South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-09-26
Coming Home.
BY coRSELlA BRKclvAL.

Z hepNS.
Lilly looked up With shy sparkle Of tie
pretty blue eyes, ard shadow Of peach
bloom stealing into either cheek.
! The windows were thrown open, and 6ut
on the wide, pleasant piazza sat Mrs Ward,
a motherly smile coming into her faco at
sight of those two faces, dearer to her old
eyes than all the rest of the world. Up in
the maple trees, the birds were singing as
if they could never the Of their songs, and
the long line Of blue hills that bad bound
cd Lilly Reeves little world. until one
summer ago, was growing golden in the
sweet sunshine.
Everything seemed to tell of happiness
and content-only the shy blue eyes lifted
to Ethan Verbs face.
Il may not become famous, Ethan. but
| shall not be satisfied until make trial at
least of the new life that is opening before
me. Why, Ethan she continued, Der
I young face lighted with n glad agitation,
'my little picture, Evening on the Lake,
sold for seventy-ive dollars, and | have an
order for three more at the same price
1T is a good beginning, Lilly, be said.
gravely, but are you sure success will bring
conteDtment "
Il don't know She returned thought
fully. At any rate, | may be indopen-
dent
Lily !
YER she answered, noddiug her head.
aud smiling to hide the tears she felt were
ready to fell, Il have known for a long time
what you have so anxionsly tried to hide
/ from me, Ethan-tbut you have lost a good
deal Of money, and don't know how to pro.
vide for the future. Nuw, If God has Civ
en- me talent that can use to our adj
vantage, ought | to hide it 10 nap.
kin 2
'Bnt, Lily he began, eagerly, do you
suppose-'
Il don't suppose at oil, said Lily, Il
Know you are proud-too proud to let me
help you, but shan't give up my idea,
unless 1t proves foolish one. Now 90
cut 10 your mother, Ethan, aud let III write
my letters.'
Are you going to write to Mr. Neil
( LHy?'
Yes she replied, delnurely.
Bat there was queer little smile on
her face rs sho turned aSay aud opened her
| writing desk
Twelve months before, Rupert Neil had
come to their pleasau. little vllage,{ TO
make sketches for the next winters pic
/ lures aud bad boarded at Mrs Wards.
lie was celebrated all through that State,
for his country pictures, for many of them
we're scenes in the litle valley where the
/ Wards lived aud when he really came to
their house to live, Lily could not control
( her rap'urcs.
She, toe, was an artist, since she was
/ quite q child, when she had taken few
lessons in sketching of a wandering artist.
who haTpassazsseb be good one, she had
made pctuTc every spot she could
reach, but she had never been able to eel.
or them.
But now the long-wshed. for time had
come. Rupert Neil detected at once the
enthusiasm in her nature and, charmed
/ 10y nc Fr gress she had made, uuaided,
he.ctte'ed to give her lessons during tho
summer.
The lessons were commenced early in
June, and before TIE October winds scat
tered Tie leaves, be declared her quite COM
potent to paiut alone.
lie bad written to her when he returned
to the city, such glowing descriptions of
the success that would await her if she
chose to come 90 ----, add devote her life
to the art, That at length, when she discov-
4 efed the losses which Ethan had met with
an unfuiH d brow, she declared to 10
Mrs Ward, believed it was only one Of
LiIy's queer freaks aud that size would
5000 grow weary Of city home and city
{ lends.
Ethan believed that Rupert Neil was in
love with Lily, and anxious TO get her away
FROM them only % make her his wife.
What lily believed, and what she
thought was locked up 10 her own brave
The roses bad faded in the garden whon
Lily went.
Mr' Ward took her in her arms and
kissed her o hundred times. She could
only think OF hcr in that last moment. az
The Iiit.e orphan child bonn sho bad adopt
ed, and learned TO love, even as she loved
her own boy.
Eleven years che bad been an abiding
I'gnt ln their lille household, and now She
must give her up.
you will write 10 ua, Lily p she asked,
tears running down Der withorad cbeeks.
ANA, maybe, sometimes you will come 60
see as ~
'Oi course 7 will You shal bavo
iong letter every wcek, and rext swimmer
vii come homo and make picture Of
ibc dear old house, with you on the
porch "
Mrs. Ward bePan to smile through her
tears Surely nobody could resist Lily's
loving ways
And, Ethan, she said, sbyly, 'you'n