passing is such a scene to the way
worn wandcrer And as | held my dear old
mother to my heart, and grasped my fathers
hand, while Lizzie still clung beside me, | felt
that all was not yet lost, and though another had
secured lie's choicest blessing, many joy re.
manned for me in this dear sanctuary Of a home.
There were four other inmates of the room
who had risen on my sudden entrance. One
was the blue-eyed child whom | had already
seen and who now stood beside Frank Chester,
clingng to his hand. Near by stood Lizzie
Moore, Mary's eldest child, and in distant
corner, to which she had hurriedIy retreated
when my name was spoken, stood tall and
slender figure half hidden by the heavy window
curtains that fell to the floor.
When the first rapturous greeting was over,
Lizzie led me forward with timid grace and
Frank Chester graspcd my hand.
"Welcome home, my boyh' he said with the
loud, cheerful tones | remembered so WE'LL
"You have changed so that | should never have
known you. But no matter for that your heart
is in the right place, know"
GLOW can you say he is changei?" said my
mother, gently. "ro be sura helooks Older gra-
Ver and more like man, than when he went
away, but his smiles are the same as ever 1t
is that heavy beard that changes him. He is
my boy stillH'
"Ay, mother" answered, sadly, 'I am your
boy still"
| Heaven help me! At that moment | felt
like boy, and it would have been blessed re-
lief to have wept upon her bosom, as I had
done in my infancy. But kept down the beat.
ing of my heart and the trcmor of my lip, and
answered quietly, as l looked into his full hand
some face:
"You have changed, too, Frank but think
for the better"
1 "Oh, yes! thank you for the compliment" he
answered with hearty laugh "My wife tells
7 me grow handsomer every day!' SEX
ellis wife," could hear that name and keep
silence still?
f And have you seen my little girl?" he ad
ded, lifting the infant in his arms, and kissing
her crimson check. II tell you, Harry, there is
notarother such one in the world. Don't yo,
think she looks very much as her mother uscC
top
every much" faltered.
f "IIallow!" cried Frank, with suddennes,
, that made me start violently, 81 have forgotten
to introduce you to my wife, believe you ant
she used to be playmates in young days-eh
Harry" and he slapped me on the back. go
the sake of old times, and because you wer,
, not here at the wedding, I'll give you leave tc
kiss her at oncce; but mind old fellow, you arr
never to repeat the ceremony, Come, here sh,
J is, and for once want to see how you vii
tnanaoa thneo forociour innetachoc ,,f ,onr, I,