Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-12-28

J6Cb 10 MY OTueI 10 Jll6 Dduh VI Jl4C OLaGC
of Missouri, at st. Louis; but under no
circumstances, either seek yourself OF
so far as you may be able to prevent,
suffer any one else to seek to discover
nv whereabouts. In good time | will
make it known to you. Have your
promise? ..--.-.
You have
Let us then execute this paper at
once. 1 forgot to say that 1 would be
glad if you would dispose of all my
household goods, by auction or other
wise, as you may select, remitting the
proceeds as before. Ny business affairs
have already placed in process Of ad-
justment / shall Start tomorrow morn
ing.' .-if -.
tAnd your son?' ---
tGOes with me.
The Chicago of 1848 had given place
TO the Chicago of 1867. Nineteen yeare
had wrought changes as radical and as
marvellous as those of the kaleidoscope.
Instead of a provincial town, there was
a considerable city, and a city more full
of energy and vitality, as well as Of
'brag,' than any city in the world
Planking had given way to the persua-
siVe nicholson; long rows of wooden
'shaRties' had yielded up their standing
room to costly stons and iron; bridges
after bridges had spanned the sluggish
river; the steam itself, from mere
muddy prairie-cFeek had become q reck-
ing sewer, to get rid of whose foetid
breath was the subject of anxious con-
sideratiOn to more than two hundred
thousand people.
The shadows of a September evening
were slowly closing in, yet the roar of
the busy city did not seem to lull. At
intervals the horse cars went rumbling
by, packed full and running over with
tired men seeking their comfort homes
far out in what had been commons and
eornfields nineteen years before and the
tide of hurting pedestrians which flow
ed along the broad sidewalks seemed to
know no eJb.
Near one of the busiest parts of the
city, little Sancy store in a modest
wooden house nestled shyly between two
pretentious marble frOnts.i 1t bore on
1t face the traces of former era, and
it was evident that its successor would
be'of signally piferent style. Inside, a
young girl was daintily putting in order
some Iaees tumbled by a just departed
visitor, and slowly and tenderly mani
pulating the soft meshes with all the
feminine fOundness for the delicate web
Drawing a piece of the fOamy fabric
about ner white neck, she turned to q
little mirror behind the narrow counter,
and stood dreamily contemplating its
effect She was startled by a quick
tread and rough but manly and pleas
ant voice:
= Pardon me, miss, but can you tell me
if these streets bear the names they did
twenty years ago"
q'm sure I don't know, SIR she re-
piled, with little pout and blush, as
She busily folded up the lace with half
glance at the amused face of the ques-
toner. Aunt Mary can tell you all
about it, though; and if you'll wait
moment, I'n call her.
She fitted away through a door at the
rear of the shop, but returned almost
Immediately followed by a much older
lady. clothed in sober black, with a grave
but pleasant face on which were drawn
the unmistakable lines of sorrow and
tears, but whose expression plainly
showed that these had not narrowed the
heart nor embittered the spirit.
The Young man repeated his question.
rYes. sir: the names are the same, but
their features have changed in that
time. But you are too young to have
known them so long ago?
Aunt Mary slowly drew nearer to the
young stranger, her eyes fixed almost
wistfully on the fresh, rqddy face, while
the color which yet fingered in her
rounded cheek came and went fitfully,
and an unWonted light moistened and
trembled in the habitually densive eye.
YES he replied, I knew them, but
nv rec0llections 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 owned in this vicinity
please ask him to step inside. Per-
haps I can give him some information.
I have been familiar with this part of
the city for many years
A paIeness erept over the kindly face
as she watched the young mans elias
tic, swinging tread, as he passed out to
the street. How like his walk ? came
through her lips, more like the ghost
of a forgotten whisper than articulate
sounds. A book, which she had been
reading, and was still holding, was laid
noiselessly down, and with hands clasp
ed closely against her bosom, she stood
fixedly watching the door.
Presently 1aG0ef anu son eQLefeu To-
gether. California suns and Colorado
winds had Drowned the once thin and
oolorless cheek; the dark locks had
changer to irOn-grey, and the wild, free
life of the remote West, the healthful
toll and exposure of the mine and the
camp, the cherry cOmpaniOnship of for
est and river and mountain, while keep
ing the spirit fresh and free from moody
renlning, had even at that period of life,
broadened and strengthened the frame.
But all these changes could not conceal
the Individually, and Robert Barnes was
unmistakahle in his hale and deliberate
mOuntaineer, as in the hurrying deni-
zen of the city of nineteen years before.
This is my father, ma'am-Robert
Barnes
yes, madad; Harry tells me you are
quite
He stopped abruptly, and gazed at the
woman before him, who, with stream
ing eyes and purted lips, looked eagerly
towards him, and murmured, in tones
cAoked and low,