The Van Buren press., 1877-11-06
BEST REAL

ty acres round it, w0e, and he'll come
home again. l promised his father
would be watching for him.
1t seemed n very hopeless kind OF
watching
Year after year slipped away, and no
one heard word from Gavin Irwin
| The rent of the house was remittcd to
a firm he bad chosen in Liverpool, Tor
five years; then the tenant left, and for
three years more the Irwin place stood
empty.
In those three years the minister often
wondered where the lost lad was
The rent Of the homestead, while it
was tcnantcd, was enough for life's nee
essities, but now--what was he doing?
lie was seeing many extremes. lie
had been as o"reA.--'-s- - 4 -
ocean He had been successful spec
ulator in New York, and he had been
digging for gold in Australia.
He had been gambling with princes at
Baden Baden, and fighting for his rights
with the roughs of Nevada.
But one night, ten years after his faith
cr's death, when he was recovering from
an attack OF the terrible vomito in Mata-
moras, he suddenly hethought him of the
pleasant old home among the breezy
hills.
He heard in his soul the chime Of the
church bells, and the faint. sweet music
Of the people singing, just as he heard
them on that Sunday morning when he
went fishing to please the fair and tickle
Jessie Grief, and an intcnre desiea for
cool old rooms and scented garden ways,
for the murmuring trout streams end
broom covered hills possessed him.
He feebly sought for his purse and
counted his money. Yes there was en-
ough left to clothe him deccutlv and take
him home; and be would be contcn,,
henceforward, to farm his fathers acres,
and live as his father had done.
| lie had to travel slowly, but one even.
ing, ten weeks afterward, he got off e
steamer and stood once more on the
Campsalc pier. No one knew him
He stopped little girl to ask if Doc
tor Anderson still lived at the manso
and then he took his way quietly to.
ward it.
AS he opened the garden gate a lovely
girl looked up from her carnations a
him
He asked timidly for the minister
and she led him into the well known par
lot, with its low roof and old fashioned
. furniture
Mr.. Anderson came thoughtfully in
looked at Gavin curiously, held ont hi,
hand ,'ani the moment he spoke, said
a. thought so. Welcome home
welcome home! promised your fathc,
to say this much for him when this glad
day came round. I'm proud man to dc
il. sir. Lucy, Lucy! bring some cakes
and glass of cream. You'll be glad
Gavin. ! know you will, to taste tho
wholesome oatmeal again
and so lie ran on while he took off Ga
wins hat and coat, and gave a score oil
hoepitablc orders.
SO Gavin stayed at the manse for some
weeks, and what passed between the min
lister and him no one eveu knew but
think Gavin told him most Of those ten
years sins and failure. But he had come
home now, he said to repair his father.
house end live in it; perhaps, in time
he might win again the respect Of bis
| father friends.
Mr., Anderson heard and reioiced.
lie gave Gavin one hundred pounds
which he said was rent due him, and ad.
viscd him to begin at once putting the
place in order
1t would employ him while be looked
around. and it was best not to be in hur-
ry with the plan.
SO Gavin stayed all summer with the
minister, and by the end Of it-as any one
might have foresecn--ho had but one
thought in life-Lucy Anderson
lie was almost sure Lucy loved him
! too, but he had never dared to speak to
/ her But one night, as he sat full of
drcarv thoughts about his wasted past,
/ Lucy came and touched him.
MIR. Irwin" she said, "you are sad,
and you make me miserable What is
/ the ma'ter;'
a. lovc-and am unworthy 10 love, y
Did she say so r
Lucy oh, Lucy