Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-18

clinging to his hand. Near by stood Lizzi,
Moore, Mary's eldest sister, and i'm n distan
corner, to which she had retreated when m,
name was spoken, stood a tall and slender fiS
ure, half hidden by the heavy window curtain.
that fell to the floor.
When the first rapturous greeting was over
Lizzie led me forward with timid grace and
Frank Chester grasped my hand
" Welcome home, my bOyn he said with the
loud, cheerful tones / remembered so we'll
" lou have changed so that should never have
known you; but no matter for that--your heart
is in the right place, L know"
How can you say he is changed :" said my
mother, gently. To be sure, he looks older
and graver, and more like a man than when he
same as ever. 1t is that heavy beard that
changes him. He is my boy still"
"Ay, mother L answered, sadly; " / am
your boy still. y
Heaven help me At that moment felt like
boy, and it would have been blessed relief
to my infancy. But l kept down the beating
of my heart and the tremOr of my lip, and an.
swered quietly, as l looked in his full, hand
some face
:" You have changed, too, Frank, but think
for the better"
"Oh, yes-thank you for that compliment, -
he answered with hearty laugh "My wife
tells me grow handsomer every day"
His wife could hear that name and keen
silence still!
And have you seen my little girl?" he
added, lifting the infant in his arms. and kiss
ing her crimson cheek. Il tell YOU, Harry,
there is not such another in the world. Don I
you think she looks very much as her mother
used ?"
Very much - faltered.
" Halo! !" cried Frank, with n suddenness
that made me start violently. "I have forgot
ten to introduce you to my wife; believe YOU
and she used to be playmates in your young
days-eh, Harry - and he slapped me on the
back. For the sake of old times, and because
you were not here at the wedding, I'll give YOU
leave to kiss her Once-but mind, old fellow,
you are never to repeat the ceremony. Come
here she is, and l for once want to see how YOU
will manage those ferocious moustaches of yours
in the operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing,
towards me! A CLEAN of light and hope, al.
most too dazzling to bear, came over me, and
cried out before thought
Not Mary"
1t must have betrayed my secret to every one
in the room. But nothing was said-eyen
Frank, in general so Obtuse, was this time ST.
lent kissed the fair cheek of the young wife,
and hurried to the silent figure looking ont
from the window
Mary-Mary Moore said in low. eager
voice. have you no welcome to give to the
wanderer ?''
She turned and laid her hand In mine, and
murmured hurriedly-
. L am glad to see you here, Harry
Simple wOrds-and yet how blest they made
me. would not have yielded up that moment
Tor an emporer's crown. For there was the
happy home group, and the dear home freside.
and there sweet Mary Moore, The eye had
dreamed of by day and night were falling be-
fore the ardent gaze of mine and the sweet
face had so l0nged and prayed to see, was
there before L never knew the meaning of
happiness till that moment came,
Many years have passed since that happy
night, and the hair that was dark and glossy
then is fast turning gray. L am growing to be
an old man, and can look back to u long and
happy, and l hope, well-spent life And vet.
sweet as it has been, would not recall single
day, for the love that made my manhood so
bright, shines also upon me in my white hairs
An old man Can this be So At heart, L
am as young as ever. And Mary, with her
bright hair parted smoothly from brow that
has slight furrow upon it, is still the Mary Of
my early days. To me she can never grow old,
nor change. The heart that held her in in
fancy, and sheltered her in the flush and beauty
of womanhoOd, can never cast her out till life
shall cease to warm it. Not even then-for
love still lives above.