The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-04-09

until to-day, and he offers me my old
place in his heart, and now want your
advice" My adUice on such sub
feet IF you still love him, dear
mother. there can be but one answer.
You will be happy and resume your
old position once more; for he is
wealthy, | believe" Yes; and my
children shall share my joy. Walter,
my noble boy, can enter college, and
thus his great desire be fulfilled
Lulu can return to the life she loves
so well, and more than all, you. my
brave girl, can give up this work that
Is firing you SO, and pursue your own
/ pleasure, for who of us so needs rest
as you, my comfort and support? Do.
not think Kathie, | have not noticed
your paling cheek and grave smile, so
unlike my Joyous, blooming girl.
Do not think Of me, mother, but let
your own heart give the answer; now
good night and bright dreams of the
| future Reaching her room Kathie
sat down by the window, and looking
up at the star lit sky, thought OF the
| change that was to come to them all.
Thank God that this happiness has
| come to my mother, but how can [
tell her that my place is here, for /
cannot enter her new home. 1t would
kill me to meet him every day, yet
she must not know we have ever met,
for it would estrange them, aud will
not bring diseord into any homo.
No, no Kathie, be brave; your work
IS hard. but oh how hard alone. ,"
! The next day Mr.. Huntington met
her on her return from school,
and spoke tenderly of his relation
with her mother, and the home that
was ready for them all. She said
nothing of her resolve then, but that
evening, before he came, she firmly
but tenderly told her mother that she
could not 90 with her to her new
home Not go with mel What do
you mean? You do not dislike Mr..
| admire and esteem him very mneh,
and rejoice in the love you have for
the man, but [ can never become one
Of his family" " What is that hear,
Kathie % said Mr.. Huntington, from
the door. and coming in, stood beside
her" that you will not 60 with your
mother ? Can you not receive me in
place Of the father that you have
/ l.
no one whom | could so willingly call
by the dear name of father, or TO
whom [ could so joyfuily entrust the
happiness of my mother and young
brother and sister, but | cannot go
with you. Do net urge me. for can
g not explain, and you cannot change
my decisioa. Believe me, it Is no
, glrlish caprice" You are too proud
- 4 n
, you not know it is q pleasure f. do
that which brings joy to the obje of
ones love. In caring for you Pr. &c
your mother, ard in pleasing her pies c
myself, or is it my children? The ;
,, will gladly welcome you. Russell, ny
, eldest, Ia wandering over Europe,
,, like the Wandering jew" but
!. sometime will return and w0uld re-
ard, my FIRE brand, es | call him,
needs one like you to lead him Alright,
TO smother the fire, to keep il from
+, bursting out. Alice, my only daugh-
, ter, is younger than you, and you
, could be loving elder sister to her.
So, you see, we all need you. So put
away your pride and come to us, my
, child" No, no; 1t cannot be: the
, picture is very bright, but you cannot
know my reason, but, believe me, |
cannot come. While l have youth
and health, [ can remain here, and if
sickness or trouble come, to no one
would [ sooner send for aid than to
, you. The time may come sometime
when [ will come home to you, but do
not urge me now. You leave early
In the morning, l believe, so [ will
bid you good bye as well as good
night" giving him her hand as she
was leaving the room. Yes; but
soon to return, for my bride ami |
hope to find you with different de-
cision."
The weeks that past before Mr..
Huntington S return were spent With
! the usual preparations, but Kathie still
persisted in her resolve, and made ar
rangements accordingly to remain.
! The wedding day came, and re-
! sembled a hundred other such days.
Smiles and tears mingled as the good
byes were said; and, with promise of
visit at the close of school, Mr..
Huntington was forced to be content,
and the bridal party were gone, and
Kathie left to take up life's burden
alone. As the weeks passed, pleasant
letters came, telling Of the happiness
that had come TO the dear ones; aud
she rej0iced with them. As the time
approached for her vacation, every
letter reminded her Of the promised
visit. while [ am happy In my new
! home, and meet with kindness and
love from Howard and Alice Hunt
ington, my heart longs for my own
Kathie. Russell, the oldest son, is
still in Europe, so we cannot have the
r circle complete as we wished, for he
? does not speak of his return" wrote
her mother. So she decided to go.
: A few days before the time for her
r departure, a gentlemen met her,
and, with a bow and smile,
} said, Miss Kathie Melrose, is it
not?" Yes. looking at the hand
J some boyish face, for he was near her
own age" then allow me to present
myself as your brother Howard Hunt
/ ington. called at your boarding
house, and was directed to seek you
J in your own domain. / am bearer OF
letters aud messages without number,
besides strict orders not 10 return
without you" Prolonging their walk,
J Kathie was soon chatting gayly with
her new acquaintance, and her old
merry laugh more than once startled
the birds in the woods through which
! she led the way. 1t was treat to her
J to meet one so like Horace Clinton,
after the quiet friends she was aceus
toned to meet every day, and Howard,
nm iSiVe bow was charmed with her