Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-06-21

salu ne. Inc anxious question was an
swered on the instant for he saw imme-
diately before him, looming out of the
mist, the outline of house. which, as he
approached, took upon itself wondrous
familiar look.
Margaret sitting at the window, had for
hours gazed out into the gl0om-had for
hours watched the idle snow-flakes, as
they sauntered to earth, and listened for
the occasional cough that betokened q
rising wind; but her thoughts were else
where. Fit time for retrospection She
had once again reviewed her whole past
life: had thought of her girlh0od; Of the
days Of courtship; of her fierce, tumul-
tuous love for John; of her marriage at
eighteen of her husbands determination
to visit California: of his preparation and
departure for the land Of promise of the
birth of little Johnny, on the day of which
this was the tenth anniversary Of her
struggles with poverty, while fortune
frOwned on her husband, sick and desti-
tute in the land of gold; of the days
when she earned bread for herself and
boy, by sch0Ol-teaching, whereby was
formed the habit of self-reliance of her
persistent selfculture in all matters per-
tanning to the intellect, the fruitage of
which, at her old home, had been, not
firm frienships nor warm affections, but
envy on the part of women, admiration on
that of men of Johns joyous letters, an
nouncing his prosperity in California of
her journey thither; of the glad meeting,
and her after bitter disappointment at
finding that great gulf existed between
herself and husband-that her tastes,
thoughts, and desires were not his-that
while her purposes In life were definite
and fixed, his were dreamy and uncertain
that while she lived In the world Of
mind and logic, he lived in the senses and
feelings-while the keynote Of her char
acter was to hare, that of his was to be.
From retrospectiOn to introspection was
she quite secure that her standard of ex-
cellence was higher than that of John
Was 1t not logical, that the true point lay
between the extremes? Even admitting
the errors of her husbands ideas of life
and the desirability of his adoption of her
views-had she done her duty by him.
Should she not, by gentle influence, have
led him step by step into the clearer light;
instead of which, had she not, by ill-con-
cealed contempt and entire want of pa
tience with his ideas, driven him from her
side, to seek companionsbip and social en-
joyment elsewhereP She thought of his
fidelity to her in the long years of separa-
tion-of his endurance of sickness, priva-
ton, and suffering-and her heartsoftened
toward him. But then came in the
thought of his coldness and neglect for
months preceding the parting, and of his
taking away the boy and her heart re-
pented of its momentary weakness. "Still
one act of kindness" said she-''one gen.
erous deed for my sake, to restore my be-
lief in the nObleness of his nature, to as
sure me that his love for NE has not
wholly died out, and 1 will forget the
past and strive for the future. Yes; and
putting aside all past convictions, will
study ife's great lessons anew. But till
then"
Even as she spoke, the door opened, and
John, with his strange burden, entered.
Margaret neither spoke nor moved;
great fear and dread laid upon her. and
paralyzed every muscle. Hastily, Hem
ming freed himself from his load, re-
moved the rubber coat and the many blan-
kets that had sheltered and supported the
boy, and placed him on her lap. The
pale, suffering face lighted up with joy,
and. with a glad cry of Mother my
mother!" he kissed her on the lips and
either cheek, clasped his hands about her
neck, and rested MS head upon her DO
som. The mothers arms closed around
him, and fondly would she have clasPed
him there forever; but she felt the hands
Oose their hold, the limp form weigh |
heavier in her arms, and she knew that |
Johnny was with the angels.
Other children have since been born to |
he house of Hemming, and for theR the |
waters of love flow from the never-failing |
springs of parental affection. But dearer |
ar than the living is the dead boy who |
'lumbers in the shadow Of giant pine
whose white tombstone CLEANS out of the |
tight, and over whose grave roses shed |
heir petals and honeysuckles distill their
young life was demand
d that the parents might live, and whose
memory is to them ever an admonition
md benediction. Overland Monthly, for
|xne.