North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-27

the loud cheerful tones remembered so
well. "You have changed so much | never
would have known you-but no matter for
that your heart is in the right place know.
How can you say he is changed 2" said
my mother, gently. TO be sure he looks
older and graver and more like man than
when he went away, but his eyes and his
smiles are the same as ever. 1t is that heavy
beard that changes him: He is my boy STILL"
God help me! At that moment felt like
boy and it would have been blessed re-
lief to have wept upon her bosom, as had
done in my infancy. But | kept down the
beating of my heart and tAe tremor of my lip
and answered quietly, as looked in his full
handsome face
"You have changed too Frank, but 1
think for the better" r...
"Oh yes thank you for the compliment
My wife tells me l grow handsomer every
day."
His wife Could hear that name and
keep silent still
" And have you seen my little girl p' he
added, lifting the infant in his arms, and
kissing her crimson cheek. I tell you, Har-
ry, there is not another like her in the Unit
ed States. Don't you think she looks very
much like her mother used to 2"
" Very mucb," faltered.
Hallon' said Frank, with a suddenness
that made me start violently, | had forgot
ten to introduce you to my wife, | believe
you and she used to be playmates in your
days. Eh, Harry!'' and he slapped me on
the back. I" For the sake of cid times, and
because you were not here at the wedding
[ will give you leave to kiss her once-but
mind old fellow, don't repeat the ceremony
Come-here she is, and for once | will man.
age those ferocious moustaches of yours in
the operation"
He pushed Lizzy, laughing, and blushing
toward me. A CLEAN of light and hope, al
most too dazzling to bear, came over me
and l cried out before thought: /" Not Ma.
ry." ....
1t must have betrayed my secrets to every
one in the room; but nothing was said
even Frank was this time silent. kissed
the fair cheek of the young wife and hur
ried to the silent figure looking out of the
window.
I" Mary-Mary Moore" said I, in low
voice, have you alone no welcome to give
the wanderer 2" -.
She turned and laid her hand in mine and
murmured hurriedly-
" / am glad to see you here, Harry %
Simple words-and yet how blest they
made me | would not have yield-d up that
moment for an Emperor's crown. There
was the happy home group and the dear
home fire side and there sweet Mary Moore
The eyes had dreamed of by night and by
day, were falling before the ardent gaze Of
mine, and the sweet face had so long pray.
ed TO see was there before me, more beauti
full more womanly and more loving than be.
fore l rever knew till that moment the
meaning of happiness.
Many years have passed since that happy
night and the hair that was dark and glossy
then is fast turning grey. am growing te
be an old man and can look back to long
a happy and we'll spent life. And yet sweet
as it has been would not recall single day
for the love that made my manhood so bright
shines in the old man ! Can this be so? A
heart am as young as ever. And Mary
with her hair parted smoothly from brow
that has slight furrow in it, is still the Ma
ry of my early days. To me she can never
grow old or change. The heart that helc
her in infancy and sheltered piously in hel
the flesh and beauty of womanhood can new
er cast her out till life shall cease to warn
it. Not even then, for love still lives il
heaven.