The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-07-23
Fraak Chester grssped nv hand.


"Welcone home, my boy" he said, with
the loud, cheerful tones [ remembered so well
@You have changed so that I never would have
known you :; but no matter about that, your
heart is in the right place, | know >,
GLOW can YOU say that he is changedP' said
my mother, gently. "To be sure ne Looks old
er and grayer, and more like q man than when
lie went away, but his eyes and smile are the
same as ever. It is heavy heart which
changes him. BE is my boy STILL"
Heaven help me E! at that moment l felt Ike
boy, and it would have been a blessed relief
to have wept upon her bosom as [ had done IN
nv infancy. But I kept down the tremor Of
my lips, and answered quietly, as looked into
his full, handsome face.
"You have changed, too, Frank, but think
for the better"
ooh, yes-thank you for the compliment y
be answered with hearty laugh. MY vile
tells me I grow handsomer every day"
His wife Could I hear that name and
keep silent still
"And you have seen my little girl ?" he add
ed lifting the infant in his arms, and kissing
her crimson cheek. III tell you, Harry, there
is no such other in the world. Don't you
think she looks very much like her mother
used to?"
livery much,' taitered.
"Hallo p cried Frank, with a suddenness
that made me start violently, g! have forgotten
to introduce you to my wife; Ibelieve you and
she used to be my playmates in your younger
days-yes, Harry" and he slapped me on the
back-"for the sake of old times and because
you were not at the wedding, | will give you
leave to kiss her once, but mind, old fellow,
you are never to repeat the ceremony: Come
r e. To
will manage those ferocious moustaches OF
yours in the operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing TO-
ward me. A CLEAN of light and hope almost
too dazzling to BEAR came over me, and l cried
out before | thought
"Not Mary p
must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room. But nothing was said; even
Frank, in general so obtuse, was this time 81
lent I kissed the fair cheek of the young
wife, and hurried to the silent figure looking
out of the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore!" I said, in a low
eager tone, "have you no welcome to give the
wanderer 2"
She turned hurriedly and laid her hand il
mine, and said hurriedly:
II am glad to see you here Harry"
Simple words, and yet how blessed they
made me. would not have yielded her up a
the moment for an Emperor's crown. Fo
there was the happy group and dear home
freside, with sweet Mary Moore. The eyes
had dreamed of day and night, we're falling
beneath the ardent gaze of mine, and th'
sweet face I had so long prayed to see, wa
there beside me. I never knew the meaning
of happiness until that moment.
Many years have passed since the happy
night, and the hair that was dark and glossy il
fast turning grey. I am now grown to be al
old man, and can look back to a happy, and @
I hope we'll spent life. And yet sweet as i
has been would not recall single day, fo
the love that made my manhood so bright
shines also upon my white hairs.
An old man? Can this be SO? At heart
am as young as ever. And Mary, with he
bright hair parted smoothly from a brow tha
has slight 7furrow upon it, is still the Mary O.
other days. To me she can never grow old o.
be changed The heart that held her in in
fancy and sheltered her in the flush and beau
ty of womanhood can never cast her out til
life shall cease to warm it.