Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-04-18
a light step, and pleasant voice. say

"Did you wish to see M father
sir?" = ~
j I looked up. There stood pretty
sweet-faced maiden of twenty, no
much changed from the dear little sis
ter | had loved so well. I looked af
ter her for moment, and then stiliin
the tempest of my heart, by
mighty effort, / opened my arms an'
said: t.-.f
~" Lizzie, don't you know me?'
/ Harry! oh, my brother Harry 7
she cried, and threw herself upon m,
breast, and wept as if her heart wouli
break. gts5 ft
| | could not weep. I drew her gent
| ly into the light parlor, and stood witt
her before them all. raii2s III
! There was rush, and cry of joy
and my father and mother sprang to-
ward me and welcomed me home witt
heartfelt tears.
| Oh, strange and passing sweet il
such a greeting to the way-worn tray,
eler. And as / held my dear old
mother to my heart, and grasped my
fathers hani, while Lizzie clung be-
side me, / felt that all was not yet lost;
and although another had secured
life's most choice blessing, many q joy
remained for me in the dear sanctuary
of home.
There were four inmates of the
room, who had risen on my sudden
entrance. One was the blue eyed
child whom L had already seen, and
who now stood beside Frank Chester,
cling to his hand. Near by stood Liz
zie Moore, Mary's eldest sister, and in
distant corner, to which she had hur-
riedly retreated when my name was
spoken, stood a all'and slender figure,
half hidden by the heavy window cur
tains that fell to the floor. t9
When the first rapturous greeting
was over. Lizzie led me forward with a
timid grace, and Frank Chester grasp
ed my hand.
Welcome home, my boyr' he said,
with the loud, cheerful tones / remem-
bered so we'll. You have changed so
that | never would have known you !;
but no matter about that, your heart is
in the right place, L know" aaf
How can you say that he is chang
gedP said my mother. gently. ITO
be sure he looks older and graver, and
more like man than when he went
away, but his eyes and smile are the
same as ever. 1t is a heavy heart that
changes him. He is my boy STILL"
Aye, mother" | answered sadly,
ST m your hov still -
Heaven help mel at that moment !
felt like a boy, and it would have been
blessed relief to have wept upon her
bosom as / had done in my infancy.
But | kept down the tremor of my
lips. and answered quickly, as looked
into his full, handsome face
You have changed, too, Frank, but
think for the better"
"Oh, yes-thank you for the compli-
ment, he answered with hearty
laugh. MY wife tells me / grow
handsomer every day."
His wife Could | hear that name
and keep silent still.
And have you seen my little girl ?"
he added, lifting the infant in his arms,
and kissing her crimsoned cheek. 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?"
Very much, / faltered.
Halo y cried Frank, with sud-
denness which made me start violent
ly, Il have forgotten tointroduce you to
my wife; | 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 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, here she
is; | for one want to see how you will
manage those ferocious mustaches of
yours in the operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and
blushing, toward me. A CLEAN of
light and hope almost too dazzling to
bear, came over me. and / cried out
before / thought, Not Mary"
| must have betrayed my secret to
every one in the room. But nothing
was said even Frank, in general so
obtuse, was this time silent. | kissed
the fair cheek of the young wife, and
hurried to the silent figure looking
out OF the window.
Mary-Mary Moorer' said in a
low eager tone, = have you no welcome
to give the wanderer?"
She turned, and laid her hand in
mine and said hurriedly-
4 am glad to see you here, Harry"
Simple words, and yet how blessed
they made me. | would not have
yielded her up at the moment for an
emperor's crown. For there was the
happy hymn group and dear home fire.
side, with sweet Mary Moore. The
eyes had dreamed of day and night
were falling beneath the ardent gaze
of mine, and the sweet face | had so
long prayed to see was there beside
me. | neverknew the meaning of hap
piness 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 be an old man, and
can look back to happy, and ! hope
well spent life. And yet, sweet as it
has been, would not recall a single
day, for the love that made my man
hood SO bright, shines also upon my
white hairs.
An old man! Can this be so? At
heart, l am as young as ever And
Mary, with her bright hair parted
smoothly from brow that has slight
furrow upon it, is still the Mary Of
other days. To me shecan never grow
old or changed. The heart that held
her in infancy and sheltered her in the
flush and beauty Of womanheod, can
never cast her out till life shall cease
to worm it.
The Religion We Want.