The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-23

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 tremor IL
her voice. "God bless you, indeed sc
amiable a maiden must prove a sweet
| companion and she must be in a meas.
ure accomplished, according to your
statement and if it is for your hap.
piness, / am reconciled.
The young man kissed his mothers
hand with tenderness and gratitude
and he went at o-ce to order out his
carriage for the interesting journey.
He dressed with great care and a finer
looking man could seldom be seen.
His wall-knit limbs were 1.-the and
hardy-looking, and showed the nimble
huntsman or the brave soldier, as coca
sion might demand. His dark, hazel
eye was beau 'iful, 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
and his wife. He partook of glass of
rich cream and a piece of delicious oat-
cake, and then asked to see their fam
lily. They came one by one, tall, blush
ing girls, and stout, healthy looking,
awkward Iads-all but Ellen F.; and Sir
Evan asked if these were all.
I'VE 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 1 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 off the
butter from the churn. She was ar
rayed in plain gray linen dress, clean
and ne at, and the curIs 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, lily-like figure and the
modest grey eyes were the same, and
the expression that he thought so an
gelic when she gathered the broken
primrOses was still the same also 4; in
deed, as he kazed 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 /: II 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
tattered coat and my fiddle"
Ellen stood speechless 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, fOI give me knew not, in
deed, you were any other than what you
seemed.
Forgive you, Ellen Yes, my fair
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 his
bosom ana wept tears of the purest Joy
and gladness, as, amidst his caresses,
she promised to be his through life.
Ere he led her back to get a blessing
from her parents, he took from his
bosom a bouquet of the latest primroses
of the year, and fixed them on her
breast, whispering, '"These flowers
must always be sacred tc us, for it was
when you were gathering those of mine,
so rudely broken and scattered by an
upgentle hand, that my soul went out
TO you in the fullness of its first affec-
ton"
So Ellen became the wife of Sir
Evan; and through life proved herself
true wife. loving mother, and bene-
factress to the poor and lowly.