The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-29

which she had hurriedly retreated when my
name was spoken, stood a tall and slender figure,
hall hidden by the heavy window curtains that
fell to the floor r...
When the first rapturous greeting was over,
Lizzie led me forward with timid grace, and
Frank Chester grasped my hand
Welcome home my boy" he said with the
fond, cheerful tones l rememb ered so we'll.
!" You have changed SO that never would have
known yos; but no matter about that, your
heart is in the right place, know" -
f" How can you say he is changed 2" said my
mother, gently. "To be sure, he looks older and
graver, and more like man than when he went
away; but his eyes and smile are the same as
ever 1t is heavy heart which changes him.
He is my boy still
AYE. mother answered sadly, Il am your
boy still" -
Heaven help me At that moment felt like
boy, and it would have been blessed relief to
have wept upon her bosom as l had done in my
infancy. But | kept down the beating Of my
heart, and the tremor of my lip, and answered
quietly, as looked into her full handsome face.
"You have changed, too, Frank, but think
for the better" .a- ,..t
"Oh. yes--thank you for the compliment" he
answered with hearty laugh. I'D
"My wife tells me l grow handsomer every
day" -
His wife! Could l hear that name and keep
silent still IL. ..... ......-5
and have you my little girl = he added,
lifting the infant in his arms, and kissing her
orimsoned cheek. ~ tell you, Harry, there is
no such other in the world. Don't you think
she looks very much like her mother used to ~
Every much" faltered.
"Halo!' cried Frank, with a suddenness
which made me start violently. II have forgot
ten to introduce you to my wife; believe you
and she 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, 1 will give You
leave to kiss her once, but mind, old fellow. Won
are not to repeat the ceremony. Come, here she
| is, for one want to see how you will manage
those ferocious mustaches Of yours in the cere.
| mony." -l a't.H ri .a....
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing, to-
wards me. A CLEAN of light and hope almost too
| dazzling to bear, came over me, and I 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
| l kissed the fair cheek OF the young wife, and
hurried to the silent figure looking out of the
| window.
Mary-Mary Moorem said in low, eager
| tone, ''have you no welcome to give the wan.
| dersr?"
| She turned and laid her hand in mine, and
said hurriedly-
81 am glad to see You here Harry Simple
words, and yet how blessed they made me- l
would not have yielded her up that moment for
an emperor's crown. For there was the happy
home group and dear home tireside with sweet
Mary Moore. The eyes that had dreamed of
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 mo-
ment.
Many years have passed since that happy
night, and the hair that was dark and glossy is
fast turning grey. l am grown to be an old
man, and cal, look back to happy, and hope
well spent life And yet, sweet as it has been,
would not recall d single day, Tor the love that
made my manhood bright, shines also upon
my white hairs.
An old man! Can this be so At heart 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 has never grown old or
| changed. 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 them for love still
lives above. .-'