Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-06-28


storm trying to summon firmness
10 LOOK through the window. When
that llaintiYe wall fell upon his ear
ABOVE the voice of the storm. he
snrant back as though a sword had
plered his breast.
lie used to sing that. IhaVe not
heara II for ten years. 1t seems
IKE 4 warning from the spirit-land;
but must look Z"
lie parted the vines.
les, ,there was his father-old and
bowed down, but living still. And
there Vas his mother, in the old
fashioled armchair, with the knit
tlns-hsedles cleaning in the fire
hight Jlst as they had been ten years
ago And Amy, too, only more
beautiful than ever; for there was
ripe, mature loveliness that was
not there ten years ago. And the
old lOye rose up in his breast with
ten-foldpOwer as he looked on the
face OF ier whose beauty had mad
dened hm to the one desperate act
of his life.
"Merdful heaven !" he exclaimed,
as his gaze rested on the form in
the corner. "Am dreaming, or
am at last being punished with
that gr@test horror-madness ?"
Even as he spoke, the pale lips
parted, and the plaintivc voice
sang
'sThey carried her down by the water = sIde,
And blurred her in the sand
"Geo'gel Georgep
The. words shaped themselves, but
the zed tongue refused 70 give
them uttelInces z-----. =.
Robert Leeson caught at the
climbing vines to save himself from
falling.
"Hngh" said Squire Lesson, sud-
denly; Hthere's noise outside %
"Only tho wind among the dead
vines, think" said Amy.
Then came a heavy, nervous rap
at the door.
''Some one caught in the Storm"
said the Squire. "Open the door,
Amy"
Amy ran to the door and opened
it. The wind rushed in, extinguish-
ing the light which she held in her
hand, and nearly taking away her
breath.
ssCome IN, sir" she said, as the
stranger hesitated on the threshold.
lie took q step forward into the fall
glow Of the freight.
"Unele Aunt l-it's Robert-our
Robertp'
Aud tho next moment his mother
was weeping on his breast, and his
father clasping both his hands
while Amy-foolish little thing sat
down and cried as if her heart
would break. And Robert Leeson
felt that he was at home once more
free, safe, and happy.
After the first expressions Of wild
JOY were over, Robert Lesson turn
ed, and a shade Of disappointment
passed over his features.
ssGeorge," he stammered, "why
don't you come here and let me look
at y0ul Oh, my brother, l thought
l had killed you"
But the other never looked up
He sat perfectly quiet gazing into
the fire with sad, vacant stare.
'sFather, what is it asked Robert,
his voice trembling with an un-
known dread
The old man only buried his face
in his hands, and wept.
''I viii tell you, Robert" said
Amy, wiping her eyes with her ruff
fled white apron. "That terrible
fall down the cliff, though it did not
kill George, as you supposed, rem
dered him hopclessly insane. For
ten years he has not known a single
sane moment"
Robert brushed the tears from his
eyes, and advanced toward his
brother.
"Georgep
The insane man started, and bent
his head as IL listening.
George !" repeated the other.
The afflicted brother raised his
head, and slowly surveyed the entire
apartment, until his gaze rested on
the face of his brother. Then a
CLEAN of intelligence shot across his
featIress and he slowly rose to his
Look, Aunt,-look UncleW ex-
laimed Amy, in a forced whisper.
ksDo you not know me, George 2"
continued Robert, trembling with
emotion. our brother-your own
"Robert ?" queried the insane
man, as though trying to remem-
Der.
Then a dark, heavy cloud seemed
TO be lifted from off his brain. He
passed his hand hurriedly across his |
brow, and then looked again.
"Yes, yes it is Robert, my own
brother''
And the two brothers, so long
by raeking doubt, were |
sobbing in each others arms-the |
first tears that George had shed for |
ten long years.
'TDear Robert, why did you hide |
AWAY from us so long"
And he tried to laugh, but the |
augh became a sob.
"Come, come," said Squire Lee
son, "don't let US be foolsl Come |
here, Amy,H he continued, drying
lis eyes with his coatsleeve and try |
ing to look cheerful. "Don't be |
afraid TO take her hand, Robert; she |
loved you BEST and has been wait
ing patiently for you all these |
years"
This was the happiest Christmas
Eve the Leeson family had ever |
known.
The ten years of trial were over.
Robert Lessons repentance had |
been sincere, and he now felt that |
heaven had granted him peace at |