Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-08-06
5rIrrt Hlisgrllunq
THE RECONCILIATION.
A STORY OF TWO PROUD HEARTS.
CHAPTER 1.

4 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 rustling
and waving in the woods, as if they
were whispering secrets to the gentle
wind that stirred them.
1t was a lovely day-a day to be hap
Py in; aud yet saddened look was
Visable on the sweet face of Faith Eyer
ton, 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 children-was a pretty brown stone
cottage, overhung with vines, and sur
rounded by beds of fragrant flowers
Behind the house was level and beau
tiful grove, in whose cool recesses she
: had often lain when but child, and
watched the Pickering light and shade
come down upon the ground for the
earliest years of Faith, as well as these
latter ones, had been spent in this quiet
place. Here she had been born-here
her kind mother dicd-hcre she had
lived with kind and only brother
here she had married her first love, and
here her children were springing up
the old familiar scenes smiling in beauty
around her.
She leaned upon the little gate, and
looked wistfully up the road She was
waiting there for the coming of her best
aRd early friend, and the sound of
wheels made her start, and sent color
into her pale check that had long been
stranger there. \ dusty stage coach
came whirling up beside the gates
stopped long enough for lady to alight
and give some order respecting her lug
gage and dashed away again. The new
conner did not see Faith for a moment,
so screened was she by the branches OF
a wild rose that grew beside the gate.
The traveller lifted her veil, and exposed
a broad, high forehead, shaded by silky
masses of black hair, a face we'll featured
but grave aud full of thought, and deep,
dark eyes, whose glances 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 face, contentment and home
happiness were more plainly stamped !;
the other dark and proud, and self-sus-
tanned, with look that said to the most
careless observer, "Oh, have suffered
To one, life had been fair summers
day, with only now and then light
and happy cloud to the other-ah
what to her but bleak and stormy
winter, where everything she loved
withercd and died And yet they were
of the same age, of the same station in
life; and side by side they had sat at
school, and played at home, in the
childhood that lay behind them.
The tears spran9 unbiddcn to the
eyes of Faith Egerton, as she saw the
steadfast look with which her visitor
regarded the scene around her. She
Esaed the lateh-of the gate, and stepped
out beside her.
eGertrude - Gertrude Alewynnc -
won't you speak to me ?" she said.
az Faith, dear Faith, is it you ?'' said
Gertrude.
They were clasped in each others
arms at once, Faith wept 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 so long jour
ney. You know never liked to sec
you cry"
b" But you are SO changed, Gertrude!
replied Faith.
g We'll, and if am ?'' said Gertrude
aft is some years since we met, deal
Faith, and they have not been marked
with rose leaves for me. You must no
expect to find me to be quite the same
at twenty i've as at fifteen. Life change:
us all, you know"
II know" answered Faith, sadly