Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-05-25

twlnlng wreath oil the n0werS she
had brought, and singing a low
sweet melody; one that Annie loved
and often sang. He drew nearer:
near enough to read the inscription
on the marble tablet before him
His daughters name was craven
there, and the man with difficulty re-
pressed cry of pain. The young
girl turned her head; she saw him
and sprang to her feet. 2
Pardon me, young lady, he
said, courteously, ''for my seeming
intrusion. She who lies here was
very dear to me, but l have not seen
her these many years, and l did not
know of this
His manner. his gray hair, and
worn, sad face, reassured her, and
she remained awhile, answering
simply and frankly his few inquir-
les about her father and home. She
was the only child his Annie left,
and likely soon to be quite alone,
for her father was fast failing.
Maurice pondered. What should
he do? Could he tell her that he
was her grandfather? Would she
not fly from him as from savage
beast if she should know he was
the father who turned her gentle
mother from his heart and home, and
left her to die in poverty and pain !?
But she must know, or he could
make no reparation. And his good
angel told him that Annie would
forget, in kindness shown her loved
ones, even at this late hour, the
deep and bitter wrong done herself.
'' | have chaise waiting at the
gate" he said, at last. sWill you
allow me to carry you home and
see your father
But the revelations made there are
not for mortal pen to describe.
When he left, there was peace be-
tween them. 1t was but little time
that the sick man fingered, Maurice
doing all he could for his aid and
comfort, and he went to his rest,
happy in the assurance that Annie
Genevra should ever hold his moth
er's place in the heart and home of
the repentant old man. This prom
Use Maurice sought earnestly to full
fill, and though his daughters pres
ence seemed still conscious at times,
the shadow on his heart grew less,
and not all of pain. Yet thoughts
of the unreturning Past, regret,
softened though it were, served in
after years as q warning, a beacon,
the reminder his impervious will
still needed.
Five years have passed since An
ME Genevra came to Maurice Green
wood. Her presence has become
the sunlight Of his home; her voice
the sweetest music that meets his
ear; her hand alone rests on his
temples with soothing touch, when
sad memories oppress him; and ever,
as she comes near, the shadows on
hearth and heart grow less.
He sits musing alone this evening,
and a shade of troubled thought is
on his brow. Rarely does he talk
to himself, but he feels lonely now,
though Genevra has been away but
q day.
"Five years." he says. "How
happy we have been. And here this
girlish fancy must upset it all. Why
haven't / seen this before? Why
didn't I stop it? Wonder if 1 was
not an old fool to let them go off on
that boat trip to-day? But, if fhad
refused, what then? It would only
provoke Frank, and start him up
more resolute than ever, like as any
way; and, as for Genie, she'd have
cried all day, suppose. I'm in a
pretty plight, / declare! l might
have foreseen it-but, the mischief
/ didn't-when / took Frank into
the store, and let him come here so
much. I didn't want him to have
her; he's poor as Jobs cat-steady
and good, to be sure, and loves her,
no doubt of that. I'm not afraid
he wouldn't be kind, I'm not afraid
she wouldn't be happy; butt wanted
my pet, my pride, my beauty to take
a place befitting her. But, dear me
if i say no, she'll run away with
him, or she'll go and break her heart.
They're all alike, these girls" A
look of intense pain passed over the |
old mans face, and he murmured:
"Maybe if I'd been different, Annie |
might have been here now, Miriam,
too-who knows? What makes me |
think of Annie so tonight, 1 won
der?" he said, moving uneasily in
his chair. 81 wish those young
sters would come home-I do. It
seems as if she stood by me this
blessed minute. o Anniei Annie!
don't look so. 1 haven't done it,
Annie. ] haven't harmed them,"
cried the old man. half-wild in his |
excitement.
rWill you have tea now, sir, or
wait for Miss Genevrai" asked the
housekeeper, opening the door. "It's
past your usual time"
sTea before she comes? No, in
deed" was the instant reply. ''But
isn't it time for her to be homer
"The boats a little late tonight,
l reckon, sir. She'll be in soon, no |
doubt"
Later' The old man sprang to
his feet as if his years had suddenly
rolled from him. Later he re
peated, as he glanced at the clock,
and then walked nervously to the
window and back again.; Ten min
utes passed, and he grew so excited
that the good old housekeeper, while
she tried to quiet him, bitterly re-
preached herself for her casually
spoken words. There was really no
cause for alarm, as he would have
seen, but for his nervous excite
ment; but all manner Of accidents
ran riot in his fancy. and the mo-
ments seemed hours.
The door-bell rang. An instant
after Genevra's merry voice wound
through the entries and up the
stairs, and in she came, radiant with
health and happiness, just as she
had parted from him in the morn
ing.
80 grandpa, such splendid day
we've hadw she exclaimed, clasping
her arms round his neck.