The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-04-02
LEILA SUMNER
Or.
DE ATH AND LIFE.

"Ho.ne again; after five long years of
absence, to feel myself at home again and
SO little change, no one missing. 1t is al
most too good, too much to believe"
Thus unused Adrian Vale, as he strollei
through the quiet streets of his hltive
village, the morning after his r-turn from
a four years wandering in Europe.
Adrian was young physician, ani he
came home, the proud bearer of certain
certificates of distinction, from one OF the
most celebrated medical colleges in Paris.
lie was only son, the pride of an aged
Father, and doting mother. And well he
deserved tiis affection, both fer his talents,
OF which he WAS justly proud; OF his hand
some face, and fine, manly form, of his in
dusty, without which the most gifted
must Lang 81 III o1scurity. bus moJ5 Of ali
for his kind, loving disposition, and tender
heart.
AS he walked along the familiar street,
the five years seemed but day. The long
rows of houses, embowered in their lovely
groves of green shlabbery; every tree.
even the dcwy grass beneath his feet seem
ed the same he had trod i've years fore.
And were the inmates os tAqse homes
changed?
Adrian hardly dared ask himself The
question.
There was one home, and one innate oe
that home, WHOSE imlg; filed all his
t. odyhts, of whom he had dream | day
ani night, and towards whose dwelling he
was slowly di=cctia his steps, with ming
led feelings Of fear, anxiety, and hope.
Leila Sumner had Lean the idol OF his
youth.
Long before he leet horne, she h,d given
him her sacrel promise thlt no oS.lcr man
could ever cali h n wife.
As he walked on toward the beautiful
cottage where she lived H. wondered in his
heart if she were changed.
He left her child she hIl gwen him
her child's heart and promise. Would she
regard him the slme? Had no other i'm
age crept INTO her heart? She was 4 wonl-
an now was this outward change all that
awaited him.
Almost before he knew it, he was stand
ing in front of the gate leading into Col
Summers gro mis-.
lie paused and locked up the long ave-
nue., the rows of gigantic n,aples on either
side, the beautiful evergreen hedge, the
smooth velvety lawn, the fragrant flower
garden, the fountain, spark ing and flash
ing in the morning sun, all exactly as he
had LETT it.
The mock;n S-birl and yellow-winged
canarics, Leila's pet birds, were hopr ing
about in their bright-hued cages filing the
air with their gay carolings; the luxuriant
rose and honcysuckle vines sha.ieI the
wide piazza, VII re he had spent so many
happy evenings with Leila.
And would she know him now? sun
Drowned and heavily bearded as he was?
He opened The gate and walked rapidly
up the graveled path towards the house,
just as white-robed figure, slender and
graceful as willow, fitted past the low
open window.
The next instant he stood within the
doorway, aad a little brown silkcn head lay
OF his shoulder, a blushing girls. face was
lifted shyly to his.
The lovers met, after years of separation;
and each felt that the others lie irt WIS the
stme; time or absence had no power to
chan, ,e.
Adrian was welcomed by Col Sumner,
in the same cordial, hear'y manner as of
old; he had long looked upon him as a sol
Time sped on gilded wings to the happy
lovers and each ;7ay seemed TO l.ava1l co,,,a
new charm, some as yet undiscovered trait
Of mind or heart, which served 20 draw
them nearer together, till their very exist
ence seemed blended into one.
Oh, this rosy-tinted, s1ver-lined cloud :
'Love's young DREAM" it envelopes al
its brightness so vividly On all that sur
rounds us, that even the leaden sombre-
hued storm-cloud, is hidden for the time.
About six cnths after Aariaa's return
he received a letter from one of his class
mates, a young man who for a brief time
had attended the same course of lectures
with himself, ami was graduate of thu
same college in France.
/ His name was De Vaux, and thou II,
Adrian had only known him about a year
he greatly admired his talent.
i Socially, there was about him a sort OF
mystery, a reticeat, reserved manner