The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-04
remained for me in the deaf. Z sanctuary Of

room, who had risen on my sudden en-
trance. One was the blue-eyed child whom
had already seen, and who now stood be-
eide 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 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 t!mld
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my HAND.
/" Welcome home, my boy" he SAID,
with the loud, cheerful tones | remembered
SO well. i" You have changed SO that never
would have known you; but no matter
about that-your heart is in the right place,
know ;,
J" How can you say he is changed :" saia
my mother, gently. To be sure ne looms
older and graver, and more like man tha1 !,
when he went away; but his eyes anu
smile are the same as ever. 1t is heaVy
heart which changes him. lie Is my boy
STILL" -,
"Aye, mother" l answered, sadly, u
am your boy still
Heaven help me! AT that moment felt
like boy, and it would have been blessed
relief to have wcpt upon her bosom, as
had done in infancy. But kept down the
beating of my heart and the tremor Of my
lip, and answered quietly, as looked into
his full, handsome face
You have changed too, Frank, but l
think for the better"
"Oh, ycs-thank you for the compll-
ment," he answered, with hearty laugh.
"My wife tells me | grow handsomer
every day"
His wife. Could hear that name and
keep silent still
{" And have you seen my little girl ?" he
added, lifting the infant in his arms, ana
kissing her crimsoned cheek. " tell you,
Harry, there is no such another IN the
world. Don't you think she looks very much
like her mother used to 7"
every much ?" faltered.
"Hallo.' cried Frank, with sudden
ness which made me start violently, "
have forgotten to introduce you to my wife
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, will give you leave to kiss
her once but mind, old fellow, you are
never to repeat the ceremony. Come here
she is: and for once want to see how you
| will manage those ferocious mOustaches OF
yours in 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 cried out before l thought, " Not
Mary"
1t must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room. But nothing was said ;
even Frank, in general so obtuse, was this
time silent. | kissed the fair cheek OF the
young wife, and hurried to the silent figure
looking out the window.
Mary-Mary Moore,"I said, in low,
eager tone, shave you no welcome to give
the wanderer ,"
She turned, and laid her hand in mine,
and said hurriedly-
81 am glad to see you here, Harry
= Simple words, md yet how blessed they
made me. Iwould not have yielded her up
that moment for an emperor's crown. For
there was the happy home group and the
dear home freside, with sweet Mary Moore.
The eyes l 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. | never
knew the meaning Of happiness until that
moment.
Many years have passed since that happy
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 yet, sweet as it has been 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 so =? At heart
l am as young as ever. And Mary, with
her bright hair parted smoothly from a
brow that has a slight furrow upon it, is
still the Mary of other days. To me she
can never grow old or change. The heart
that held her in infancy and sheltered her in
the flush and beauty of womanhood can
never cast her out till life shall cease to
warm it. Not even then, for love still
lives above.