Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-12-23

sudden feeling OF pain.
What is your name, my pretty?" ]
asked, while the wondering servant held
the door.
Mary Moore"
''And what else asked quickly.
She lifted her hands to shade her eyes.
| had seen that very attitude in another, in
my boyhood, many and many a time-and
she answered in a sweet, birdlike voice.
Mary Moore Chester" isped the child.
My heart sunk down like lead. Here
was an end to all the bright hopes of my
! youth and manhood. Frank Chester, my
| boyish rival, who often tried in vain to
usurp my place beside the girl, had sue
ceeded 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, leaning
against the door, while my heart wept tears
or blood. The little one gazed at me,
8rieved and amazed and put up her pretty
lips as if about to cry, while the perplexed
servant stepped to the parlor door, and
called my sister out to see who it was that
conducted himself 50 strangely. I heard
slight step and pleasant voice say
ing
Did you wish to see my father, sir ?"
l looked up. There stood a pretty sweet
faced maiden Of twenty, and much chang
ed from the dear little sister | had loved so
well looked at her for a moment, and
then stilling the tempest of my heart, by
mighty effort, / 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 weft as if her heart would break
/ could not weep. I drew her gently in
to the lighted parlor, and stood with her
before them all
There was rush and cry of Joy, and
then my father and my mother sprang to-
wards me. and welcomed me home with
heartfelt tears. Oh. how sweet such
greeting to the way-worn traveller And
as / held my dear old mother to my breast
and erasped my fathers hand while Lizzie
chung beside. | felt that all was not vet
lost, and although another had secured
life's choicest blessing many JOY remained
for me- in the dear sanctuary of home.
There were four other inmates of the
room, who had risen ON my sudden en-
trance. One was the blue-eyed child whom
had already seen, and who 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
hurriedly retreated, when my name was
spoken. stood 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 timid
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my
hand.
''Welcome home my boy!" he said with
loud cheeful tones I remember it we'll
You have changed so that would have |
never known you, but no matter about |
that-your heart is in the right place |
know" ''How can you say heis changed?"
said my mother, gently, Ito be sure, he |
looks older, and grayer and more like a man |
than when he went away; but his smiles /
and eyes are the same as ever. 1t is a |
heavy heart that changes him He is my |
boy still.
Heaven help me! At that moment |
felt like boy, and it would have been a
blessed relief to have wept ON her bosom,
as l had done in infancy. But kept down |
the beating Of my heart and the tremor of |
my lip, and answered quietly as / looked |
full in his handsome face
"Qou have changed, too, Frank, but |
think for the better"
''Oh, yes,-thank you for the compli- |
ment, " he answered with hearty laugh
''NTy wife tells me 1 grow handsomer ev-
cry day"
His wife. Could I hear that name and |
keep silence still l.?
"And have you seen my little girl he
auueu uItllS IIle infant III Ills Hfnls, anu
kissing her crimson cheek. II tell you,
Harry, there is not such another in the |
world. Don't you think she looks very
much like her mother used to ?"
Every much " I faltered.
Halo !" cried Frank with a suddenness |
which made me start violently. II have
forgotten to introduce you to my wife L
believe she and you used to be playmates |
in your younger days-yes Harry !" and
he slapped me on the back, ''for the sake |
of old times and because you were not at |
the wedding, 1 will give you leave to kiss
her oncc-but mind old fellow you are not |
to repeat the ceremony. Come, here she
is, and for one want to see how you will |
manage the operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing |
towards me. A CLEAN of light and hope, |
almost too dazzling to bear, came over me,
and l cried out before / thought. mot |
Mary"
must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room. But nothing was said,