The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-05-07

And may not dreams become real
ties = again broke in that low and trem
uIous tone from the curtains at the boaC
Of the couch.
For the love Of God do not harrow
me thus Who spcalis;' and the Ian,
guid mau turned towards the speaker
and listened with flushed cheek and
Fastening pulse.
Cne from - Could you see a
friend and be calm; =
| am calm, but shall 20 mad if this
mystery is not solved
There was n rustic as the curtains
parted, a low foOtstep, and female stood
before the Invalid. For moment the
two looked in each others faces, whcu
with faint cry, of joy, the soldier
throw out his arm and claspcd Bell Pal
mer to himself.
Too sacred the tears and the word-
OF such a meeting, for intrusion. Leave
them TO weep out the fullnesS Of their
great JOY, for each found not the utter
cd language 10 convey The feelings of the
hour.
Three year have passed since the con-
cIusloD Of the Mexican war. For a time
letters from Bell Palmer came to her
parents, but the old man alwas got them
from the Office and destroyed them
bitterly the mother wept Nr the absent
daughter, but the father was severe 10
the dcnuncations. His own circum-
stances had sadly changed In an hour
OF speculation, he had embarked all in
company with the merchant I've wished
Bell to marry, and lost everything He
was poor, aud barely gained subsis-
tencc by days work.
With old Mrs Harding, it was differ
ent, From some unknown hsnd, mon
ey bad been sent from the land Of gold.
She could not divine by whom, for it was
understood that her son was among the
dead at Buena Vista. She could think
OF no other but that Of Bell Palmer,
which would so remember the childlcss
widow. And yet, at times, she dream
ed that her boy was still alive aud would
return again. A day or two before
christmas she had several times so dream
ed, and could not shake the impression
from her mind. 1t had been year.
nearly since her last msncy came, and
the last Of that had been expended. The
winter opened gloomy enough, aud even
her dream could not keep from despond-
ing. She was without food or fuel.
Old Mr.. Palmer and his wife were
but little better off. The old man was
now well nigh cripple, and had been
compelled to call on the town for aid -
Yet o change had como over his hard
and stubborn nature. His poor home
was chccrless, indeed His old heart
ycarncd for the absent one, and more
than in years before, he thought of Bell
and reproachcd himself for the harsh
treatment. He would have joyed to
have received n line now from her. but
he had no reason 10 expect il. There
was an aching void in the old mans
heart as ,hc wife set the scantily furnish
ed table for the Christmas supper. The
mother too, had been all the day dream
ng Of the absent one, and while so lost
n thought had unconsciously set the ia
Die for three. With choking sob, she
,aught the extra plate and would have
'cplaccd it in the cupboard, but the old
gentleman bad seen the move and ar
rested her hand
No, Mary, let things be Set the
BOARD for Bell My heart ycarns for
,ur child May God forgive me, but
did love her, and the broken old man
,obbcd heavily, and the hot tear rancd
ast down his withcred checks.
%, Michael, God Almighty bless you
or the words you have said, and the
mother fell upon his neck and mingled
Ter tears with his own. Together until
he daylight began to fade, did they
lrcam, aud talk aud weep In the moan
imc, old Mrs. Harding was shivering
lone 10y her almost freless hearth.
Back few months, to California at
he head Of one of the lovclicst valleys
# that sunny land The sun sets, hoot
Nc the scene with mellow beauty, glist-
pr upon the distant glaciers, and like I