The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-05-25

, awhile ago about going back to
London, my dear ?p said the old
: lady, suddenly turning round to
Edith. 81 just want you to under
? stand that you can't go. I can't
? spare you"
She put one arm round Edith's
neck, and drew her round cheek
down on her lap.
"Do you really love me, Mrs.
! BeOkford ?" asked the girl earnestly.
, Glove you, darling2 ]. could no
more get along without you than I
could without the sunshine. It
seems as though you belong to me.
, I don't know what you've done 10
steal my old heart away, I'm sure,"
went on Mrs. Beckford, mutteringly;
but you remind me somehow of a
little daughter I once lost. You
won't leave me, Edith, dear?"
There was something almost pa
thetic in her pleading voice, as she
touched her withered lips to the
pure fOrhead of the beautiful girl.
"You'll stay and be daughter to
me in my old age, Edith. What
should I do without the little feet
that trip so lightly about the house,
and the hands that are forever busy
in my behalf? Tell me you will
stay, Edith P'
dearest Mrs. Bedford" whis-
Ipered Edith, with happy crimson
dyeing her cheek, ''I'll never leave
you I will stay with you always.
Oh, I am so glad you have learned
to love me-more glad than I can
tell you. But, Mrs. Beckford""
"Well, dear? ?"
"There's something l want to tell
something have kept back from
you" faItered Edith, with her fin
gers nervously twining themselves
round the old lady's slender, wrink-
led hand. Mrs. Beckford, I am"
But Mrs. Beckford had started to
her feet, with low, halfsuppressed |
cry.
Hush did not hear his footstep? |
It was something more than the
wind among the evergreens-it was
my boys foot upon the threshold!
He has come back to me- ~
She rushed to the door and threw
it wide open.
"Ernestl My boyr'
And a tall, stalwart figure caught
her in its arms, as if she had been a
little child.
"Mother, are you glad to see your
wanderer back once more ?"
Nor is it any asperslon on his
manly dignity to state that a slight
moisture was sparkling on his long
eye-lashes as he bent to kiss his
mothers cheek! Men are but NOR
tai, even though they be six feet
high, and framed accordingly.
As she drew him in, he caught a
glimpse of the figure in the apart
ment beyond.
"You are not alone, mother ?"
"No; Edith is with me-"
"And who may Edith be ?"
"Didn't you get my letters I
wrote all about her"
81 bavne't seen a letter fer three {
months"
Edith was standing where the full
brilliancy of the lamp shone upon ]
her blushing cheek and radiant
hair, as mother and son entered the {
room together. Ernest stopped
short, gazing at her in bewilder-
ment.
"Mabel %
"Ernest, what do you mean ?"
exclaimed Mrs. Beckford, doubtful
whether or not her son had taken )
leave of his senses. "This is Edith
Moore"
"She is Mabel Moore, my own
afianced wife !" said Ernest,
springing forward, and sealing his
words On lip and brow and check
with half o dozen kisses while the
young lady, much to Mrs. Beck
ford's horror, made not the slightest :
The next moment, however, she T.
withdrew from his encircling arms, =
and glided to the astOnished mat = =
ron's side. .
"Dearest Mrs. Beckford," she
said softly, 81 may tell you now o.
what was just trembling on my lips e,
when Ernest's footstep interrupt Ell
ed me. My name is Edith, but it is D
Mabel, too. Will you forgive me D
for stealing into your heart by b.
,tratagem knew you were pref ia
ldiced against one whom you re- W
garded as mere butterfly of fashion, a
and I had told Ernest that 1 never b.
would marry him without your con- W
sent. Half an hour ago I promised Il
not to leave you. Mother, you will n
not send me away from you now !" Il
And Mrs. Beckford then melted
straightway before the pleading
sunshine of the blue eyes. ,
81 always wanted a daughter" "
she said "but 1 could not bear the =
idea of Mabel Moore, the Bayswater
leiress." h
.'But you will love little Edith, az "
who came to be your companion ?" If If
81 suppose 1 ought to scold you it
for doceiving me-" said the old
ady; but II couldn't help loving -
you if L were to try ever so hard, m
and that's the truth of the matter. nj