The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-15

his heart, flushed his cneeK, anu gave IN
cold hauteur to voice and manner. Blu
it was only for little while. Long be
fore they had reached Harry's home tn
lowly Christian had driven the proud
worldling from his breast, and Huber
Gray was ready with Christian simplicity
to receive the warm welcome of thu
Mahams.
Harry, ardent and impulsive as ever
led him up the garden walk with almos
boyish hilarity, exclaiming, "This is thu
best day you could have come, Hubert
for we are all here family partyl Jes
sic, Jessie, old ladyw he called, excited
ly, "Come and see friend I have brought
you! Guess, now, and say who you
would like best to seeW
Hearing Harry's voice on the porch in
such teven for him) unusual excitement
Jessie hastened to meet him, and hel
scream of delight brought the whole
family out upon the vine-clad veranda
Mrs. Gordon was for the first time intro.
duced to one. whose features even were
familiar to her, for fine portrait of Hu.
bert Gray hung in the parlor of the Ma.
hams. All offered loving greeting; even
Marion, delighted to meet their old friend
once more, and in momentary forgetful.
ness of the sad love passages of her life,
hastened forward to greet him, still hold
ing in her arms the infant Hubert Gray.
At sight of the babe, Harry rushed for
ward, and taking him out of Marion's
arms, exclaimed, as he held him proudly
aloft, "This is your namesake, my little
Hubert Grayp
For the first time, Col. Gray found
words to express his feelings, and al
though still bewildered, he said "Thank
you, thank you, Harryl I had no idea
my name was so tenderly cherished by
you and yours"
Dinner was soon announced, and, ex-
cept for the presence of the missing Ar
thur, who had not yet returned from the
barracks, the families considered it one
of the happiest meals they had eaten
"out West"
Soon after they had left the table and
returned to the parlor, Marion timidly
enquired sfter the health of Col. Gray'a
wife. Harry hearing the question, and
interrupting her with ring of self-re-
proach in his voice said: 30, Hubert, for
give mel What a selfish fellow am to
have forgotten you, too, have q wife
But, come, I will go now and make my
peace with her and bring her home, for
we are all ready to love Hubert Gray's
wifep
Hubert placed his hand gently on
Harry's shoulder, and said: "My wife,
dear Harry, is with the ransomed dead,
enjoying the rest of the saints"
Forgive mel oh, forgive me, Hubert
I have unwittingly panied you," said
Harry, his frank blue eyes filling with
sympathetic tears. The friends clasped
hands warmly, and the cold, rude letter
was fully forgiven by Hubert Gray.
The afternoon after the dining, Col.
Gray, calling at the Mahams', found only
Marion at home, and alone in the parlor.
A momentary embarrassment was observ.
able in the manner of each7of them; but
it was only momentary, for Col. Gray
had mixed much with the world, and
possessed admirable self-control, he soon
recovered himself, and, aided by Mari
ons's innate and womanly dignity, en-
tered pleasantly into conversation on
ordinary topics, dwelling animatedly
upon the beauty, fertility and wonderful
resources Of the country which justly
entities it to the appellation of the
"Great West" dFe had spoken to Mari
on with the familiar ease of an old &C.
quaintance, but had never from their
past meeting addressed her by her name.
But that afternoon, after speaking at
some length on ordinary subjects, he sud-
denly, abruptly and with apparent effort,
said:
"Mrs. Egan, I conclude you are only
on visit to Harry, as have understood
the Major still lives in Charleston. !
trust he is we'll"
Poor Marion became as pale as sculp.
tured marble, and then deep flush
crimsoned painfully her pale cheek as
she coldly and almost haughtily replied
"Col. Gray IS certainly laboring under
some strange hallucination. Miss Ma
ham scarcely feels an ordinary interest
in Maj. Egan, although, believe, he
lives in Charleston. This, Harry's home,
is mine!" The last sentence was said in
quivering voice, and the poor effort at
hauteur was almost an entire failure.
cam I then dreaming? Harry GER
tainly wrote me that you were to be mar
ried. I surely saw the marriage notice
in a newspaper"
can impertinent mistake which was
speedily corrected" said Marion, with
unusual irritation.
"Then you are still Marion Maham 7'
and Col. Gray gazed with earnest admi-
ration into the eyes of the beautiful wo.
man, as he waited almost breathlessly fol
her answer.
But no words came. The long lashes
dropped over the beautiful eyes, yelling
with tender care the steadfast love-light
one glance might have betrayed, and the
graceful head bowed somewhat proudly