Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-04-30

/ A bitter thought like this ran through my
mind as heard the sounds from the paflor
and saw the half suppressed smile on the SER
wants face.
i hesitated q moment before making my.
| self known or asking for any of the family.
/ And while stood silent strange apparition
grew up before me from behind the servant
peered out small golden head, a, tiny, deli.
cate form followed; and sweet childish face,
with blue.eyes, was lifted to miReAse ike to
thoseof one who had frightened my boyhood.
that i started with:a sudden feeling of pain.
What is your name, my pretty Z" I asked
while the wondering servant held the door.
.AIary Moore"
(" Aud what else ?,' I asked dnickly.
Sheffield up her hands to Shade her ewes
II had seen that very attitude in another,
in. my boyhood, many and many a tine--and
answered in sweet, birdsliko VOICE
Mary Moore Chester" hsped the child.
My heart sank down like lead. Here was
an end toall the bright dreams and hoies of
| my youth and manhood. Frank. Chester nv
boyish rival, who had often tried in vain. to
usurp my place beside the girl had succeeded
at last, and had-Won her away from me. This
was the child-his child and Mary's.
/ sank, body and soul, beneath this blow.
And hiding my face in my hands leaned
against the door, while my heart wept tears
OF blood. The little one gazed at me, grieved
and amazed, and put up her pretty lips as if
about to cry, while the perplexed servant
stepped to the parlor door, and called nv sis.
ter out TO see who it was that conducted him<
self SO strangely. | heard a light step and a
| pleasant voice saying
''Did you wish to see my father, sir ?'
looked up. There stood pretty, sweet
faced maiden of twenty, not much changed
! from the dear little sister had loved so well.
looked at her for moment, and then still
ing the tumult of my heart, by mighty eff
fort 1 opened my arms and said.
Lizzie don't you know me ?"
Harry Oh my brother Harry! ]" she
cried and threw herself upon my breast. She
wept as if her heart would break.
Il could not weep. / drew her gently in.
to the lighted parlor, and stood with her be-
fore them all.
There was rush aud cry of Joy, and
| then my father and mother sprang towards
me, and welcomed me home with heartfelt
tears Oh, strange and passing sweet is such
agreeting to the way-worn traveller And as
L held my dear old mother to my heart and
| grasped my fathers hand, while Lizzie clupg=
beside me, felt that all was notsyet lost. and
although another had secured life's choicest
y
dear sanctuary of home.
There were four other inmates ofthe room.
who had risen on my sudden entrance. One
was the blue eyed child whom had already
seen, and who now stood beside Frank Chess
ter, clinging to his hand. Near by stood
Lizzie Moore, Mary's eldest sister, and in a
distant corner, to which she had hurriedly re-
treated when my name was spoken, stood
tall and slender figure half hidden by the
heavy window curtains that fell to the Hoor.
When the firstrapturous greeting was over.
Lizzie led me forward with a timid grace.
and Frank Chester grasped my hand.
Welcome home, my boy 2 he said, With
loud cheerful tones remembered so we'll
''You baye changed SO that [ never would
have known you; but no matter about that
your heart is in the right place, I know"
How can you say he is changed 2" said
my mother, gently. 80 be sure he looks
older and graver, and more ike man than
when he went away but lts eyes aud smile
are the same as: ever. 1t is heavy heart
which changes him. He is my boy still.''
Ay mother [ answered sadly, "I am
your boy still, -,
Heaven help me At that moment I felt
Ike boy, aud it would have been blessed
relief to have wept upon her bosom. as I had
| done 10 infancy. But kept down the beat
ing of my heart and the tremor Of my lin.
and an swered quietly, as / looked into his
full handsome flee
You have changed, too, Frank, but 1
/ think for the better"
Oh, yes-tbank you for the compliment, =
he answered with a hearty laugh s.DIy wife
| tells me grow, handsomer eyerv EIay.0
His wife. Gould l hear that name and
keep silence still?
"And have you seen my little giri?' he
added, lifting the infant in his arms and kiss
ing her,crimsoned cheek. "I tellyou, Harry,
there is not such another in the world. DoI3't
you think she looks very much ike her
mother used to 2"
"Yery much y I. faItered.
Halo J" cried Frank with suddenness
which made me start violently. Il have far.
I gotten to Introduce you to my wife /; [ believe
she and you used to be playmates in your
young days-yes Harry p and he slapped me
on the back. ssFOr the sake of old times and
because you were not at tie wedding, VIII
give you leave TO kiss her once-but mind
Old fellow, you are never to repeat the cere-
mony. Come-bere she is, and for ooce
want to see how you viii manage those fc-
roclous moustaches of yours in the operation. :,
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushipg.
towards me. A gleam of light and hope al
most too dazzling to bear came ever me. aud
cried out before thonght, Not Mary"
1t must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room. But nothing was said !;
even Frank, in general SO obtuse, was this
time silent, kissed the fair cheek of the
young wife, and hurried to the silent figure
looking out of the window.
Mary Mary Moore I said, in. low
eager tone, shave you no welcome to give
the wandeFer ?''
: She turned and laid her hand in mine and
said hurriedly-
II am glad to see you here, Harry"
Simple words-and yet how blessed they
made me. / would not have Welded her up