Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-07-02
asked for ;.dmittance. A bitterthuught
like this run Through NV mimi ~


heard the sound from the lurlor, n,
saw tho llnlf-supprcssel smile ON II
servants face.
| hcsitatrd II moment before nG.ki,
myself known or asking for any of III
fnmily. And while 1 stood silent
strange appnrition grew up before III,
from behind the servant pccrc.l out
golden hoad, q tiny, delicate form III,
sweet childish faco Will, blue eyes, 5
like those Of ono who hal brig htenc
my b"yhoml, That [ started with II SUI
den feeling Of pain.
"What is your name, my pretty 2"
asked, while tho wondering servant hel
the door.
Mary Moore"
And what else 2" asked quickly.
She lifted up ],cr hands to shade he
face. had seen that very attitude j
another, III my boyhonL many and maj,
time lind answered in sweet bird
like voice,
"Mary Moore Chester"
My heart sank down like lead. Her
was an end to all Il, G bright drc;,ms al,
hopes Of my youth and manhood
Frank Chester, my boyish rival, VIII
had often tried III vain to usurp m
place beside tho girl had succeeded i,
last, and had won her away from nc
This was the chi1d-his child an,
Mary's.
sank, body and soul, beneath tli
blow, and, hiding my face in my hand
| leaned against tho door, while M,
heart wcpt tears of blood. The littl,
one gazcd Mt me, gricved and amazed
and put up her pretty lips us if alo,,
to cry, while the pcrplcxed scrvan
stepped to the parlor and called m,
sister to see who it was that acted Sc
strangely. heard n light step and :
pleasant voice, saying:
"Do you wish to see my father. sir .
looked up. There stood II pretty
swcct-faccd maiden of twenty, not mucl
changed from the dear little sister ]
hat loved 80 we'll. 1 looked ut her 10,
Il moment, and then st,lling the tempest
OF my heart, by mighty effort
opened my arms and said:
Lizzie, don't you know me p
Harry! oh, my brother Harry I!
she cried, and threw herself upon my
breast, and wept as il her heart would
break.
! could not weep. drew her gently
into the lighted Parlor, and stool with
her before them all.
| There was rush, and a cry of iOv.
and then my father and mother sprallg
toward me, and welcomed me home
with heartfelt tears.
Oh, strange and passing sweet is such
Il greeting to tho way worn traveller.
And as I held my dear old mother to
my heart, and grasped my fathers
hand while Lizzie chung beside me, I
felt that I was not yet lost; and
although another had secured lifc's
most choice blessing, many Joy re-
manned for mo III the dear sanctuary of
lloiuc
There were four inmates of the room
who had risen on my sudden entrance.
Ono vas the blue-eyed child who now
stood beside Frank Chester. clingine
to his hand. Near by stood Lizzie
Moore, Mary's eldest sister, ami in a
distant corner, to which she had hrr-
ricdly rctreatcd when my namc was
spoken, stood tall and slender figure
half hidden by the heavy window cur
tains that fell to tho floor.
When the first rapturous greeting
was over, Lizzie led me forward with u
timid grace, and Frank Chester grasped
my hand.
"Welcome home, my hoy!' he said
with the loud, cheerful tones rcmcm-
bered SO we'll. "You have changed SO
that would never have known You ::
but no matter about that, your heart is
III the right place, I know"
" How can you say that he is
changed !" said my mother, gently.
"To be sure he looks older and graycr,
and more like man than when he went
away, but his eyes and smile are the
same as cvor. 1t is Il heavy heart
which changes him. He is inv boy
STILL"
"Ayc, MOTHER" I answered sadly, 81
am your boy STILL"
Heaven help me! at that moment
felt like II boy, and it would have been
y blessed relief to have wept upon her
bosom us 1 had done in my infancy.
But 1 kept down the trenor Of my lips,
and answered quietly, as [ looked into
his full, handsome face.
"You have changed, too, Frank, but
think for the better"
ooh, ycs-thank you for the compli-
ment," he answered with hearty
laugh. "My wife tells me 1 grow
handsomer every day."
His wife Gould [ hear that name
and keep silent still?
"And yon have seen my little girl? ?"
he added, lifting the infant in his arms,
and kissing her crimson check. II
tell you, Harry, there is no such other
III the world. Don't you think she
looks very much as her mother used
to?
"Vcry MUCH" I faltercd.
Hlllo!' cried Frank, with u sud.
tlenness that made mo start violently,
g have forgotten to introduce you to
my wife; 1 believe you and she used to
be playmates in your younger days
yes, Harry" and he slapped me on the
back-"for the sake of old times, and
because you was not at the welding, I
will give yon leave to Kiss her once, but
mind, old fellow, you are never to re-
do for ono want to know how you will
manage those fcrocious moust:lcllcs OF
yours III tho operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and
blnsl'inS, toward me. A CLEAN Of light
and hope almost too dazzling t. bear,
came over me, and ! cried out bcfu,c /
thought, "Not Mary =
must have betrayed my secret to
every ono in the room. But nothing
was said; even Frank, in general 50
obtI.sc, was this time silent. L kissed
the fuir check of the young wife. and
hurried t" the silent figure looking out
Of the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore !" I said in q
low, eager tone, shave you no welcome
to give tho wantlcrcr ?"
She turned and laid her hand i'll mine
and said hurricdly:
IL am glad to sec y"u here, Harry"
Simple words and yet how blessed
they made me. Iwould not have yielded
her NJ ut tic moment for an Empcrtrs
crown. For there was the happy home
group and dear home tircsi.le. with
sweet Nl;try Moore. The eyes I had
dreamed Of day and night were falling
beneath the ardent gaze of mine, ,,nd
the sweet face I had 50 long prayed to
sec WAS there beside me. I mover knew
tho meaning Of happiness until that
moment.
Many years have passed since the
happy night, and the hair that was dark
and glossy is fast turning gray. am
now grown to DC an old man, and c,,,,
look back t" u happy, and T hope we'll
spent life. And yet rs sweet as it l,;,,
been | would not recall single day, for
the love that made my m.,,llrnl so
bright, shines also upon my white hairs.
An old man! Can this }u so? At
heart T am 40 wanna q. .,,,,n ..I