The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-07-20

her gentle, care worn face, and glitter
ed among the silver threads Of what
had once been dark, luxuriant hair
Perhaps Donald noticed it also, and
memory opened her pages to his fresh
young manhood, when he had promised
to love and cherish this woman, who
had been on her part so true, SO loving,
so faithful; but how had he performed
his holy trust? True, the world may
never have known him to be selfish or
stingy in its accepted terms, but where
heart withers and dies, as it were, for
what might have been, will God accept
their vows as unbroken
Thinking doubtless the eyes of the
colored woman was on him, he must
give some explanation for the present
state Of affairs, therefore, as briefly as
possible, while he was helping to re-
store his fainting vile, he told Ellen
that jamie was married to the young
man that taught their village school last
year, and that he bad enlisted and was
now on his way with Robert to join the
rest Of the army; but he did not tell
her who, with falsehood, had caused
him to go, and we doubt if he liked to
think Of that himself. jamie, he said in
low, half-choked voice, as tho mem
Dry was working with giant sway, was
at house On the plains, injured severe
ly by some cattle, and might not recov-
er, as fever had set in AS to how or
why she came there, he was silent; and
much Ellen would like to have known,
his stern. forbiddins face repressed on
ly inquiries; SO she could only turn
and wipe away the tears that coursed
down her cheeks with the corner OF her
checked apron.
But why linger over the days and
weeks that followed, all fraught with
anxiety and pain for Donald McGre-
gor during this time realized with all
the fearful intensity chat self faecusation
brings, that the pale, suffering faces Of
wife and daughter might soon be still
and cold in the long, long sleep. Then
their lonely mounds would haunt him
with terrible vividness, even in his
dreams. He might strew them with
beautiful and choice flowers, erect cost
ly monuments, but that would not hide
their reproachfuf faces. and, oh, if he
had only paused ere plunging into such
misery!
When the physician told him they
would recover, Donald greatly aston
ished that individual by sinking into a
chair and sobbiDg hike child, as he
said :
God be thanked, doctor, that you
have saved themt I would not have
endured life if they had died their
blood would have been On my hands
The astonished doctor could not un-
derstand his broken words or strange
conduct then; but many long years af-
forwards he heard the story, when he
had retired from his profession and
handsome. manly son had taken his
place, and brought to his 1resfde sweet
young wife. resembling so closely jamie
our jamie, as we first saw her-that
one might believe she had drank from
the fountain Of perpetual youth. But
in Paul Chifton's eyes his jamie was still
just as fair in her mature, mantronly
grace as their daughter, the young doc
tors wife. and more dearly loved, If
possible, he might have said, than when
she fed that lonely, starless night to go
to him.
Mrs. McGregor lived TO see three
sweet grandchildren brighten their
bone, and realize that her latter years
were the purest and brightest, the
crowning glory of a we'll spent life; then
she had peacefully followed her son
Robert to that better and fairer land.
He was killed while in the army, at
the head of his company. fighting brave.
ly and desperately, and was buried On
the far away battle field by the hands
of Paul Clifton. But he did not die un-
til he had written to his father in the
pleading words of a dying man, asking
him to forgive and take Paul Clifton to
his heart and home. They had desired
with wicked delight that Paul might be
killed, but the summons had come to
him instead, after Paul's periling his
life to save him, as his SCARED face
would testify. Donald MeGregor's
heart being already softened, this open
ed the gate wider, and when Paul was
discharged with honor and returned to
his faithful wife, it was to find himself
a loved and respected son. e az
Grandpa McGregor,' as his grand
children fondly called him, though his
head was white as the driven snow, and
his form bent beneath the burden of
winters, on mild sunny days. trembling
ly leaning on his cane, would GO down
the garden walk and pause beside a
mound covered with fragrant blossoms.
On the polished marble Of the headstone
was sculptured noble dog, whose kind,
loving face but confirmed the chiselled
words, Faithful Nero beneath and
if any of his grandchildren were near,
Grandpa McGregor would, in all proba
bility, while resting in low rustic
chair, tell them the oft-repeated story
of her mothers journey with Nero by
her side. How, when unable to find
berries Nero caught birds and SOUR.
rels, and she cooked them bv a fire
lit by tinder-box she carried in her
pocket, and while he was absent, one
time hunting, she was attacked by some
almost wild cattle, with all the ferocity
OF their nature. Once or twice they had
thrown her up, and with scarce remain
ing reason she thought she must die
but just then the leader gave loud,
deep cry of rage and pain, and she saw
Nero hanging and struggling with his
teeth firmly fastened at his great throat.
Thoro = fIo,p -