Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-10-23

| like voice
"Maly Moore"
"ALd what else?" asked.
"Mary Moore Chester" lisped the lit
tie child.
My heart sunk down like lead. Her,
was an end to all Of the bright dreams
and hopes Of my youth and manhoodl-
Frank Chester, my boyish rival, who
had tried in vain to usurp my place beside
the girl had succeeded at last and won
the woman away from me! And mus,
go there and meet her once again, and
then go away forever and die-if God
would let me.
| sank, body and soul, beneath this
blow, and hiding my face in my hands
leaned against The door. The little one
gazed at me, grieved and amazed, and
put her pretty lips as if about to cry
while the pcrplexed servant stepped to the
par'or, and called my sister out to find
ont who it could be that conducted him.
self so strangely.
heard light step and pleasant voice
saying
"Did you wish to see my father, sir?'
looked up. There stood a pretty,
sweet faced maiden oftwenty, not changed
from the dear sister | loved so well.
looked at her moment and then, sitting
the tumnlt Of my heart by an effort, |
opened my arms, and said
"Jennie, don't your know me?
"llalry. Oh, my brother iarry" she
cried, and threw herself upon my breast
She WEI as If her heart would break
| could not weep. ] dlow her gently in
to the lighted parlor, and stood with her
before them all. There was a rush and a
cry of joy, and then my mother and faith.
cr sprang toward me and welcomed me
home with heartfelt tears. Oh, strange
and passing sweet is such a greeting to
the wayworn traveller. And as | held
my dear old mother to my heart, and
grasped my fathers hand, while Jennie
clung beside me, i felt that all was not
yet lost, and though another had secured
iie's choicest blessing, many Joy re-
mained for me in this dear sanctuary OF
home.
There were four others, inmates of the
room, who had risen on my sud,len en-
trance. One was the blue-eyed child
whom had slrea ly seen, and who now
stood by Frank Chester, clinging to his
hand. Near by stool Lizzie, Mary Moore's
eldest sister, and in a distant corner, where
she had hurrielly retreated, when my
name was spoken, stood tall and slen-
der figure, half hidden by the heavy win
dow curtain that fell to the floor.
When the first rapturous greeting was
over, Jennie led me forward with tim id
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my
hand.
"Welcome home, my home." he said,
with loud, cheerful tones | remembered
so we'll. "You have changed so would
neve have known you; but no matter for
that-your heart is in the right place,
know"
Glow can You say he has changed?"
sail my mother gently. "ro be sure he
looks older and graver, and more like a
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"
"Yes mother" I answered sally, 81
am your boy still"
God help mel AT that moment felt
like boy, and it would have been bless
ed relief to have wept upon her bosom, as
| had done in my infancy. But kept
down the beating Of nay heart, and the
tremor of my lips, and answered quietly
as | looked in his full and handsome face:
''You have changed, too, Frank, but |
think for the better"
"Oh, yes-thanE You for the compli-
ment. My wife tells me ! grow hand
somer every day"
His wife! could | hear that name and
keep silent still?
"And have you seen my little grill"
he added, lifting the infant in his arms,
and kissing her crimson cheek. 81 tell
you Harry, there is not anothe" like her
in the United States. Don't you think
she looks very much like her mother nsed
to?"
every mucn." | faltered.
"Ilailoop said Frank, with a sudden
ness that made me start violently; 81
had forgotten to introduce you to my
wife. | believe you and her used to be
playmates in your young days. Eth,
Harry" and he slapped me on the back.
For the sake of old times, and because
you were not 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 manage
those ferocious moustachcs of yours in
the operation.
lie pushed Lizzie, laughing and blush
ing. toward me- a CLEAN of light and
hope, almost too dazzling to bear, came
over me- and | cried out before thought,
"Not Mary!"
1t must have betrayed my secret to ev-
cry one in the room, but nothing was
said even Frank was this time silent
kissed the fair cheek of the young wife
and hurried to the silent fguIe looking
out of the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore. said |, in
low OF voice, "have you alone no well
come to give the wanderer!''
She turned and laid her hand in mine;
and murmured hurriedly: II am s lad
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
There was the happy home group, and
the dear home pruup. and the dear home