The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-02
the girl said, in low voice. 81 will

Reading there nothing to frighten her,
she said:
"Before she comes, must tell you we
are not prepared to pay the rent. l
know" she said, hastily, seeing him
about to speak, "that it Is two months
due, but yet we are not ready. My
brother was discharged from the house
where he has been employed for seven
years, after the panic, and I lost more
than half my music scholars. Mother
had not been obliged to do any work, ex-
cept to keephouse, ,ior some years, and she
can not now obtain IL. am very sorry,
but If you will let us remain here, we
will try soon to make up what is due.
We have one months rent for you, but
| not two."
What position did your brother oc-
cupyw
goods store. They will speak well for
| him, sir, but they were forced to reduce
| the number of employees"
SIS he at home nowi"
| ''No, sir; he is seeking work."
| "Wlll you ask him to call at this ad-
dress? 1t may be in my power to help
him obtain employment" said Mr..
Doane, Offering his card, 81 should like
to see your mother"
II will send her to you."
| In the little kitchen, busy about
dinner, the widow, in her faded
black dress, looked hard at the VISITORS
card. She was very pretty yet, though
mlddle-aged, with glossy brown hair, and
eyes as soft and dark as a fawn's. Her
clear complexion was like a child's, and
her figure was straight and graceful as
that OF her daughter.
"Gordon IDoane!' she said, ''I'never
lot,
lord, Nellie. Gordon Doanel wonder
IO
"what, motherl Your cheeks are red
as roses.'
"Nothingl nothingl 1t is not likely to
be the same Gordon Doane. Watch the
pies, Nellie; we will try to give Thad-
deus some dainty on Thanksgiving day.
1t can't be Gordon DoaneW
| And yet whispering this. Mrs. MOore's
| heart futtered as she entered the little
sitting-room. A tall, handsome man
rose to greet her-a man with iron-gfay
hair and mild blue eyes; q man of fifty,
and yet no less the country boy who had
offered her silent homage in her girl
hood. Her landlord now and wealthy.
yet as humble standing there as tie boy
who had said farewell SO many years
ago.
at is May Appleton" he said, extend
ing both hands.
"Ah, so long agop she answered, smil-
ing.
"Mrs. Moore" be said quickly, ~ ask
pardon. The. sight OF your. face hlotted
out all the years since l saw it last. How
glad Hattie will be-"
lis Hattie here~
| "Yes, widow for many yeas. with a
son taller than his Uncle. You have q
son also, your daughter tells me-"
| "Yes, have two children"
| Then from one commonplace to an.
other the talk drifted, till the tones grew
more earnest, memory had reasserted
| her power, and in simple but earnest
words Gordon Doane told the story of
his love.
sin all these years, May" he said 81
have seen no face, have heard no voice
that made me for one moment wish to
fill your place in my heart, though /
knew that another had won the love i
| hoped to gain. thought Of you as one
removed from me by your marriage, and
prayed for your perfect happiness. But
you are free now, May, and can offer
you the love you never suspected"
~ more than suspected it after you
left Millhaven, Gordon, and / grieved
for you, knowing how honest and loyal
your heart would be. In the room you
left, and which I helped Hattie to put
to rights, l found slip of paper folded
in a Bible, and upon it was written
shall l tell you?-May Doane."
II had forgotten"
| "It told rae your secret. I loved my
husband with all my heart, and l often
hoped that you had forgotten your boy
ish love in the happy domestic lite you
would be sure to give any woman who
loved ypu."
"But now, Mayl Now, knowing 1 have
ever been true to you! Now, that you
are freew
She put her hand in his.
"If my love now can add to your hap.
piness. Gordon, it is yours"
o'clockw
Mrs. Everett looked up as her son en-.
tered the sitting-room with these words
"Do you mean your uncle? Has he not
beer to the Officer"
mot all day. Could any harm have
come to him?"
"No; hear the latch-key now."
A quick step acress the hall and Gor.
don Doane was in the room. his face ra.
diant, his lips smiling in perfect con.
tent.
| 41uLtlSy uLllc WOludu, ue SdlU. ''CdN
Iyou tx up rooms for new family to-
morrow~
ga new familyW
"My wife, son and daughterl I have
found Mayw
Harry grasped his uncle's hand with a
quick, warm pressure, while Hattie,
w0man-like, began to cry:
May More! Oh, Gordon, am so
gladw
81 knew you would bel She is a
widow, with two children, son three
years older than our Harry and daugh-
ter OF nineteen. Like dutiful mamma,
she asked their consent to be my wife,
and they gave it. Tomorrow morning g,
Hattie, you are to go to her, and 1 will
send carriages for all of you to come
to the church where Harry and ]
will meet you. Mr.. Hayden has con.
sented to marry us after service, and we
will all come home to dinner. Can you
be ready on 80 short notice, dear?"
81 will be ii l stay up all night. We
can alter and arrange later. Oh! Cor.
don, to think you have found her, the
sweetest, loyeliest woman in the world
Harry, If her daughter is bit like her
, mind you do not let her escape being my
daughter, too"
1t was nearly year ago, and I waf
/ reminded OF the whole romance as Hat
| tie Everett told it to me, by receiving
: this very daV an invitation Tn a 0ro mr.