The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-30

say, in passing, that though little re-
sentful at first at what seemed an I'M
pardonable liberty in thus forcing a
great responsibility upon me, I soon
became not only reconciled, but in
finitely happier than ever expected to
be. My darlings grew in grace and
beauty, and became the very life of my
life. But from the moment of their Ell
tering my house 1 was haunted by q
woman, who in spite of all my efforts
baffled every attempt to see her plainly.
One summer eve, as 1 sat in my little
sitting room with the children at din
ner, / became conscious of some strange
influence near me, and glancing around
l saw her through the open window,
just melting out of sight in the dim
darkness. And many time after 1
caught partial glimpses of thin, wasted
form, but never once was in a position
to catch or detain her. At last, moved
by compassion for what knew to be in
that poor mothers heart, I posted an
advertisement on all conspicuous places
near my dwelling, which was some
thing like this
will come to me openly she shall see
her children without reserve. But in
case she shall have reasons of her own
for not coming, would like to let her
know that he to whom she gave them
thanks her with humble and happy
heart for her precious gift, and will
pledge himself never to prove recreant
to so sacred trust"
Now, so far from this producing the
effect had desired, it seemed to Danish
the mother entirely away, and it was
nearly twelve years after the children
came to me that the next event hap
pened.
There was an exhibition IN Lily's
school, and she was to have the leading
character in some theatrical perform
ance. She was pleased and excited
quite beyond her natural self. She
studied her part with avidity, and with
the most thrilling and brilliant action
rehearsed it again and again before me.
When the night came, she appeared on
the stage in character, exquisitely
dressed in court train and Jewels. It
was the first time bad ever seen her
out of short dresses. Who was it she
reminded me of? Surely I had known
some one at some time of life Just like
my splendid darling. listened to her
and watched her, with what pride who
can tell until the last act, when the
curtain tails upon her in tableau-with
hands crossed upon her breast, with
tender eyes upraised, the whole wealth
of her pale golden hair falling in one
curling, misty cataract down to her
waist, the innocence of angels radiating
from her, and yelling her girlish form
with gentle grace, so wonderfully
pure, so tenderly touching.
Throug h the happy tears that filed
my eyes L saw halo encircle her like a
rainbow, and then the curtain fell and
| heard scream from some woman in
the audience. The scream pierced my
heart like knife, for lifted out of my
self as was by the intensity OF my feel
.ngs, there came perfect revelation of
all the inexplicable events of the past
few years-so full of quiet content for
me, so full of agony to others. In vain,
for some moments, 1 struggled to pene-
trate the crowd whence issued the ter
riole cry. At last reached her, pale,
prostrate, lifeless. "Stand back,
cried, " she's mine o, Emma,
Emma"
There is little more TO tell T took
her to her old home-to the very cham
bers she had frightened with her pres.
ence when a child. She was faded,
and old, and worn beyond her years.
Her splendid fragrant hair, whose touch
upon my cheek and shoulder had once
tuned my pulse to the delicious mad
dening rhythm of love, was now "hali
gray, half ruined gold" She knew
her children, and they brought her all
the long garnered affection of their fresh
young hearts. But even that could not
save her. She faded from us daily,
and at last, with many promises of re-
union in that world where we hope to
rectify the mistakes of this, we parted.
Charley had died before the twins
were born, and poverty had pursued
her relentlessly--bitterly. o, if she
had only come back to the heart that
cherished her. How this thought tor
tured me, how it wore upon me and
darkened my life for years. And now
those lines of Whittier's ring their end
less refrain through my tortured brain
" OF all sad words OF tongue or pen,
The saddest are these-it might have BEEN -
1t was years before the remainder of
the poem took root in my heart, but at
last could say:
20, well for us all some sweet hope lies
Deeply hidden from human eyes
And in the hereafter angels may
hoil the stone from its grave away