Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-11-02

prepared to return, said nothing o.
the reformation of myself, which
knew had taken place. They love-
me as / was, I murmured to myself
and they shall find out for themselve
whether I am better worth lovin!
than formerly.
| / picked up many token from
that land of romance and gold for thu
friends I hoped to meet.
The gift for Mary Moore I selectet
with beating heart; it was ring o
rough, virgin golds~mith my name
and hers engraven inside-that was
all, and y:t the sight of that little
toy strangely thrilled me as 1 balanced
it on the tip of my finger.
To the eyes of others it was but {
small, plain circle, suggesting thoughts
perhaps, by its elegance, Of the beau
tiful white hand that was to wear it
But to mellow much was embodied
:here-all these things were hidden IL
the little ring of gold.
Tall, bearded, and sun bronzed, ]
knocked at my fathers winters house
The lights in the parlor window, and
the hum of conversation and cheerful
laughter, showed me that company
/ was assembled there. hoped that
sister Lizzie would come to the door,
and might greet my family when no
strange eye was looking carelessly
on.
But no. servant answered my
summons. They were too merry in
the parlor to heed the long absent
one who had asked for admittance.
| A bitter thought like this ran through
my mind as l heard the sound from
the parlor, and saw the half Suppress
ed smile on the servants face.
I hesitated a moment before making
myself known, or asking for any one
Of my family. But while l stood
silent a strange sight grew up before
me from behind the servant peered
out tiny, delicate form. a golden
head, sweet, childish face with blue
eyes, so like the one that had bright
ened my boyhood, that | started with
sudden feeling Of pain.
"What is your name, my pretty ?
I asked, while the wondering servant
held the door.
"Mary Moore"
I "And what else ?" asked.
She lifted up her hands to shade
her face, / had seen that very
attitude in another in my boyhood
many and many a time-and then she
answered in a sweet, bird>like voice
"Mary Moore Chester"
My heart sank down like lead.
| Here was an end to all the bright
dreams and hopes of my boyhood
and manhood. Frank Chester, my
boyish rival, who had often tried III
vain to usurp my place beside the
girl, had succeeded at last, and had
won her away from me. This was
their child-his and Marys.
sank, body and soul, beneath this
blow, and, hiding my face in my
hands l leanded against the door
while my heart wept tears of blood
The little one gazed at me, gricved
and amazed, and put up her little lips
as if about to cry, while the wonder
ing servant stepped to the parlor anc
called my sister to see who it was tina
acted so strangely. l heard ligh
step and pleasant voice, saying:
''Do you wish to see my father
sir :"
I looked up. There stood pretty
sweet-faced maiden of twenty, no
much changed from the dear little
sister I had loved SO well. l looked
at her moment, and then, sitting
the tempest of my heart by a might,
effort, I opened my arms and said:
'Lizzie, don't you know me -
"Harry! oh, my brother Harry!
she cried, and threw herself upon m,
breast, and wept as though her bear
would break.
| I could not weep. I drew he
gently into the lighted parlor, an'
stood with her before them all.
There was a rush and cry of JOY
and then my father ana mOthe
sprang toward me and welcomed M
home with heartfelt tears.
Oh +! strange and passing sweet i
such a greeting TO the way worl
traveller. And as l held my dear oil,
mother to my heart, and grasped M
fathers hand, while Lizzie chung be
side me, I felt that l was not We
lost; and although another had secul
ed life's most choiceblessing, many
Joy remained for me in the dear. sane
tuary Of home.
r There were four inn ates of til
room who had risen on my sudde
entrance. One was the blue-eye
! child who now stood beside Fran
i Chester, clinging to his hand Nes