Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-12-15
After Many Years.

After Many Years.
"well, darling" ! said, catching her
two hands in mine, As we met under the
trees in the loveliest corner of the
square.
had no other words, and she did not
need any.
just a glance that showed her pretty
eyes had been crying. ''I-fm here,
Shirley"
DO you guess what those three words
meants That Edna Vedery, before the
first star looked out OF the opal sky
above us, would be my wife.
Ii was the old story, you sea- pen
niless lover. a true-hearted little woman
clinging to her faith, and parental
curse impending over both our heads.
| drew her hand tight through my
arm, and we walked away very quietly,
for she was tired, and the little hand
trembled against my side. She only
told me that she was not afraid, that
she loved me, and she would be glad 10
rest when it was all over, and we two
safe and far away together. And so we
went on, and were married
Then l took home my wife. 1t was a
poor home. but she was not afraid 10
sweeten it with herself, and she had
said that she was glad to come. She
never spoke of her father and mother,
and never seemed TO miss them or re-
gret that she had lost them. / never
should have known il was a grief to
her, but for one day. She met me when
/ came home at night, with her face all
sparkling and her voice unsteady from
excitement, and even before she kissed
me, cried out:
''I've seen my mother"
"Your motherl Has she been here -
asked.
''Yes, Only think how glad / WAS
how surprised. She came and put her
arms around my neck and kissed me,
and forgave me-" putting her arms
around nv neck and beginning to cry
in her gladness, "and forgave you too
and she said she couldn't live aud lose
her only daughter. Oh, Shirley, it was
the only thing more wanted on earth
I'm so happy, darling.
"And your father:
sHe couldn't be as kind as she was,
said nv little wife, with her cheek on
mine. Fathers never are; but she
thought-she was sure, she said-thai
he'd forgive it all, and that she loved
me lust the same all the time, and thai
it would be all right at last, Shirley.
oh, aren't you happy too? Look glad
tell me you're glad, dear; you don
know how | wanted 1t.
L was glad. for her sake, God knows
for nv own | would never have cared
l. IL arraip
But all that was changed now. Mrs.
Vedery's carriage ratified day after day
down the duh street and stood at Mrs.
I.ecompte's door, and Edna Lecompte
was pardoned and petted rs if Edna
Vedery had never disobeyed- And
then we were asked to dine Sat home,
she and |; and the old man greeted us
both kindly, and kissed his daughter
with two tears in his cold eyes, and
seemed TO bury cur old enmity, as he
shook my hand; and after that night il
was all sunshine between us.
But never ceased to feel an odd chill
in nv heart like prophecy or some
thing bitter coming between us. Fer
haps il was because instead of growing
richer. since / married wife, | only
grew poorer, and the world outside oul
little room grew dark and threatening
overhead, aud seemed only cold plac,
for my unborn child to inherit.
He came to test its tender mercie:
lust with the early winter, and, as ht
came. Edna was very nigh going oui
forever. She was delicate little thing
aud needed so much petting and nurs-
inc. and tender care-my heart acheo
as MANY a poor mans has done before
me. when i looked in the white little
face which had been SO rosy when frs
took from her home. And instead ol
growing stronger, she only droopec
more. like a flower in the first frost
and the child was as pale As she.
There was season of heavy failures
and business losses; firm after firm gave
way. and men went home idle, and my
turn came with the rest. And L knel
down by my wife's bed, and looked int
her ewes. and told her, and asked her t.
forgive me the wrong L had done II
loving her.
"Don't feel so badly, Shirley sh'
whispered, moving her head on m!
shoulder. al know Fm a burden u
YOU, darling; but IL can wish it un
done; We are so happy sill-we'Ve go
each other and baby. and such lon:
pass away in, And il can't last long
You'll get something better than wha
you lost. Perhaps it will be the yer.
best thing for us, after all, that yo'
should lose this place, and so be forces
TO make a change"
sPerhaps it's all a chance" l SAT-
bitterly, .'and | must sit here with m,
hands tied, and you-Edna, they wer
right, | was selfish brute to draw
YOU down to this"
She clasped her arms around my nee
and kissed me and stopped my mouth
and we were silent for a while, and tn
room grew dark in the twilight.
"Shirley," she said softly, at last
"would you let my father help you"
'what do You mean!"
Mamma asked me month ago
Won would leave New Orleans and tax
position in nay uncle's house in Ne'
York. never told you, because-sh
wanted me to 90 home then, Shirley
and let YOU go alone, and l couldn't.
$50 homer' l gathered her closer
the baby in her arms, too. Child, ha
it come TO that:"
.'No,'' she whispered softly. u
never will; I'll go with you there, o
anywhere else on earth, Shirley.
as it too late to take the offer now !:
/ asked, starting up. "Why do you as
if I'll let him help me, Edna :-Bette
that than taking his aims, God knows