The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-27
THE BIRDS MISSION.

THE BIRDS MlSSlON.
Elmside, the summer residence of the
Mortimers, is situated on the banks of the
Hudson, in one of the most beautiful spots
OF region celebrated for the loneliness
OF its scenery.
At the close of a sultry summer day
the family assembled on the lawn to en-
joy the soltt breeze, just cool enough to
be refreshing, which gently stirred the
leaves of tree and vine. The family party
consisted Of five members; Mr. Mortimer,
senior, a gentleman of sixty, with quite
silvery hair and beard, and countenance
where pride and goodness were equally
visible; his son, Royal Mortimer, a fine
looking man of thirty-fvc, bearing a
great resemblance to his father, and Mrs.
graceful lady of thirty, with their two
children, Lillian and Willie. Willie was
u noble looking lad of twelve. and his sis
ter, two years younger, was sweet, pleas
ant faced little girl, quite small for her
age. .
On this evening Lillian and Willie were
amusing themselves with the sportive
tricks of lively little spaniel that was
Wills favorite pet. Mrs. Mortimer seat
ed herself on rustic bench with book
in her hand, but was apparently more in
terested in the scene around her than in
its pages. The elder Mr.. Mortimer and
his son had sauntered down the broad
path to the gate, and leaned upon it, talk
ing together busily. While they stood
there, a little girl, apparently abont the
age OF Lillian, passed along the road
quite near them. She was dressed very
plainly but neatly, and had a face of deli
cate, sensitive beauty as rare as it was
pleasing. She carried a parcel on one
arm, and in her hand a bop et of beauti
full flowers. The golden-brown hair fell
around her neck in soft loose curls, and
as he passed the two gentlemen she lifted
to them pair of dreamy blue eyes shad-
ed by long dark lashes. Her momentary
glance was returned by such an eager,
spellbound look from the old gentleman
that her own lids dropped in modest con-
fusion, and a blush mounted to her cheek.
After watching her out of sight, Mr..
Mortimer turned to his son with an ex-
preston Of deepest sadness on his noble
features. 1t needed no explanation to
enable Royal Mortimer to understand the
reason for this.
"Her eyes were like Annie:s; did YOU
not think so?'' asked he.
"They seemed Armies own was the
reply, given in a trembling voice. ooh,
when shall cease to suffer for that one
act of injustice? Royal! would willing
ly give all my fortune if could only undo
the past. No day goes by that the shad-
ow does not creep into it: and blot out all
the brightness. No night finds me sleep
ing peacefully with happy heart.
Royal, should go mad if did not cher
ish faint hope that I shall yet find her,
and make amends, as far as can, for what
I have done. That is my greatest object
in life
The son had listened with an emotion
corresponding to that of the speaker, and
now asked:
''What news did you receive from your
last advertisement? Vow know I was
away at the time, and have not had a
chance to ask you before, except in the
presence Of the children"
Nothing definite" replied his father,
sadly. "There has been person of the
name in 3, but he died, and his family
removed from the place. No clue can be
discovered to their whereabouts. I tell
you, Royal, the thought Of Annie, alone in
the world, and perhaps reduced to the ut
most misery of. poverty, is enough to
craze me, when here am I, with wealth at
my command, and yet powcrless to relieve
her"
Looking at the sorrowful and even
anguished faces of the two men standing
there in the gathering summer twilight
you would never have thought them the
happiest of mortals, even though they did
live in an ''earthly paradise"
Let us go back a few hours, and follow
the steps of the child whose beautiful
eyes recalled such bittor memories to Mr.
Mortimer and his son. Passing along
with light tread, she came, after a hall
hours walk, to a little cottage, in front
of which was a small yard containing
some carefully tended flowers. Lifting
the latch of the gate she went quickly ul
the path, and glanced with a bright smile
through an open window where a still
young and beautiful woman was sitting
at the same time holding up her boquet
The enthusiastic girl had not noticed
at first her mothers face was deathly pale
and that, as she lay back in her chair
with closed eyes, tears which she coulC
not conceal stole from under her long
lashes.
"Why, darling mamma, what is thu
matter?'' she cried in distress, as she saw
these tokens of grief. a
Forcing smile to her quivering lips
Mrs. Howe opened her eyes, full of love
light, on her daughter, and answered
with an effort at cheerfulness: #
II have rather a bad headache, dear