Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-06-27
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE s7, 1868.
"And what else 2" asked quickly.

in nv boyhood many and many tinIe-and
answered in a sweet, bird-like voice;
"Mary Moore Chester"
MY heart sank down like lead. Here was
an end to all the bright dreams and hopes
of my youth and manhood. Frank Chester,
my boyish rival, who had 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
I sank, body and soul, beneath the blow,
and, hiding my face in my hands, leaned
agains the door, while my heart wept tears
of blood. The little one gazed at me griev-
ed and amazed, and put up her pretty lips
as If about to cry, while the perplexed ser
want stepped to the parlor door and called
my sister out to see who it was that con-
Quoted himself so strangely. / heard
did you wish to see my father, sir 2"
I looked up. There stood pretty, sweet
faced maiden of twenty, not much changed
from the dear little sister l had loved so
well. looked at her for a moment and
then, sitting the tempest of my heart by
mighty effort, l opened my arms and said :;
"IiiZzie, don't you know me2"
"Harry Oh my brother Harry !" she
cried and threw herself upon my breast
She wept as II her heart would break.
l could not weep. drew her gently in.
to the lighted parlor and stood with her
before them all.
There was rush and q cry of Joy, and
then my father and mother sprang toward
me and welcomed me home with heartfelt
tears Oh ! strange and passing sweet is
such greeting to wayworn traveller
And Us held my dear old mother to my
heart and grasped my fathers hand, while
Lizzie clung beside me, felt that all was
not yet lost, and although another had Sc
cureo life's choicest blessings many a Joy
remained for me IN the dear sanctuary of
home.
There were four other inmates of the
room, who had risen on nv sudden entrance
One was the bueeyed child whom 1 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 q distant corner, to which
she had hurriedly retreated 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 timid
grace and Frank Chester grasped my hand
"Wecome home, my boy !" he said, with
the loud cheerful tone l remembered so
we'll You have changed so that never
would have known you; bat no matter
about that--your heart rs in the right place,
| know"
How can you say he is changed ~ said
my mother, gently. 40 be sure, he looks
older and graver and more like man than
when he went away, but his eyes and smile
are the same as ever. 1t is heavy heart
which changes him. He is my boy STILL"
Heaven help me! At that moment I
felt like boy, and it would have been u
blessed relief to have wept upon her bosom,
rs had done in infancy. But l kept down
the beating of my heart and the tremor OF
my lip and answered quietly, as l looked
into his full, handsome face:
you have changed, too, Frank, but l
think for the better"
"Oh yes Thank you for the compli.
ment," he answered with hearty laugh.
"My wife tells me grow handsomer every
day"
Ills wife. Could hear the name and
keep silence still
"And have you seen my little girl 2" he
added, lifting the infant in his arms and
kissing her crimscneG cheek. 81 tell ynu,
Harry, there is not such another In the
world. Don't you think she looks very
much like her mother used tos"
Every much" faltered.
"Hallom cried Frank, with sudden
ness which made me start violently, II have
forgotten to introduce you to my wife. l
believe she and you used to be playmates
in 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, l will give you leave to kiss her
once but mind, old fellow, you are never
to repeat the ceremony. Comc-here she
is, and l. for once, want to see how you
will manage those ferocious moustaches of
yours in the operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blashing,
toward me. A CLEAN of light and hope al.
most too dazzling to bear came over me and
| cried out before thought
"Not Maryw
It must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room, but nothing was said even
Frank, in general 80 obtuse, was this time
silent. l kissed the fair cheek OF the young
wife and hurried to the silent figure looking
out the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore" said, in low,
eager tone, shave you no welcome to give
the wanderer Z"
She turned and laid her hand IN mine
and said, hurriedly:
81 am glad to see you here, Harry"
Simple words, and yet how blessed they
made me. ] would not have yield her up
that moment for an emperor's CROWN
There was the happy family group and the
dear home fireside, with sweet Mary Moore.
The eyes / had dreamed of by day and
night were falling beneath the ardent gaze
of mine and the sweet face had SO long
prayed to see was there beside me. i never
knew the meaning of happiness until that
moment.
Many years have passed since that hap
py night and the hair that was dark and
glossy then is fast turning gray am now
grown to be an old man and can look back
to happy and, hope, well spent life
And vet, sweet as it has beeni would not
recall single day, for the love that made
my manhood so bright shines also upon my
white hairs.
An old man Can this be sol At heart
am as young as ever. And Mary, with
her bright hair parted smoothly from a
brow that has slight furrow upon 1t, is
still the Mary of other days. To ne she
can never grow old or change. The heart
that held her infancy and sheltered her in