The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-03-02

MISCELLANY.
WAITING.
A TALE or CHICAGO.
Concluded


had wrought changes as radical and mar
vOlaus as those of the kaleidoscope In.
stead Of a provincial town, there WAS q
considerable city, and city more full OF
energy and vitality, as wellas of" brag,"
than any city in the world. Plsnking
had given way to the pervasiye " Nichol,
son :" long rows of wooden " shanties'
had yielded up their stsnding-room tc
costly stone and iron bridge after bridge
had spanned the sluggish river; the
stream itself from mere muddy prairie
creek had become a reehing sewer, to get
rid Of whose fetid breath was the subject
Of anxious consideration to more than
100000 people. l.a.- .rEr
The shadows oia September evening
were slowly closing in, yet the roar Of
the busy city did not seem to lull. At in
tervals the horse cars went rumbling by,
packed full and running over with tired
men seeking their comfortable homes far
opt in what had been commons and corn
fields nineteen years before, and the tide
OF hurrying pedestrians which flocked
along the broad sidewalks seemed to
know no ebb. s -.. .a.. ..t
Near one of the busiest points OF the
city, little fancy store in modest
wooden house, nestled shyly between two
pretentious marble fronts. ltbore on its
face the traces Of former era, and it
was evident that its successor would lie
of sigually different style. Inside, q
young girl was daintily putting in order
some laces tumbled by a just departed
visitor, aud slowly and tenderly manipu.
lating the soft meshes with all the femi
nine fondness for the delicate web
Drawing a piece of the foamy fabric
about her white neck, she turned to lit
tie mirror behind the narrow counter, and
stood dresmily contemplating its effect
She was star led BY 6 quick tread. and a
rough but manly and pleasant voice;
" Pardon me, miss, but can you tell me
if these streets bear the same names they
did twenty years ago r a-l ...a
.," I'm sure don't know, sir" she re-
piled with little pout and blush, as she
busily folded up the lace, with a half
glance at the amused face Of her ques
toner. Aunt Mary can tell you about
it. though; aud if you'll wait a moment,
III call her. ..
She fitted sway through the door in
the rear of the shop, but returned almost
Immediately, followed . bg.sa r much older
but sober face. on which were drawn the
unmistakable lines of sorrow and tears,
but whose expression plsinly showed that
these had not narrowed the hesrt nor
embittered the spirit l - -gidilrs
The young man repeated the question.
" Yes, sir the names are the same, but
their features have changed in that time.
But surely you are too young to have
known them 80 long agoT' r'El aa iaa
Aunt Mary slowly drew nearer the
young stranger, her eyes fixed almost
wistfully on the fresh, rudy face, while
the color which yet fingered in her round.
ed cheek came and went fitfully and an
invented light moistened and rremblcd
in the habitually pensive eye.
"Yes," he rcplieded, / know them,
but my recollection Of them is very dim
and faint. I am asking for my father,
who was very familiar with them then,
and is now looking about just outside
there to see if he can identify some prop.
erty he once own in this vicinity
" Please ask him to step inside. Per.
haps can give him some information.
have been familiar with this part Of the
city for many years. .-a'1 ..
A palcncss crcpt over the kindly face
as she watched the young mans elastic,
swinging tread, as he passed out to the
street. "How like his walk!" came
through her lips, more like the ghost OF
a forgotten whis per than articulate sounds
A book, which she had been reading, and
was still holding, was laid noisclessly
down, and. with hands clasped closely
against her bosom, she stood hxcdly
watching the door. 1i' I' POI
Presently father and son entered to
gether Californians suns and Coloradar
winds had Drowned the once tim and
colo less cheeks; the dark locks had
changed TO iron. gray, and the wild, free
life Of the remote West, tie healthful toll
and exposure Of the mine and camp, the
CHEEKY companionship Of forest and rive,
and mountain. while keeping the spirit
fresh and free from moody repining. had,
even at that period OF life, broadcned and
strengthened the frame, But all these
changes could not conceal the individual
ity, and Robert Bsrnes vas Enthusiastically
iu this hale and deliberate mountaineer
as in the hurrying dcnizen of the city Of
nineteen years before.
"This Is my father ma'sm--Roberl
Barnes" atr111r .s .rI JLtL -
Yes, ma'am; Harry tells Inc you ART
quite ...., .r..- .Ia at.,o..,,f -
He stopped abruptly, and gazcd AT the
woman before him, whv, with streaming
eyes and parted lips, leaned eagerly TO-
ward him, and murmurcd in tones check
cd and low 'f .h' i'.''. 10" .'''
Answered o Infinite Father an
swsrod Observation-Disclosures last---oh
at last"' and tottering forward, she seiz
ed his unresisting hand, and, clasping il
closely in both her own, looked eagcrl,
into the bronxed face, where surprise, anC
JOY, and love, and the smouldering tire:
Of halfiforgotten anger and distrust
seemed struggling for supremacy. p.
lie would have signed to the young
people to leave thcm alo @; but she lee
him still unresisting into her little sitting
room at the rear ofthe shop, then, softly
closing the door, she released his hand
and. still looking into bis face, said:
met one kiss for your wife, Robert