The Lincoln County herald., 1871-12-21
REUNITED-A CHRISTMAS STORY
BY MRS. ELLEN NJ. MITCHELL.

Christmas Eve How the fire roared
up the chimney, aud flashed with CHEEKY
brightness into every corner Of the room
how it lit up the faces Of the two that
sat beside it, and softened the bitterness
OF one, ana uuded to the sweetness OF the
other. The faces were those of Hannah
Ware, spinster, and Of her girl visitor,
Faith Murray. The eyes Of the latter
we're bent on an open picture that she
held.
"Aud this arch lovely creature was
your sister, Miriam said she, in low
voico. IF you would but tell me her
story"
The woman's face pacd 10 the freight,
and her hands clasred aud unclasped each
other nervously.
"She is not dead ?" questioned Faith,
softly.
III know not" and the speakers's voice
was hard and cold, but her eyes had q
wistiul look. "Years ago she did me q
grievous wrong, and l have never for
given it,"
Faith shuddersd at the words, and
held up the picture appealiugly. "its a
terrible thing to say" whispered she,
land how it must have eaten into your
life. this unforgivng wrong. Oh take
back your words, dear Miss Ware, for
the sake Of your better self, for the sake
of this blessed Christmas time"
You know not what you ask" said
the other bitterly. "If you had nour.
ished in your breast serpent unsupported,
and it stung you to death, would you not
look upon it with hatred and loathing ?
If you had sacrificed for . sister youth
and health, if you had walked in the dark.
ness that she might rejoice iu the light.
and she had robeed you-treacherously y
deliberately robbed vou-of the one treas
ure left to your lonely life. could you
forgive it7'
Faiths eyes grew misty with O.rs,
and she put out her hand to clasp Miss
Wares. Dear friend, how you mus,
have suffered T. she said. "If could
hut speak some words of help or com
fort"
"Ah child you have done much fo'
me; you have broken through the cyni.
cal reserve Of the hard old maid, whom
everybody feared, and forced the way
to her heart; you have let into her dark
ened life somo faint sun.rays of human
love and hope ; but this is wound tina
even you cannot heal, for it rankles still
with the same bitter intensity as when
inflicted ten years ago."
"If you would but tell me the story,
and the sweet face was lifted pleadiugly
Would it pain you too much p
The womau's brow grew dark, and she
answered gloomily, "what if it does?
am used to suffering. But for no morta
have ever rolled away tho stone from
this dread secret"
Faith said not a word, but her eye
we're eloquent with love aud pity.
Miss Ware saw it, and her heart sof
tened towards this girl. who had clung t.
her from the first with such tender
childlike trust, and had not minded tha
she was harsh and unsympathizing, bu
had pierced through the outer crust t
tho good that lay beneath. You shaI
hear my story" she said, more gentl.
than she had spoken before, "and shal
judge between my sister Miriam and me
They named you rightly, dear. TO m.
tempest tossed heart you are the livin'
symbol Of faith in humanity and in God
. If in sll the world there is one who ca
make clear the terrible wrong have SUI
fered. it is you. Listen, then, and hcl
me if you can.
~ was eighteen when mother died
Miriam nine. We were worse than or
phaned; father was hopeless drunkard
Miriam was mothers legacy to mo sh
was the youngest, aud had ever been tn
favorite. Though | was but a girl,
realized the responsibility of this charge
But | did not shrink from it; mother
heart had not beon more bound up il
Miriam than was mine. resolved to d
my duty by the child, whatever sacri6c,
it involved to myself.
This resolution was quickly put t
the test. had lover, and he though h
his claims paramount to those of Miriam
He offered the child q home. but urge,
our speedy marriage. l laid the propo
sal before father in one of his sober iutes
walls, but though ready enough to ac
, knowledge that he was not q ft guard,a
for Miriam, no would not part with hel
However low be had fallen. he was m
father still, and dared not disregard hi
wishes. So love drew me one way, dut
another.
II explained it all to Richard; h
listened but was not convinced. 'Yo
. cannot be so cruel said he, 'as to sacri
fee me to that child, now when every
. thing has turned out exactly as v
wished. I have received the Sout
b American appointments; ahe salary
aot large, but amply suficieut for sls ou
sants but there 10 onl, Misiam betwse
= US and happiness. Why not ie* you
father Keep her, as he seems determire
~ 90. She tas bvs little fears from hi