The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-07-08

The snow lay heavy on the damp-
shire hills. and the cold moonlight, as
it shimmered down in its hooking bril-
liancy. gave to the scope q wierd, ghost.
" aspect. Everywhere, for miles around,
was an unbroken surface of white, and
the trees were 80 covered with snow
that they stood like 80 many spectres,
stretching their wild arms in greeting
to the earth. Everything wore q look
of death, 80 cold, so still, that it was
appalling.
Over the hills wound the main road
from the town, now almost covered from
sight by the snow, and not far from it,
in the midst of grounds tastefully laid
out and kept with care, stood cOmfOr-
table farmhouse. 1t was the only cheer
ing feature Of the whole landscape, and
the lights from the windows streamed
out warmly into the cold, freezing
night.
Inside, two persons were seated by q
bright fire in cosy sitting-room. One
was a man not less than thirty-the
other woman grey and wrinkled. They
we're mother and son, and they were
very dear to each other. They were
silent. She sat with an expression of
holy calm on her face, and her eyes fixed
on the knitting she held in her hands,
but which she did not see, however,
for her mind was far away, years and
years back in the past.
The man sat with his eyes fixed on
the fire his lips compressed firmly, and
an expression of exquisite pain on his
face. He, too, was thinking Of the past,
but his thoughts were not so peaceful as
those of his companion. They were
full of suffering, for he was living over
again in memory the saddest hours OF
his life.
"It has been six years tonight,
mother, since l saw her, he said, more
rs if speaking to himself than his
mother.
"Saw whom % she asked, absently.
Margaret.
Atthat name the woman 8 face clOuded,
and she gazed ut her son with q plying
expression. 81,
"Can't you forget her, Henry?" she
asked, softly.
"No, mother. She is always with me
in thought. cannot forget her."
Then they grew silent again.
The woman of whom they spoke was
Henry Morgan's wife. He had married
when a very young mamie was just OF
sge--a lady two years older than him
self, and of better position in life.
She was the daughter OF a London
tradesman, and was wealthy and accom-.
plished. She was beautiful, and when
she married she loved her husband very
dearly, but not Us he love her. She was
not so unselfish as he, and he was not to
her what she was to him-the only one
necessary to their happiness. She was
q worldly woman, and she loved the
follies and designations of the metropo-
lis too much to care to settle down to
the quiet of a country life. After short
season of happiness with her husband
she grew weary of the monotony OF
farm life, and he, ever ready to crafty
her slightest wish. went back with her
to the town. There she commenced
round of gayety that soon rendered her
husband sick OF the hollow life around
him and eager to 60 back to the peace
and quiet Of his old home. But thealady
was not willing to leave, and to please
her. he remained with her.
Matters went on from bad to worse.
At length child was born, but it lived
but few brief hours, and then went to
a better land. In the course OF time
another came. 1t was IL sweet, rosy girl,
the image of the mother, and Mr.. Nor
gan hoped that it would be charm so
Dotent that his wife would not neglect