Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-02-22
wv stool. She put her hands on my

on low stoOl. one put ner nandS on my
shoulders and looked in my face.
"She didn't dare refuse you9" she said.-
"Boy, know you are in trouble. I'm your
mother. Tell me-"
"She did not accept me,n said.
"The naughty mink !" said my mother
81 =" Then she burst into tears.
"And that's to part as !" said she.
mot if you'll go with me-" answered.
But she would not leave her home, and /
went alone. 10 the frosty morning, as l
turned to look back at the little village from
the top of the old stage, saw the children
filling in at the school house door and
caught a glimpse of IIespy's dress beyond
! only fold of her dress, but knew it. The
| school.bel was ringing, but it did not say,
| Turn again to me, rs it should have done,
had l been such prophet as Wilmington.
made my fortune. had cousin in New
York who was deep in the mysteries of Wall
street. He helped me. SO did Luck or
Fate. In five years | was a moderately rich
man. My mother wanted nothing but my
presence. She could not come to me, but
she urged me to return to her.
At first my heart was too weak to he
trusted among those old familiar scenes. To
have met Hepsy would have been too much
to bear. But time helps us ALL At the end
of five years wrote to my MOTHER
VI am coming home again, since you will
not live here with me. Expect me to-mor-
row."
And on the morrow went. My mother
had not altered much. But had grown
long light beard, and was youth no longer
"a fact which troubled her There were
changes in the place, too. Girls we're mar
ried. Old people dead The tallest, hand
n
accident and crawled about u wretched Grip
pie. The church was rebuilt and the huts
in the hollow had been burnt down. a fac
tory had risen, and the factory peoples
houses were about it. Instead of the one
frame school house, was a brick building
with many windows ard cupola.
Who was the teacher9 Was she there
Hepsy Harrow? l dare not ask.
Idly | sauntered about the house, painted
and returnished now; and idly in the even
ing of my second day of home went out to
the shed where the little red sleigh stood
the shabby old thing with green patch on
the cushion.
1T hadn't been touched since you left, Al
mond, said my mother. "Poor old Dobbin!
How smart he used to take it around! l felt
as though I'D lost friend when he died.
Remember pachin' the cushion2"
She lifted it as she spoke. From behind
it dropped something. Wha,? OF leather,
blue, with mould, crushed by its long lying
under the cushion, but the reticule for all
that. IIepsy Harrow's reticulc.
opened it. There lay comb and brush,
an artificial rose-ard my letter. Yes, my
letter, that she had never read, never seen,
never heard of.
whats the matter, Almon?" asked my
mother.
For few moments did not know At
last spoke.
1T is Miss Harrow's reticulc."
"Shc must have lost it when you took her
sleigh riding" said my mother. "Jcst like
her to lose it and not know, extravagant
critter. She's teaching yet; likely too--she
amt married: no doubt she'll be an old maid
and serve her right"
The rest my mother said to herself for
waited for no more.
took the reticule in my hand and went
over the ong-forgotten path toward the
school house. School was over. A figure
| stood alone near the gate. l did not know
it at first But q nearer view l found that it
was more mature edition Of Hepsy Har-
| rows slender framc-not SO slender now,
but prctty-just as pretty in the face, and
| fresh and buxom.
walked up to her. She gave me puz-
zled look. Then her check flushed.
"Mr. Craig!" she said.
"Yes, Miss Harrow" l answered. Il am
here to restore your property. You lost a
reticule in my sleigh five years ago. To-day
l found it, There is something in it which
| asked you to look at when you we're alone.
| make the same request now. May see
you this EVENING""
She bowed. walked away. That night
| went once more to see her. She had been
weeping the letter lay upon her knee.
"Such an old relic of those foolish old
times" said she.
took her hand.
"You never answered it, lIepsy," 1 said.
"Wil you answer it now?"
"After all this time?" she said.
"Yes," | said.
She said nothing, and kissed her.
Our wedding was quiet one, and oul
lives have been quietly happy from that day
to the present hour.