The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-07-11

were too merry 10 the parlor to heed the
long absent one who asked for admit
tanee. A bitter thought like this ran
through my mind as ! heard the sounds
from the parlor and saw the half sup
pressed smile on the servants face.
| hestated moment before making
myself known or asking for any of the
family, and while | stood silent a strange
aparition grew up before me. From
behind the servant pecrcd out small,
golden head, tinny, delicate form fol-
lowed, a sweet childish lace, with blue
eyes, lk3 those of one who had brigh-
tened my boyhood that | started with
sudden feeling Of pain
jphat IL your name, my prcttyW |
asked, while the wondering servant held
| the door.
"Mary Moore"
"And what else ?" I asked quickly.
She lifted up her hands to shade her
cycs-I had seen that very attitude in
another in my boyhoo0 many and many
time-and answered in u sweet, bird
| Ike voice:
Mary Moore Chester"
Ny hcart sank down like lead -
! Here was an end to all the bright dreams
and hopes of my youth and manhood.
Frank Chester, my boyiah rival, who
had Clten tried in vain to usurp NY
place beside the girl, had succeeded at
last and won her away from me. This
was tho chiid-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 gricved and amazed, and
put up her pretty lips as if about to cry,
while the perploxed servant stepped to
the paror door ant called my sister out
% see who it was who conducted him.
self SO strangely. heard light step
AMI pleasant voice saying
did you wish to see my father sir y
looked up. There stood a pretty,
swcct,iaced maiden Of twenty, not much
changed from the dear little sister l had
loved so we'll. | looked at her for a
moment and then, stillinc the tempest Of
my heart by.a mighty effort, | opened
my arms and said:
"Lizzic, don't you know me-"
"liarry Oh my brother Harry"
she cried and threw herself upon my
breast. She wcpt as if her heart would
break.
could not weep. I drew her gently
into the lighted parlor aud stood before
them all
There was a rush and cry of joy, and
then my father and mother spraug
toward me and wclco ned me home with
heartfelt tears. Oh strange and pass
ing sweet Is such greeting TO way
worn traveller. And Us | held my dear
old mother to my heart and Sraspod my
fathers hand, while Lizzie clung beside
me ! telt that all was not yet lost, and
although another had secured lifc's
choiscst blessing many JOY remained
Tor me ia the dear sanctuary of home.
There were four other inmates Of the
room, who had risen GU my sudden en-
trance. One was the blue eyed child
whom | had already seen and who now
stood beside Frank Chester clinging to
his hand Near by stood Lizzie Moore,
Mary's eldest sister, and in distant
corner, to which she had hurricdly re-
treated when my name was spoken, stood
a tall and slender figure half hidden by
the heavy window curtains that fell to
the floor
When the first rapturous greeting was
over Lizzie led me forward with tim
id grace and Frank Chester grasped my
hand.
"Wclcome home, my boy " he said,
with the loud cheerful tone | remember,
ed so well. "You have changed so that
| never would have known you but nc
matter about that your heart is in the
right place | know"
GLOW can you say he is changed p
said my mother gently. $40 be sure he
looks older and graver and more like 1
man than when he went away, but bis
eyes and smile are the same as ever. Il
is heavy heart which changes him
lie is my boy still"
Heaven help me At that moment
felt like a boy, and it would have
been a blessed relief to have wept upor
her bosom,as | had done in infancy. Blu
kept down the beating of my hear
and the tremor of my lip and answered
quietly as | looked into Lis full au(
handsome face
''You have changed, too, Frank, bu
| think for the better"
"Oh yes. Thank you for the com
plimcut," he answered with heart
laugh. "My wife tells me | grow hand
somcr every day"
His wife, Could | hear that nam
aud keep silence still?
"Aud have you seen my little girl =!
E he added, lifting the iuiant in lis arr.
and kissing her crimsoncd cheek, g.