Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-13

vet heard the me- lodeer's name: for her
sister had a first nisunderst ,0t l., aud bad
written IL '.Rawton" in communicating the
news that the rooms were let. Tnree or four
days pas sed away before Alice had any ink
ling of the mis- AXE. Meanwhile Richard
BrOughton had seen her-unseen himself
more than once, and had even heard her
voice speaking carelessly TO the children.
How 1t thrilled on his ear and confirmed mis-
resolution
1t was in the early twilight of a summer
evening. The shop was closed, and Mrs.
Gray had gone out after seeing the children
IN bed. Broughton felt that the hour had
come, and ringing his bell, asked the servant
VINO answered it, II Miss Croft were at home
and disengaged.
"Yes, sir" slid the maid: "she is all alone
in the parlOr."
"Then be so good as to give her my card
and ask IL may wait upon her"
But Mr.. BroughtOn followed the servant
down stairs, and was ready to avail himself
OF the permission given, in q moment.
The servant thinking II her duty, lighted
the gas before leaving the room, but she left
1t burning low, so that the lingering day
light prevailed over it. Though the rec ap-
ton room was but a little parlor behind the
shop, there was an air of refinement about
its appointments, and the out look into q
OdOrous and blooming plants. The door
which lead into the shop remained open,
probably for the sake Of air; but TO such q
passionate lover OF music as the visitor was,
the sight of two or three pianos and a harp
and guitar was rat Ter suggestive of delight
full ideas than of anything else.
Alice had risen from her chair, and ad-
vanced with Outstretched hands to meet her
guest; but she did not seem able to find a
word of greeting.
"Alice!" exclaimed Mr. Brough.on, "if I
risen from the dead?''
"Oh, no." she replied; al never thought
YOU were dead" But as she spoke there was
fsllering of her voice, which showed thai
BY this time both were seated, though a
little way apart. Mr.. BrOughtOn drew his
chair nearer, and said softly: "Alice, / come
TO ask you If Ii is too late to mend our broken
chain?"
"But you are married; heard that long
ago. exclaimed Alice with dignity. "You
have no right to the past"
81 have been a widower these two years, .
was the rejOlnder.
The explanations which followed need not
be described in detail.
"Letters kept ack, false messages,
The tale so old and ia k,
had separated the lovers; and when Alice
Croft believed that she was fOrsaken, q Sc
we're illness ensued; after her recovery from
which Ii was found that her voice was Sc
riOusly impaired. Instead of re- sting il for a
time, she was tempted by the exigencies OF
her profession to overstrain il; the result be-
ing such deterioration in its quality tina It
was no longer powerful aud certain enough
for the concert room. Then followed many
years OF ariuOus labor as a teacher o music,
during which time her mothers death and
the death of other members OF the IA nily, re-
duced the little circle. till at last her young
est and widowed sister, Mrs. Gray, was the
only one left
SIX weeks after the rem 1ion just described,
a quiet, but well-Ome1ei yelling took
place, in which Richard BrOughton and Alics
Croft were the principal actors. Meanwhile,
the bridegroom and bride elect, living under
the same roof, had abundant opportunities
of riveting the "brOken chain 20 wllch al
fusion has been made; while Dandy, no
longer confined TO one apartment, now ran
about the house, as If perpetuauy engaged
in taking messages from one person to an
other: Mr.. and Mrs. WOOifOrd, early APP
the acquaintance of Mss Croft and her sis
ter, and being fond Of children, hal FIRE
quently had the little Grays at their house.
Mr. Woodford even consented to give the
bride away, and his two young daught ers
were the bridesmaids. But as BrOughton
said, his cousin Maggie was always a
trump" and her husband seemed worthy of
her.
1t was the evening before the wedding.
The whole family mad been visiting the
WOOdfords, and 1t was evident little Alice
had something on her mind to communi-
cate The young WOodfOrds as we'll as their
mother constantly called Mr.. Broughton
cousin Dick" and the term had evidently
struck the child much.
"What is il Allie?" asked Mr.. BrOughtOn.
drawing the little girl to his knee "What Is
II you are wishing to say"
81 mould like to call you Cousin Dick /"
like those young ladies. May L? for / love
you SO much" And as she spoke, Allie
raised her face for kiss, and put her arms
around his neck
will not Uncle Dick do as well?'' asked
BrOughtOn, giving the child warm hug.
Don't you understand that shall really be
Uncle Dick to- morrOw?'
ION, how nice! Uncle Dick, dear Uncle
Dick-yes, / like that better"
N. Il We are commissioned TO add that
Dandy accompanied the newly married
pair on their wedding journey. Tney con-
sidered they owed him so much, that 1t would
not be just to give him the pain of even q
tempory separation from his master-and
mistress.