Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-06-11

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hand, while Lizzie still clung beside
me, I felt that all was not yet lost,
and, though another had secured
life's choicest blessing, many a JOY
remained for me in this dear sanctu-
ary Of home.
There were four other inmates OF
the room who had arisen on my sud-
den entrance. One was the blue-eyed
child whom | had already seen, and
who now stood beside Frank Chester,
clingiDg to his hand. Near by stood
Lizzie Moore, Mary's eldest sister,
and, in distant corner, to which she
had hurriedly retreated when my
name was spoken, stood tall and
slender figure, half hidden by the
heavy. window curtains that fell to
| floor.
When the first rapturous greeting
was over, Lizzie led me forward With
timid grace, and Frank Chester
grasped my hand.
"Welcome home, my boy" he said
with the loud, cheerful tones | remem-
bered so well. "Ycu have changed
$50 that should never have known
you; but no matter for that-your
heart is in the right place, | know. "
"How can you say be is changed?''
said my mother, gently. "To be
sure, be looks older and graver, and
more like man, than when be went
away-but his eyes and smiles are
the same as ever. It's the heavy
beard that changes him. He is my
boy still. o
Say, MOTHER / answered, sadly,
81 am your boy still.
Heaven help me |! At that mo-
ment | felt like a boy, and it would
have been blessed relief to have
wept upon her bosom, as | had done
in my Infancy. But ] kept down the
beating Of my beart and the tremor
of my lip, and answered quietly, as
| looked in bis full, handsome face
"You have changed, toe, Frank,
bat | think for the better
"Oh yes--thank you for the COM
I.pliment,," be answered, with hear
ty laugh. MY wife tells me grow
handsomer every day"
His wife!-could | hear that name
and keep silence still!
"Aud have you seen my little
girl?'' be added, lifting the infant in
bis arms and kissing her crimson
C heck. 81 tell you, Harry, there is
not such another in the world
Don't you think she looks very
much as her mother used?'
avery much!' faltered.
s.Hallo!!" cried Frank with a sud-
denness that made me start violent
| ly, Il have forgotten to introduce
you to my wife. / helieve she and
you used TO be playmates 10 your
younger days-eh, Harry?' and be
slapped me on the back. "For the
sake of old times, and because you
were not here at the wedding, | II
give you leave to kiss her once : but
mind, old fellow, you are never to re-
peat the ceremony. Come, here she
| is, and |, for one. want to see how
you win manage those feroclous
moustacbes Of yours in the operation.
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and
blushing. towards me! A gleam Of
light and hope, almost too dazzling
to bear, come over me, and | cried
out before | thought:
| "Not Mary!'
! 1t must have betrayed my secret
to every one sn the room. But moth
ing was said-even Frank, in gener-
al so ohtnse, was this time silent
II kissed the fair cheek of his young
wife, and buried to the silent figure
looking out from the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore" )" ] said, in
a low eager voice; shave you no word
of welcome to give to the wanderer!
! II am glad to see you, Harry"
Simple Bords-and yet how blest
| they made me! ! would not have
yielded up that moment for an en-
peror's crown! For there was the
happy home group, and the dear
home fireside, and there sweet Mary
Moore! The eyes ! bad dreamed ol
by day and by night we're falling be-
fore the ardent gaze Of mine; and the
sweet face ! had SO lopged and pray
! ed TO see was there before me- more
beautiful, more womanly, and more
loving than before! ! never knew