The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-15

and reckless man, fond of sport. How her
gentle, refined nature was tried by coming
in contact with the company lie brought to
his house! used to know of this when
she would come to visit her old home, and
sit with her mother in the room where l
l dwelt.
She knew sorrows many and deep-for
her husband grew to be unkind and sus-
picious-until the baby Jennie was sent to
comfort her. Yet she never murmured
against her unhappy lot.
When she would often stand, with her
little one, before me, sweet smiles came
again to her face--not merry, bright smiles
they had departed, never to return.
Little Jennie was sweet babe, and truly
comfort to the mothers saddened heart.
Dear May-good, faithful and fond-she
was content with her baby and her sorrow.
Years rolled on, and her father passed
from earth, saved from much of his sor-
rows by his daughters love and sacrifice.
Blessings for May were on his dying lips.
When baby Jennie grew to be baby no
longer, but merry little maid of fifteen.
she was fatheress. At thirty-five the
mother stood before me robed in the wild
owls weeds. could not tlatter; l was
always, and still am, true. She looked all
the years she had known. l often Won
dered, though, if others thought her SO
beautiful as did.
She returned, on the first day of her
widowhood, to her chldhoods home, to
her mothers side. Those were pleasant
days to me, to have those loved so dearly
ever near me. But brighter days were
coming.
For two years | gazed daily on my favor
ite saw her devotion and tenderness for
her aged mother, her geutleness and fond
care with the Maynard Jennie. Every
hour | fonnd some new virtue to love her
for. Oh, why was her life blasted? Why
should such heart be so crushed in it's
young hopes9 continually wondered and
grieved much over her sad lot, which she
never did, truly believe.
One night-Jennie's birth-night party it
. was-she left the young folks and came up
to the room where | was. Grandmother
was away then; and we-May and I-were
alone. She locked the room door and came
up to me, took from her pocket little key,
and opened drawer that had not been
looked into for a long, long while-a little
drawer which held things very dear to her.
"To- night, oh, tonight my mind goes
back to my once happy hours, when l was
as merry as my little Jennie. Heaven grant
her different fater' she murmured, and
drew forth the little case which had seen
her hide away eighteen years before.
Holding it in her hand she said, "Now,
latter all these years, l must look on the
face once SO DEAR
Opening the case she gazed on the mini
ature; her eyes filled, and one large tear
stole gently down and settled on the pic
ture. She drew forth her handkerchief,
wiped away the tell-tale drop, and pressed
her lips where it had rested.
"Once so dear"
"And still so DEAR" thought.
She gave shy, frightened look at me,
bright flush was on her usually pale face,
and she whispered, 8" Is this wrong? No,
no, it cannot be. Ernest, where are you
tonight. Oh, l wonder if he ever thinks
of me-and how? lis not likely, during
all these years, he has cherished any love
for one he must have thought so false as |.
Oh if l could only have explained to him
how it was
And then she dropped her head on her
hand and wept beside me. Oh, | wished
then for wings, that | might flee away and
find her Ernest, to bring him back to love
and console her.
She closed the case, saying, Enough
enough Of this. He may now be loving
husband. God bless him, and make him
ever happy
She hid her treasure again, and returned
to the merry ones below.
Frequently after that she came and look
ed at the miniature. She seemed to grow
quite cheerful, aud no longer wept over it.
Once | heard her murmur, O. know not
how this is, but am constantly watching
I
dream of him as then; and my heart seems
waiting for its other self. Oh, will it ever
| come? l feel it must Some day all will
be well-all known, all forgiven
A few months after that Jennie danced
into the room. Holding up a card mo-
ment, she tossed it into her mothers lap,
saying, "a stranger. mamma. l have
never seen or heard of him BEFORE
May glanced at the name, a bright flush
swept over her pale face, and the blue eyes
seemed to have caught brighter light as
she came forward and stood before me.
"She cares little to look pretty again.
thought, as she arranged delicate white
frill around the neck of her black dress.
l did not know, but thought much; and
1 waited as anxiously her return as once
years before.
"Why, mamma, how pretty, how young
you look! | have never seen you look as
now!" exclaimed Jennie, when, after two
hours absence her mother returned.
knew why; and soon l heard her say
to grandmamma, ERNEST is down stairs,
mamma; may he come up to see you? ~
! The dear old lady was happy, too, in her
child's joy.
I saw him then for the first time-the
noble looking man. He was worthy of her
love. Yesterday saw him again; he stood
beside her, our darling May. And now
that | have seen her so happy, am willing,
should they choose, to be displaced by one
more modern-none more true can they
find. There is a bright light shining on
my face to-night-a light from her dear
eyes. The light that has at last broken in
on her dark, sorrowing path, as to her and
to me will come to all faithful and true, no
matter how dark the path, light at last
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