Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-10-12

ssooo silent o strange apparition grew up before
me' from behind the servant peered out a
small golden head-a tiny, delicate form fol.
io"eo, and sweet, childish face and blue ewes
were lifted up to mine, 30 ike the one that had
Frightened my boyhood, tina. started back with
sudden feeling Of pain.
what may your name be, little one2"
asked, while the wondering servant held the
She lifted up her hand as If to shade her
eyes-l had seen that very attitude In another,
III my boyhood, many and many time-and
answered In o sweet, bird like voice o.
"Mary Moore"
"And what else2" asked.
child
My heart sunk down like lead. Here was an
end 70 oil The bright dreams and hopes Of my
youth and manhood! Frank Chester, nv bow
ish rival, who had tried 10 vain to usurp my
place beside the girl, had succeeded at last
and won the woman away from me! And
must go there and meet her once again, and
tnen 60 away for ever and die-if God would
let me. 1.
sank, body and soul, beneath this blow,
and hiding my face in my hands, leaned
againet the door. The little one gazed at me,
grieved and amazed, and put her pretty lips as
If about to cry, while the perpexed servant
stepped to the parlor, and called my sister out
to hnd out who II could be that conducted him
self 30 strangely.
l heard light step and pleasant voice say
ing:
"Did you wish to see my father, sir2"
looked up There stood q pretty, sweet
faced maiden of twenty, not much changed
from the dear sister loved 80 we'll | looked
at her moment, and then, sitting the tumult
OF my heart by an effort, opened my arms,
and said:
"Jennie, don't you know me3'
Harry! Oh, my brother Harry" she cried
and threw herself upon my breast She wept
as II her heart would break. could not weep.
! drew her gently into the lighted parlor, and
stood with her before them all. There was a
rush and cry Of joy, and then my mother and
father sprang toward me and welcomed me
home with heartfelt tears. Oh, strange and
passing sweet Is such q greeting to the way
worn traveller And as l held my dear old
mother to my heart, and grasped my faith.
er'S hand, while Jennie clung beside me.
felt that all was not yet lost, and though an.
other had secured life's choicest blessing.
many joy remained for me 10 this dear sanc'
tuary of home
| There were four others, inmates of the room.
who had risen on my sudden entrance. One
was the blue-eyed child whom had already
seen, and who now stood by Frank Chester, ,
clnging to his hand. Near by stood Lizzie,
Mary Moore's eldest sister, and in q distant
corner, where she had hurriedly retreated
when my name was spoken, stood a tall and
slender figure, half hidden by thu heavy window
curtain that fell to the floor.
When the fret rapturous greeting was over.
Jennie led me forward with timid grace, and
Frank Chester grasped my hand.
"Welcome home, my home" he said, with
loud, cheerful tones l remembered 60 we'll
"You have changed 30 l would never have
known you; but no matter for that-your heart
is in the right place, know"
"How can you say he ia cbanged?" said nv
mother gently. "To be sure he looks older and
graver, and moro like a man than when he
went away; but his eyes and smile are the same
as ever. 1t lie that heavy beard that changes
him-he is my boy still."
"Yes mother" answered saoly, II am your
boy STILL"
God help me! At that momen. fel. like a
boy, and it would have been a blessed relief to
have wept upon her bosom, as had done in
my infancy. Bu. kept down the beating of
my heart, and the tremor of nv lp. and answer.
ed qaietly,a as looked in his full and handsome
face
"You have changed, too, Frank, but think
for the better"
"Oh, yes-thank you for tho COMPLIMENT
MY wife tells me l grow handsomer every
day."
His wife! could hear that name and keep
silent still7
"And have you seen my little girl" he added,
lifting the infant in his arms, and kissing her
crimson cheek. "I tell you Harry, there is not
another like her in the United States. Don's
you think she looks very much like her mothre
used TOT"
every mucb,"I fal,ersd.
"hallo" said Frank, with a suddenpess that
made me start violently; 81 had forgotten to
introduce you to my wife. believe you and
sne used 10 be playmates in your young days.
IN, Harry" and he slapped me on the back.
"For the sake of old times, and because Won
were not at the wedding, will give you leave
to kiss her once; but mind, old fellow, don't re-
peat the ceremony. Come, here she is, and for
once Will manage those ferocious moustsches
of yours in the operation"
lie pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing, to-
ward me. CLEAN of light and hope, almost
too dazzling to bear, came over me, and I cried
out befo | thought, "Not Mary"
, 1t must have betrayed my secret to every one
in the room, but nothing was said; even Frank
was this time client. / kissed the fair cheek
OF the young wife and hurried to the silent q @
ure looking out of the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore" said I, in low voice.
"have you alone no welcome to give the wan
derer"
She turned and laid her hand in mine: and
murmured hurriedly: al am glad to see YOU
here, Harry"
Simple words-and yet how blest thew made
me! would not have yielded up that moment
for an emperor's crown. There was the happy
home group, and the dear home freside. and
sweet Mary Moore! The eyes l had dreamed
OF by night and by day we're falling before the
ardent gaze OF mine, and the sweet face had
so long prayed to see was there before me-
, more beautiful than before. l never knew tiu
that moment the meaning Of real happiness.
, Many years have passed since that happy
D night, and the hair that was dark and glossy
> then is fast turning grey lam growing to be al
old man, and can look back to long, happy ant
a well-epent life. And yet, sweet as il has been
/ would not recall single day, for the love tina
0 made my manhood go bright, shines also upoI
i me In my white hairs. An old man! Can thi
be soi AT heart / am az young as ever
! Aud Mary, with her bright hair parted smooth,
I from her brow that has slight furrow in it, 4
| still the Mary of my earlier days. To me sh
| can never grow old or change. The heart The
held her In infancy, and sheltered her pious
in the fush and beauty of womanhood, cal
never cast her out till life shall cease to warn
It, Nor even then, for love still lives in Heaven
From the Madison County Democrat.1
( Debate BeIween Messrs. Cox and
Q ShellabRrger-Cox gets sheilabaY.
N