The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-11
TALES or THE BORDERS.
BY yoHH MAcKAT WILsoH.

/ "A lew years dSOs uAypcuueu 10 p46s
through the main street Of Carlisle, just a.
the south mail had pulled up" at the door
of ''tbe Bush" 7i
The night was very cold, the horses were
tossing their heads, and pawipg the ground,
impatient to escape from the restraint Of
their harnes7, and the steam, which rose in
clouds from heir bodies, gave evidence that
that they had just ''come of" rapid and
fatiguing stage
At the stage door stood a middle-aged,
geutlemanly-loOking man, whose blue nose,
mufied throat and frozen body. pointed him
out as one Of the new arrivals. As I loi-
tered slowly past, the stranger, who had just
settled the claims Of Che guard, turned
round and observed me. His keen eye
rested for a moment on my features-he
suddenly started, looked again, and then
said
"No; cannot be mistaken. / surely
ought to know that face is not your name
Lorrimer p
1T is, - replied I, surprised at being thus
accosted by perfect stranger. "YOu are
better acquainted with my name, sir, than l
am With yours, for l am not conscious Of
having ever seen you before"
= Look AZ me again, Frank try if YOU
tezunUs UsTecUsse - ~ stsasd
the trsvellers' room, and the gas-Egh fen
full on bis face.
looked, but in vain.
+" am ashamed to say, do not know
who you can be, though l have kind Of
consciousness that your features are those Of
an old friend. ~ m
do you not remember Richard Mus
grave p
What Richard Muzzy? 70 be sure
l do-the kindsst.hearted fe|Ow that ever
dog Latin grammar. What news
of my old schOOl-mate r.
"He is speaking to you now"
"Is it possible! You Richard Mus
grave Why, Richard was younger,
rather think, than myself and you, beg
| ging your pardon, are almost old enough
to be my father"
{" So it is, Notwithstanding. am Rich
ard Musgrave. Time and climate must have
altered me even more sadly than conceived
since Frank LOrrimer fails to recognize
me"
He was indeed changed. Some aItera
ton might have been expected. for severa
years had elapsed since we had met !; bu
time alone bad not thus metamorphoeeC
him. We had been schoolfellows and init
mate friends; and, when be left home, ter
years before, be was a handsome, vigorous
young fellow, with hair dark as a raven
wing, and brow clear as alabasteF. Now
his hair Was iron grey, his features were
dark and sunburned, aE6 the scar, of a sa
bre wound apparently. dis6gured his fore
head. Even with my knowledge Of his iden
tity, some minutes alapsed ere could per
suade myself that the friend Of my you'll
stood before me; bat my recollection SLOWLY
revived as gazed upon him, and wonder
ed Amy own stupiday in mot having sOone
REQ Ied him.
grave, my dear fellow" said /
shakiA him cordially BY the hand, I" I re
jOice to IN Ou. Time has altered us bOtI
Outwardly; bt1 l trust, it has left GU
hearts unchanged. The recollection o
youthful joys and sOrrOws is the last T.
leave US. Amid all the changes and chance
Of our life. our thoughts fOndly dwell upOI
the days Of our innocent and happy child
hood, and all the friendships we form IN al
ter years can never eface the remembEanc
Of those who were dear TO us in our earl
days. have often thought Of you, Mul
! grave, and often, though in vain, hav
made anxious inquiries after the fate Of IN
old friend end schOOlfellOW; and now, tha
you hare returned, | should have passe
you by as common stranger, had you
memory been as treAcherous as my own"
"YeU forget, my dear fellow" replie
be, " that you are but little changed you
Horid cheek, and smooth, unwrinkled brow
prove that time has been flowing on in
smooth, unruf1ed current With you; that 70
have been living a life Of ease and comfOr
But look at me; on my suuburued feature
you may read life Of hardship and expt
: sure. Look at my br,w! These preml
/. ture wrinkles are mementoes of care an
anxiety. But come. / have much to ne
and to tell you If you have leisure, let =
retire to a private room, and talk over th
past. ! cannot, find, proceed on my jOu
Dey till the morning. and ] could not en-
pIOy my time NOR agreeably than in cUl
!. versatiOn with an old friend"
9 I willingly complied with bis reques
! and 10 few moments we were seated besid
i a comfortable FIRE, with call appliances an
}. means to boot, for making the evening pa
: with spirit. ,-
| ''NOW, Frank" /" said Musgrave, 'befOl
we commence, set my mind at rest aboV
= my family. Do you know anything
them -
It is some time since saw them, but
beard few days 40 that they we're Z
wall"