Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-12-04

Ileuly letTeabeQ when " uf4t Wa
spoken, stood a tall and slender figure
half hidden by the heavy window cur
tain that fell TO the floor. a 81,
When the first rapturous greetinl
was over. Jennie led me forward viii
J a timid grace, and Frank ChesfsI
grasped my hand. la -
"Welcome home. my home he ssid
with the loud. cheerful tones | remem
bered so well. "You have changed 81
I would never have known you; bu
no matter for thst--your heart is il
the right place. l know" ~
chow can you say he isycbanged?'
said my mother gently. "To be SURF
be looks older and grayer, and more
like a man than when he went away;
but his eyes aud smile are Esame a.
ever. 1t is that heavy abeRfa thai
changes him-he is my boy STILL,
Eyes. mother" / answered sadly,
81 am your boy still"
God 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 l kept down the beating Of my
heart, and the tfemor of my lip, and
answered quietly, as l looked in his full
and handsome face III
"You have changed, too, Frank,
but | think for the BETTER"
"Oh. yes.-thank you for the COM
pliment. Ny wife tells me 1 grow
handsomer every day"
His wife! could l 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 another like
her in the United States. Don't you
think she looks very much like her
mother used to?"
"Very much" l faltered.
"Hallol" said Frank, with sudden
ness that made the start violently; 81
had forgotten to introduce you TO my
wife. 81 believe you and she used to
be playmates in your young days. Eli,
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 cere-
mony. Come, here she is, and for
once l viii manage those feroeious
moustaches of yours in the operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and
blushing. toward me. A gleam OF
light and hope. almost too dazzling to
bear, came over me. and l cried out be-
fore l thought, "Not MaryP
/ must have betrayed my secret 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 hurried to the silent figure
looking out of the window. Il
"Mary-Moore," said /, in low
voice. "have you alone no welcome to
give the wandererl'
She turned and laid her hand in
mine, and murmured huriedly: 81 am
glad to see you here. Harry"
Simple words-and yet how blest
they made mel l would not have yiel-
ded up that moment for an emperor's
crown. There was the happy home
group, and the dear home freslde, and
sweet Mary Moorel The eyes l had
dreamed OF by night and by day were
falling before the ardent gaze Of mine,
and the sweet face | had so long prayed
to see was before me-more beautiful
than before. l never knew till that
moment the meaning of real happiness.
Many years have passed since that
happy night, and the hair that was
dark and glossy then is fast turning
gray. l am growing to be an old man,
and can look back to long, happy and
well-spent life. And yet. sweet as it
has been. l would not recall single .
day, for the love that made my man.
hood SO bright, shines also upon me in
my white hairs. An old man! Can
this be sol At heart / am as young
as ever. And Mary, with her bright
hair parted smoothly from her brow
that has slight furrow In 1t, is still
the Mary of my earlier days. To me,
she can never grow old or change. The
heart that held her in infancy, and
sheltered her piously in the flush and
beauty Of womanhood, can never cast
her out till life shall cease to warm it.
Nor even then, for love still lives In
Heaven.