The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-07-24

could read that in her dark gray eyes,
even when she was not the least con-
scious of it herself"
God bless you, my dear son, re-
piled the good lady, with a tremor in
her voice, "God bless you, indeed so
amiable a maiden must prove sweet
companion and she must be in meas
ure accomplished, according to your
statement and if it is for your hap
pineks, am reconciled.
The young man kissed his mother 8
hand with tenderness and gratitude /;
and he went at orce to order out his
carriage for the interesting journey.
He dressed with great care and a finer
looking man could seldom be seen.
His walI-knit limbs were 1.-the and
hardy looking, and showed the nimble
huntsman or the brave soldier, as occa
sion might demand. His dark, hazel
eye was beautiful, and his curling hair
of the very sunniest shade of brown.
His bushy whiskers were auburn. and
the habit of command gave a dignity
to his presence that heightened the
charm of the whole.
Ellen's father saw the carriage ap-
proach his house in great surprise, for
he knew the great yellow carriage,
though he had not seen it for years.
He went, bonnet in hand. to meet the
laird, whilst his good wife hastily got
on her best cap. and looked to her
whisky bottle and her bread and cheese,
in case he might alight to rest his
horses and get some refreshments, as
she had seen his excellent father do.
Sir Evan leaped from the carriage,
and gaily entered the old house as if he
hf d been an acquaintance for years, to
the great delight of the good farmer
and his wife. He partook of glass of
rich cream and piece of delicious oat-
cake, and then asked to see their fam
Ily. They came one by one, tall, blush
ing girls, aid stout, healthy looking,
awkward iads-all but Ellen (; and Sir
Evan asked if these were all.
eve have one other daughter, one
second eldest. but she is busy with
some household duties, and unfit to
come in your presence SO we hope you
will excuse her, Sir Evan" said the
mother gravely.
"Show me where to find her then,
and will go to her." said Sir Evan,
with strange culver of lip and voice.
The mother was about to call the
daughter, when one of the boys. hastily
opening the door, pointed to the room
where Ellen was busily taking of the
butter from the churn. She was ar
rayed in q plain gray linen dress, clean
and ne at, and the curls that had hung
SO prettily about her neck and face at
the wedding, were fastened back with a
piece of bright blue ribbon but the
dropping, tall, ily-like figure and the
modest grey eyes were the same, and
the expression that he thought SO an
primroses was still the same also IN
deed, as he eazed upon her, he thought
her more beautiful than ever. She
looked bewildered at the fair face of the
young man, and he took her hand, say
ing: 81 have accepted your invitation,
Ellen. You see have returned, though
in good sooth your eyes would speak a
warmer welcome if had come with my
battered coat and my fiddle"
Ellen stood speschless in astonish-
ment, for she saw, indeed, he was no
other than the strolling musician, for
that hazel eye had left tender regret
in Ellen's heart for which she had often
chided herself and as it flashed across
her mind who he was, and how he had
stuffed his pocket with bread and beef,
she fell on her knees, crying, "Forgive
me, sir oh, TO, give me /; I knew not, in
deed, you were any other than what you
seemed"
"Forgive you, Ellen ! Yes, my fai,
girl, you have more need of forgiveness
than you think, for you have stolen my
peace of mind away. Viii you restore
it to me? Will you be my partner now
again-for all my life long? He
raised her from the floor as he
spoke, and drew her tenderly towards
him, and she laid her face upon hit
bosom and wept tears of the purest JOY
and gladness, as, amidst his caresees
she promised to be his thrf life
Ere he lsd her back to GET a.2Ssine
from her parents, he tooAfrom hi
bosom bouquet of the latest primrosel
of the year. and fixed them on he
breast, whispering, "These flower
must always be sacred to us, for it wa
when You we're gathering those of mine
60 rudely broken and scattered by al
ungentle hand, that my soul went on
to you in the fullness of its first affec
ton"
So Ellen became the wife of Sil
Evan; and through life proved hersel
true wife. loving mother, and bene
factress to the poor and lowIy.