The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-24

hurricdly rctreatcd when my name wi
spoken, stood q tall slender figure, half hi'
len by the heavy window curtains that fe
to the f,or. 80
When tie first rapturous greeting WI
over, Lizzie led me forward with timi
grace, and Frank Chester graspcd my hand
Welcome homo, my boy he said. wit
tho loud, cheerful notes remembered s
well. 'Yo have changed so that l shoul
never have have known you; but no matte
for that-your heart is in tho right place,
know
'llow can you say he is changed? sal
my mother, gently. TO bo sure, hc look
older and gravcr, and more like man thai
when he went away--but his eyes and smil
are the same us ever. 1t is the heavy bear
that changes him. He is my boy, STILL
'iy, mother I answered sadly, i an
your boy STILL -.-...
Heaven help me! At that moment iel
Ikea boy, and it would have been blcssc'
reliefto have wep' upon her bosom, rs | hat
done in my infancy. But kept down tn
beating # my heart and the tremor of m,
lip, and answered quietly, Us looked in HI.
full, handsome face .....
You have changed, too, Frank, but
think for the BETTER
'Ah, yes-t ank you for the compliment
he answered, with hearty laugh. MY
wife tells me that grow handsomer every
day
Ills wife !-could hear that name and
keep silence still?
And have you seen my little girl?' he
added, lifting the inian: in his arms and
kissing her crimson cheek. Il tell you
Harry, there is not such another in the
world. Don't you think she looks very
much as her mother uscd?' --
Very mu,hr Gltcrcd.
'IIallo!' cried Frank, with a suddcnnes'
that made me start violently, Il have for
gotten TO introduce you to my wife. l be-
licve she and you used to bc playmates in
your younger days-ch, Harry and he
slapped me on the back. 'For tho sake oI
old times, and because you were not at the
wedding, Ill give you leave to kiss her once
but mind, old fellow, you arc never to re-
peat the ceremony. Come, here she is, and
|, for one, want to see how you will manage
those ierocious moustachcs Of yours in th'
operation.'
lie pushed Lizzie, laughing, and blush
ing, towards me /! A gleam Of light ant
hope, almost too dazzling to bear, came ovcl
me, and I cried out, before thought.
Not Mary
II must have betrayed my secret to ever.
one IN the room. But nothing was said
even Frank, in general so obtusc, was thi
lime silent. kissed tho fair cheek of hi
yopng wife, and hurried to tho silent figure
looking out from tho window.
TIary-Mary Moore l said, in low
eager voice, have you no word Of wclcom
to give to the wandcrer?'
She turned and laid her hand in mine
and murmurcd hurriedly,
Il am glad to sec you. Harry
Simple words-and yet how blest thcy
made me l would not have yielded NJ
that moment for an Empcror's crown Fo
there was the happy home group, and tn
dear home iircsile, and there sweet Mar.
Moore The eyes I had dreamed of by da.
and night were falling before the arden
gaze of IN ne and the sweet face had s.
lonscd and prayed to rec was there bclor
me-morc beautiful, moro womanly, ant
more loving than before. never knew tn
meaning Of Happiness till that momcn
came
Many years have passed since that happ.
night, and the hair that was dark and gloss,
then is fast turning grey. am growing
to b, an old man, and can look back to
long, and happy, and | hope, well.spcn
life. And yet, sweet as 1t has been, woul'
not recall single day, for tho love tha
m,J,-mv mainland Nh brivht. shines nls