Smyrna times., 1876-03-22
mise eIL01 e Gus.
After Many Years.


"well, darling" l said, catching her
two hands in mine, as we met under the
trees in the loveliest corner of the square.
l had no other words, and she did not
need any.
"The old story" looking up at me, just
a glance that showed her pretty eyes had
been crying. "I-I'm here, Shirley"
Do you guess what those three words
meant? That Edna Verdery, before the
first star looked out of the opal sky up
above us would be my wife.
1t was the old story, you see-a penni-
less lover. a true-hearted little woman
clinging to her faith, and parental curse
impending over both our heads.
| drew her hands 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 to rest when it was all
over, and we two safe and far away to-
eether. And so we went on and were
married.
Then l took home my wife. 1t was a
poor home, but she was not afraid to 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 regret what she had lost in
them. never should have known that ii
was grief to her, but for one day. She
met me when came home at night, with
her face all sparkling and her voice un
steady with excitement, and even before
she kissed me cried out:
ave seen my motherr
"Your mother? Has she been here? :?
/ asked.
"Yesl Only think how glad was
how surprised She came and kissed me
and forgave me-" putting her arms around
nv neck and beginning to cry in her glad
ness, "and forgave you, too; and she sale
she couldn't live and lose her only daugh
ter. Oh, Shirley; it was the only thing
more that wanted on earth! I'm so happy
darling?'
"And your father?'
"He couldn't be as kind as she was, salt
my little wife, with her cheek on mine
"Fathers never are; but she thOught-sh
was sure, she said-that he'd forgive it al
and that she loved me just as much all tn
time, and it would be all right at last
Shirley. Oh, aren't you happy, tool Loo
glad tell me you're glad, dear; you don
know how | wanted itT
| was glad, for her sake,-God knows
for my own would never have cared
look on their faces again.
But all that was changed now. Mr.
Verderyis carriage ratified, day after da
down the little dull street, and stood
Mrs. Lecompete's door, and Edna L
compete was pardoned and petted, ar
caressed as if Edna Verdery had never dis
beyed. And then we were asked to din
"at home," she and /; and the old m'
greeted us both kindly, and kissed !
daughter with two tears in his cold eye
and seemed to bury our old enmity as
shook my hand; and after that night
was all sunshine between us'
5S-,Ias.S1 never ceased to feel an odd On
m my heart like a prophecy of somethi
bitter coming between US. Perhaps 1t
because instead Of growing richer, since
married wife, ] only grew poorer, a
the world outside of our little room
dark and threatening over head, and see
ed only cold place for my unborn ch
to inherit.
He came to test its tender mercies j
with the early winter, and as he car
Edna was very nigh going out forey
She was delicate little thing, and need
so much p~ting and nursing, and ten
care-my heart ached as many a p
mans has done before me, when ! lool
in the white little face that had been
rosy when | first took her from her ho
And instead Of growing stronger,
only dropped more, like a flower IN
first frost; and the child was as pale
She
There was q season of business 10
and heavy failures firm after firm
way, and men went home idle, and
turn came with the rest. And | X
down by my wife's bed, looked into
eyes, and told her. and asked her to
give me for the wrong had done in To-
her.
aDon't feel so badly, Shirley"
whispered, moving her head on my 81
der. III know I am burden to
darling; but IL can't wish it und
we are 80 happy still-we'ye got each Q