The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-11-16
BIDDEFoRD ME-, FRIDAY M oRNING, NOVEMBER Is, 1860
countcnanco than l also uttered cry Of
Robert =" cried aunty.

countcnancc than l also uttered cry oi
surprise.
+" Robert-Rober. !" cried aunty.
Had the picture stepped down from It's
framc, or was this some conjuration OF the
fancy? There, his hat In his hand, and hls
glossy black hair hanging in clustering
curls round his handsome head, stood tho
very embodiment Of the picture OF Robert
Alison.
The young man advanced towards me, and
bowling, said, I" My name is Robert Alison"
81 know i'll knew it." cried aunty,
with almost frantic joy and, rising from
her chair she rushed to the young man and
threw her arms around his neck. Poor
aunty had been dwelling in Imagination up
on her old sweetheart, and seeing his very
counterpart before her, was lost to oil sense
of the impossibility Of his being the same
person from whom she had parted forty
years before. myself was some moments
before 1t flashed upon mo that the person
before us might be Robert Alison's son: The
young man was seriously embarrassed, but
kindly tooh.the good lady's embraces with
out attempting to disenchant her: While
she hung round him calling him her Z" dear
Robert" explained to the young man that
was her nephew, and that aunty, who was
fast sinking into dotage, had taken him Tor
his father, to whom, as he must know, she
was greatly attached in her youth. Lie said
he knew that, and that his father was coming
in presently. Meanwhile aunty hung about
him calling him by endearing names, and re-
minding him Of their young days and their
sorrowiul parting at the old bridge. -,
I" Don't you remember, Robert, tho oid
bridge, and my haxcn curls shining in the
wind that morning when came to say fare
we'll Come-come and sit by me-" and,
when the young man took scat by her eide,
she stroked his glossy curls, and turning to
me said proudly:
"You see it is jct black, as I told you
black and glossy, and all in curls, just like
the one that he gave me forty years ago."
The candles were now alight, and, Us
aunty said these words, her eyes fell upon,
her own shrivelled fingers, which embraced
the fresh young hand Of her old sweetheart,s 8
son. Forty years ago! :" she repeated with
a sigh (" dear, dear, what foolish old wo-
man | am! am wandering in my wits. y
Here she paused, and covered her face with
her hands. At length she said more calmly
f" have been dreaming, young man, as II
time had been standing still forty years. You
can't be my Robert Alison, you must be Ro-
bert Alson's son. Look" she added, before
he had time to reply, there is your .por-
trait. just as you had set for it," and, so
saying, ho took the candle, and led the
young man to the picture. Meanwhile q
knock came to the door. and an old grey
bearded man entered at my bidding.
"Mistrcss Patterson ?" said the stranger
inquiringly. ;,
| stopped up quietly to him, and asked
him if he was Mr.. Allison-Robcrt Allison!
IIo said yes, and no wanted to SEQ Mistress
Patterson. Aunty was still standing with
the young man, throwing tho light upon the
picture with her hand. said in u whisper,
'.that ia Mistress Patterson ~ The old man
started, and seized my arm for support
Aunty still stood there shading tho light,
and tho old man, grasping my arm more
tightly, remained gazing at her abstractcdly.
At length, turning to me, he said in u low
voice. "Excuse me, have sustained shock.
Forty years ago that was the pretticst girl in
this town; during all that time have tho't
Of her as sho was then. | meet her now
when both she and arc ycrSing towards the
grave. shouldn't have recognized my old
sweetheart, and dare say che will not rec.
Ognizc me. | went up to Aunty and told
her who had come. Sho came forward to
where tho old man was standing, with the
candle still in her hand. She gazcd at his
snow-whitc hair, and thin, sallow face, and
said, calmly holding out her hand, "Wcll,
Robert, and so wo have met ut last, after
forty years." 1--WE havc," rcjoined Robert
Allison; ..and having been old sweethearts,
there will be no harm in an embrace, espec-
tally rs am wiiower and you widow"
And the old man took Aunty in his arms,
and kissed her right heartily.
fully expected to SEQ 'scene;" but i
was greatly relieved to find that the old
swccthcarts were by no means disposed to be
sentimental. Tho old man and his son stop
cd and suppcd, and after supper Aunty grew
quito chaity and cheerful, and talked in q
light and airy way of old times. And at
last she brought out Roberts black curl -
and the old man laughed, and said he could
not supply any moro according to that sam
plc. -.
"Nor do ] suppose, Mistress Patterson"
hc added, taking locket from his neck,
"tbat you can execute an order according
to that" and 30 saying, he took out the
tresses of llaxen hair which Aunty had given
him on the old bridge forty years befOre.-
There were tears in Aunty's eyes as she look
ed upon the two locks lying side by side in
her lap.
Robert Allison settled down in his native
town, and was once more Aunty sweetheart.
Ile was constant visitor at her house, and
often walked out with her to the old bridge
where they parted in youth. The neighbors
laughed to see the old couple always together,
and said, pleasantly, that the best thing they
could do, since they had been swccthcarts SO
long, was to get married. But Aunty always
said she had had enough Of marrying. :.
Aunty did not 1.-Two long after the arrival
of her old sweetheart. The infirmities OF
old age came upon her fast. and the last time
she went out she was wheeled in chair to
the old bridge, and Robert Allison walked
with tottering steps by her side, !
Aunty lies in tho churchyard now! And
last year Robert Allison was laid by her side.
The iron. founder and the accountant repose
hard by; but they have nothing to say to 1t.
A r. r. Tram Saved supornaturally.