Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-06-12

hoped chat sister Lizzie would come to
the door, and | might greet my family
when no strange eye was looking care
lessly on.
But no, a servant answered my sum
mons. They were too merry in the par
lor to heed the long absent one whcasked
for admittance. A bitter thought like
this ran through my mind as / heard the
sound from the parlor, and saw the half
suppressed smile on the servants face.
hesitated moment before making
myself known or asking for any Of my
family. And while stood silenta strange
apparition grew up before me; from be-
hind the servant pcered out golden head,
tidy, delicate form and sweet childish
face, with blue eyes, so like those of one
who had frightened my boyhood that ]
started with sudden feeling of pain.
what is your name, my pretty r.
asked, while the wondering servant held
the door.
"Mary Moore"
''And what else ?" / asked quickly.
She lifted up her hands to shade her
face had seen that very attitude in
another, in my boyhood many and many
a time--and answered in sweet, bird
like voice:
Mary Moore Chester
My heart sank down like lead. Here
was an end to all the bright dreams and
hopes Of my youth and manhood. Frank
Chester, my boyish rival, who had often
tried in vain to usurp my place beside the
girl, had succeeded at last, and had won
her away from me- Thiswas the child
his child aud Mary's.
sank, body and soul. beneath this
blow, and, hiding my face in my hands |
leaned against the door, while my heart
wept tears Of blood. The little one ga
zed at me, grieved and amazed, and put
up her pretty lips as if about to cry,
while the pcrplexed servant stepped to
the parlor and called my sister to see
who it was that acted SO strangely. /
heard light step and a pleasant voice,
saying:
EDO you wish to see my father, sir p
looked up There stood pretty,
swect-faced maiden of twenty, not much
changed from the dear little sister | had
loved SO WE'LL l looked at her for mo-
ment, and then stilled the tempest Of my
heart, by a mighty effort | opened my
arms and said:
Lizzie, don't you know me n
Harry oh, my brother Harry !" 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 stood with
her before them all.
There was q rush, and a cry of Joy,
and then my father and mother sprang
toward me. and welcomed me home with
heartfelt tears
oh, strange and passing sweet is such
a greeting to the way-worn traveller. And
as held my dear old mother to my heart
and grasped my fathers hand, while Liz
zie chung beside me, / felt that was not
yet lost and although another had se-
cured life's most choice blessing, many
joy remained for me in the dear sanctua-
ry of home.
There we're four inmates in the room,
who had risen on my sudden entrance.
One was the blue-eyed child who now
stood beside Frank Chester. clinging to
his hand. Near by stood Lizzie Moore,
Mary's eldest sister, and in q distant cor
ner, to which she had hurriedly retreat
ed when my name was spoken, stood
tall and slender figure half hidden by
the heavy window curtains that fell to
the floor.
When the first rapturous greeting was
over, Lizzie led me forward with timid
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my
hand.
Welcome home, my boy r he said
with the loud cheerful tones remember
ed so well. "You have changed SO that
/ never would have known you. but no
matter about that, your heart is in the
right place, | know"
How can you say that he is chang
ed p sad my mother, softly. "To be
sure be looks older and graver and more
like man than when he went away, but
bis eyes and smile are the same as ever.
II is heavy heart which changes him.
He is my boy still"
"Aye, mother" answered sadly, II
am your boy still.
Heaven help mel at that moment I
felt like boy, and it would have been
blessed relief to have wept upon her boz
som as had done in my infancy. But
! kept down the tremor Of my lips, and
answered quietly, as | looked into bis
full, handsome face
"You have changed, too, Frank, but
I think for the better"
"Oh, yes--thank you for the compli-
ment," he answered with hearty laugh.
Ny wife tells me I grow handsomer cv-
cry day"
His wife Could | hear that name and
be silent still?
"ADd you have seen my little girl 2"
be added. lifting the infant 10 his arms,
and kissing her crimson check Il tell
you. Harry, there is no such other in
the world. Don't you think she looks
very much like her mother used TO y
"Very much" faltered
"HaIlo r cried Frank. with sudden
ness that made me start violently, II
have forgotten TO introduce you TO my
wife believe you and she used to be
my playmates in your younger days
yes. Harry" and be slapped me on the
back-.'for the sake of old times, | will
give you leave to kiss her once, but