Smyrna times., 1860-05-03
s ELECT STORY.
FATHER AND SOM.
BY vs.r.

if. Is Il
"Now, sir, go out of that door. and never. so
long as you live, dare to cross over lis threshold
again.
Very well, sir, | will obey you 10 the last
hour of my life."
The first of these speakers was a man whose
life had slid beyond It's fiftieth birthday. His
hair was sfted with grey. and wrinkles had be-
gun to gather on his forehead. He was tall, i
fine looking, and of commanding presence,
though the veins on bis temples were swollen
with passion. AS he spoke he rose up and
brought down his clenched hand on the table
with blow which sent shiver through it.
The last speaker was youth, just on the
threshold Of his twentieth year. He had the |
strong, stern features of the elder man, and the
same thin, compressed lips, but there was
softer light in The brown eyes, and something |
in the whole face which would have won you
quicker than the old mans. though il wss stern
and livid as the dead. AS he rose and walked
TO the library door. and answered his father
with those words which sealed his dismissal
from his home. and sent him out into the world
helpless and alone, soft. eager words seresmed
like silver flowing rivult down the sisfs, and
caught the young mans ear, just as his hand
was on the door-knob
"Edward-Edward, say, where are you go
ing ~
And the Rext moment bounded down to him
a fair child, whose golden hair was the color of
the dandellons, which were just opening in the
spring meadows, while her azure eyes were
full Of smiles, deepened and confirmed by the
sweet lips beneath them
g am going, Mary --don't ask me-" Bot as
che lifted up her bright, wistful face. be sud-
denly placed his hand over it, as though il was
more than he could bear.
Oh hi rd xuh la the uava
you and papa been qnarrelIing sgain!''
xes;. and now must leave you." His
voice shook huskiy along the syllabes.
"Forever, little sister! He has sent me
away, aud shall never come again"
h "Oh, Edward, Edward - and she lifted up
her little soft white arms. and closed them
4 around his neck. "You don't mean ia. You
won't go away and leave your little Mary ~
She can't live wiihou, you," and she pulled
down bis cheek to her face, and her tears
! dripped like rain upon it.
i On, yes she can, if she'll only make upher
mind TO-" He was trying 10 speak in cheer
inl voice now, and caressing the golden ring-
! let's in which the May sunbeams were Hntie.-
ing. .She'll be a brave good girl, and put
! bold face on the matter, and won't forget her
when I'm gone, and shall write her long
letter some Of these days"
:. Don't. Edward, don't. IN bresk my
7 heart. What shall | do without you 10 take me
: TO ride, and to Tell me funny stories. and help
9 me 10 take care Of my hower-beds, and what
!, will you 10 without Mary to love, and 70 tease
! you, TO comb your hair, and briog your slip.
pers! o, can't let you go - and she clung
: TO him; her sweet face washed with tears, and
. her small figure shaking with sobs.
e. lie teok her up in his arms, and pressed bel
tightly to his heart, ana the sternness went fol
" moment out oflhe young man's face.
can't help it, Mary, little sister, that
II love better than anything on the face of ths
!. earth, and Iwsns you TO remember this, wheth
er you ever see me again or not. But it won
: do 10 give way now. Father has ternsd m,
out of The house once and foreyer'' And her,
his face settled back into its old sternness one
+ more.
i The little girl stood still, and shiversd ! {
s Edward
: Then her sweet face suddenly flashed VI
y through her tears to him.
:, IL will go straight to pa pa, and beg him &
10 take you back" and she would have sprun.
away from her brother, but he held her bae
forc,bsy
"Neser, Mary, never will lsok upon hi
: face again. II is useless to intercede now. III
II has turned me, like dog, from his threshold
10 and cross It now for the last time"
). That stern face, and the clenched hand
which he brought down on the dsor- knob, froz
- the tears on the child's face.
G. Then the young man turned toward her, an
H. the fierce light went out Of his eyes.
n. Mary, little sisler, goodbye Don'i forge
! me, and pray for me every night He brok
y down here, and kissing her forehead three {
e. four times, be darted out of the house.
d.
or But. papa, you havn't sent him away fore,
er, and he will come back sometimes'' Al
she pressed up her soft wet cheeks TO the o.
o' mans and her small fingers fu,tered anon
&; his grey aprinkled hair, hike hock of new
m fedged birds.
- "Mary, you must never speak 10 me Of hi