The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-01


Hall, and keep her in Miss Mays
place. | was so struck that | couldn't
speak word, fer in all the six year
since Miss May went away we'd never
burst to speak her name before him.
Master Johns a changed man, |
said to Peggy when [ went down
stairs; and if Miss May draws the
breath o life he'll find her-mark my
word land he'll bring her back
again + !.
John Warder thought as he walked
down street that morning that the day
had never been half so bright before,
or the shop-WindOws 50 gay, or the
faces he met so smiling and happy
Yesterday he would have shrunk
within his great over;coat and behind
his frosty muller, intent only upon
reaching his place of destination as
quickly as he might; but now his look
and mieu so accorded with the holiday
that some little boys ran up to him
with " Merry Christmas, Sirl" and
he actually drew off his great fur
gloves to feel In his pocket for some
pennies to give them. Then he stepped
inside toy-shop. where a crowd of
people were gayly chatting and hand
ling the Fancy wares, and bought
baby's rattle-a bright thing with
gilded chains and tinkling bells. As
sometimes, in New England, single
day of driving wind and rain will swell
the slender mountain streams to noisy
torrents, and carry off the accumulated
ice and snow of the long, frozen win
ter. so the melting process once begun
in Iah l., ~ l.
resistless way
Some procession was marching up
the street with floating banners, and
he stepped into fruiterer's shop to
wait until they should have passed
by. a woman stood before the count
er in an old and faded cloak. her face
turned away. She held bunch of
grapes in her thin hand.
You. have none cheaper?" she
was saying. Something in the voice
made him start
"A dollar and a half pound, ma'am
you can't expect them for less at
this season" was the answer, In a
careless tone, as if the shop keeper
anticipated but little profit from his
customer.
Could you give me ten cents
worth?" t4 a3a
Il suppose l could, but they're
hardly worth the trouble Of weigh
ing, said the man, roughly; and at
the words the woman turned with a
quick, hurt motion, her lips trembling,
and her face contrac ed with pain-a
young face, thin and worn, but wear
ing traces of great delicacy and beauty.
Warder was at her side in an in
slant he grasped her arm with
breathless eagerness, maxim her look
up into his face. Her own turned
white as death, she gasped and would
have fallen, but he caught her in his
arms. Oh, little May" he said,
with great 500; then mindful of the
curious .gazers who began to gather
around them, he half carried. half led
her out, and, reckoning to carriage
waiting near by, lifted her inside and
sat down, still supporting her in his
arms.
May! Mayl my darlingp he whis-
pere1, speak to me-forgive met
$ John my own brother!" and she
drew down his face and kissed him ON
the lips.
Few words were spoken at first;
there was no noisy demonstration.
The current of such emotion runs
deep, indeed, but it is still.
God sent little child last night
to be my teacher" he said at length,
but ceased suddenly as swift flush
dyed her face.
1t was yours!" he cried.
1t ,o0s minel' answered the moth
err. ''Oh, John! it was hard thing
to do, and harder even for-fOr my
husband, John-than for me; but my
first two babes lie in their little graves,
and now the foul air and unwhole-
some living we're whitening my tender
little flower | thought perhaps you
would not reject her; [ watched till
[ saw you take her In with your own
hands. [ never meant to let you
know until some time when she had
come to be to you What-what | once
was, dear. Ohm, and then [ thought
perhaps-perhaps little of the old
love might live again through the
newt
He did not answer, only held her
closer-clOser.
Where are we going?9 she asked,
anxiously.
Home, May
Oh, John I cannot, | cannot
My poor husband! You must let me
go to him now, this moment He lies
sick and helpless, aud [ have been
gone 50 long already ~
Your address, May?"
She gave. it, and when he had di-
rected tile cabman he drew forth, by
few sweeping questions, the con
densed history Of six years.
!" Walter was turned away from his