Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-04-22

I went down stairs, at last, the LET. {
in my breast pocket, sealed and 81.
rooted to Harriet, and was drcs.-,-
ing of a woman solder bus
fairer than she, when into my dream
stole a voice and the soun,l Of my
own name:
lis everything ready. Shirley dear?"
looked up. There were two pso-
pie at the little round table nearest
mine-a lady. quietly dressed. as il
for travelling. in black, without a
touch Of colour; and tall, straight.
broad-shouldered STRIPPING, with a
young face, and eyes like hers. l
knew they were mother and son, even
before he answered her.
"All ready The train starts III
an hour. You've got nothing at aiI
to do, Madam Mere. but to sit sud
read novel, or look out of the win.
dow iii call you"
And then they laughed together.
She had a girlish laugh and a girlish
face and vet II was a sorrowful one.
too. Her eyes were brown. / looked
into them, and all my. youth-tine
looked back; and saw the old housa
in the old street in New Orleans. snd
the face in the window, and heard
the baby hands patting on the panss.
Only two brown eyes aud sweet
voice, and mans name spoken softly
to call up all that witchery!
She arose from the table almcst
that minute.
IL don't want the Strawberries.
Smiley, I'm going up 10 my room;
and if you want me to read novel
You must go out aud get one. fvn
packed everything, and want some
light reading for the cars
Her dress was sweeping by my
chair as she spoke. and, stirring my
senses-fast asleep for so long-calnc
a soft, violet scent. was going mai,
| believed. As if no woman hu,
Edna Lecompetc had ever used that
faint. subtle perfume!
| started up aud strode out OF the
dining room, following those two. aid
saw the mother go up the staircase
slight damtily moving little figure
with a touch OF girlish grace iii !,
still-while the son passed on before
me to the otbce of the hotel. iie
went and leaned over the desk anil
spoke to the clerk, in his cheery,
fresh voice: and l stood near him.
turning the leaves Of the hotel regis
ter
Mrs. Shirley Lecompte
"shirley Lecompte, New York
City"
| turned and put my two hands on
his shoulders. / could have taken
him to my heart and kissed the chilli.
likeness in his face, but did not say
one word for a minu e, while he fash
ell his brown eyes round Oh Inc with
a halt-angry little frown.
"Are you Shirley Lecompte's SON.
Where where is your father?'
"My father is dead. That was his
name,' looking straight into MY face.
And then | dropped my hands.
Il was your fathers friend, my hoy.
l. can see his looks in you; ani
your mother. Will you take ne ~
your mother, shirley"
Well, ! have forgiven hinl--tlo
man who stole the sweetness out OF
life for me he is dead and buried,
and Edna is alive. Twenty yens
ago forged letter told her that she
was 4 widow, and the old man AMI
his. wife had their daughter bsck
again twenty years she kept her lilo
sacred 10 nv memory. and loved ms
in her child, and waited for another
wolll to give her inlo my arms again.
She told il all 10 me that day--a long.s
long story; but this was ths sum Of
il; | wss dead and was alive aga!n,
was lost and was found.
And my lie had its aim and crown,
even so late my love blossomed ne".
and my heart warmed fresh with the
old dead fres-we we're happy, Ed
ma and /. Out Of the baby's grave
rose up my strong, manly son. 10 car
ry my name in honor and pride; i
will have a nobler meaning when
am gone than ever il had in the past.
A Mormon missionary has been
To solemn;ye marriages IN