The Shasta courier., 1860-02-25

clinging to his hand. Near by stood Lizzie
Moore, Nary's eldest sister, and in distant cor
ner, to which she had hurriedly retreated when
my name was spoken, stood a tall and slender
figure, half hidden by the heavy window cur
tains that fell to the floor
When the first rapturous greeting was over,
Lizzie led me forward with a tinrid grace, and
Frank Chester grasped my hand
Welcome home, my boy p he said With the
loud cheerful tones remembered SO WELL aYou
have changed so that should never 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
graYer, and more like man. than when he went
away-but his eyes and smile are the same as
ever. 1t is that heavy beard that changes him.
He is my boy still"
" Ay, mother" answered, sadly-"I am your
boy STILL"
Heaven help mel At that moment felt like
boy, and it would have been blessed relief
to have wept upon her bosom, as had done in
my infancy. But kept down the beating of my
heart and the tremor of my lip, and answered
quietly, as looked in his full, handsome face ::
" You have changed, too, Frank, but think
for the better"
"Oh, yes-thank you for tina. compliment"
he answered, with hearty laugh. any wife
tells me grow handsomer every day.
His wife could | hear that name and keep
silence still?
" And have you seen my little girl ~ he add
ed, lifting the infant in his arms and kissing her
crimson cheek. Z" | tell you, Harry, there i not
such another in the world. Don't you think
she looks very much as her mother used?p
"Very much y | faltered
" Halo ~ Grid Frank with SuddanneSc thar
made me start violently, 81 have forgotten 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 for once want to see how you will man.
age those ferocious mustaches of yours in the
operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing, to-
wards me. A CLEAN of light and hope, almost
too dazzling TO bear, came over me, and cried
out before thought
"Not Maryp
1t must have Betrayed my secret to every one
in the room. But nothing was said-even
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 out from
the window.
Mary-Mary Moore" I said, in a low, eager
voice, " have you no welcome to give to a wan
derer?'
She tnrned and laid her hand in mine. and
murmured hurredly:
'' am glad to see you here, Harry"
Simple words-and yet how blest they made
me would not have yielded up that moment
for an emperor's crown! For there was the
happy home group, and the dear home fireside,
and there sweet Mary Moore The eyes had
dreamed of by day and night we're falling before
the ardent gaze of mine; and the sweet face
had so lohged and prayed to see was there be-
fore me never knew the meaning of happi-
ness 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. am growing to be
an old man, and can look back into long and
happy, and hope, well spent life. And yet,
sweet as it has been, would not recall single
day, for the love that made my manhood so
bright shines also on my white hairs.
An old man! Can it be so? At heart am
as young as ever. And Mary, with her bright
hair parted smoothly from a brow that has
slight furrow upon it, is still the Mary of my
early days. To me she never grow old or
change. The heart that held her infancy, and
sheltered her in the beauty and flush of wo-
can never cast her out till lite shall
cease to warm it. Nor even then-for love still
lives above.