The weekly ledger., 1857-05-09

myself, "and they shall find out for then
selves if | am better worth the loving as /
am"
packed up many token from that liant
of romance and of gold, for the friends waa
to meet. The gift for Mary Moore was ont
| selected with a beating heart A ring Oh
rough, virgin gold, with her name and my own
engraved inside; that was all, and yet the
little toy thrilled me strangely as balanced
it on the tip of my finger.
To the eyes Of others it was but small
plain circlet, suggesting thoughts perhaps b,
its daintness, of the dainty white hand whid
was to wear it.. But to me-oh, to me-hdw
much was embodied therel A loving smile
on beautiful face-low words of welcome-
happy home, and sweet face smiling thtre
"a group of merry children to climb my
knee-all these delights were hidden within
that little ring Of gold!
CHAPTER II.
A tall, bearded, sun-bronzed man, knock
ed at the door of my fathers house. The
lights in the parlor windows, aud the hum Of
conversation and cheerful laughter, showed
me that company were assembled there. /
hoped my sister Lizzie would come to the
door, and thct might greet my family when
no straagers' eyes were looking curlously on.
! But no-a servant answered my summons.
They were too merry in the parlor to heed
the long-absent one when he asked for admit
tance Some such bitter thought was passing
through my mind, as | heard the sounds from
the parlor, and saw the halfsuppressed smile
on the servants face.
/ hesitated moment before / made myself
known, or asked after the family And while
| stood SILENT q strange apparition grew up
before me. From behind the servant peered
small golden head-a tiny, delicate form
followed, and sweet, childish face and blue
eyes were lifted up to mine; so like-so like
to one that had frightened my boyhood that
| started back with sudden feeling of pain
"What may your name be, little onew
asked, while the wondering servant held
the door.
She lifted up her hand as if to shade her
eyes, Il 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 else?" / asked, quietly.
"Mary Moore Chester lisped the child.
"My heart sunk down like lead Here
was an end to all the bright dreams and hopes
of my youth and manhood Frank Chester,
my boyish rival, who had often tried, and
tried in vain to usurp my place beside the
girl, had succeeded at last, and had won the
woman away from mel This was his child
his child and Marys! And | must go in
there, and meet her once again, and then go
away forever, and die, if God would let me-
| sank, body and SOU, beneath this blow
And hiding my face in my hands, l lean
ed against the door, while my heart wept
tears of blood. The little one gazed at me,
grieyed and amazed, and put up her pretty
lip as if about to cry, while the perplexed
servant stepped to the parlor door, and called
my sister out, to find out who it could be that
conducted so strangely.
heard light step, and q pleasant voice
saying,
odd you wish to see my father. sirw
looked up. There stood pretty, sweet
faced maiden Of twenty, not much changed
from the dear little sister had loved so we'll
| looked at her a moment, and then stilling
the tumult of my heart by powerful effort
opened my arms, and said
"Lzzy, don't you know me?"
"Harryl 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 lighted parlor, and stood with her before
them ALL
There was a rush and cry; and then my
father and mother sprung towards me, and
welcomed me home with heartfelt tearsl Oh,
strange, and passing sweet, is such greet
ting to the way-worn wanderer! And as
held my dear old mother to my heart, and
grasped my fathers hand, while Lizzie still
c.ung beside me, 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 sanctuary of home.
There were four other inmates of the room,
who had arisen on my sudden entrance One
was the blue-eyed child whom had already
seen, and who now stood beside Frank Ches-
ter, clnging to his hand. Near by stood
Lizzie Moore, Marys eldest sister, and in
distant corner, where she had hurriedly re-
treated when my name was spoken stood a
tall and slender figure, half hidden by the
heavy window curtain that fell to the floor.
When the first rapturous greeting was
over, Lizzie led me forward with tmid
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my hand
"Welcome home, my boy" he said, with
the loud cheerful tones remembered so well.
"You have changed SO | never should have
known you-but no matter for that-your
heart is in the right place, know"
"How can you say he is changed ?" said
nv mother, gently. "To be sure he looks
older and graver, and more like man than
when he went away-but his eyes and smile