Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-17

been found u fitting text on which to C
hang all the dreams. wraiths, warnings, Il
and marvellous circumstances. that mad u
been handed down to the company from h
the days Of their grandtathers but. IN g
the present instance, they were too II
much occupied in consultation regarding :
the different routes u be taken in their
search. |
Twelve norsemen and some halt-dOzen i
pedestrians, were seen hurrvlng IN {
divers directions from Marchlaw. as the .
last FAINT lights OF a melancholy day
were Welding to the heavy darkness
which appeared pressing IN solid masses
down the sides of the mountains. lhe
wives and daughters OF the party were
alone with the llsConsOlate mother. who
alternately pressed her weeping children
to her heart, and told them to weep not.
tor their brother would soCn return;
while the tears stole down her own
cheeks, and the infant in her arms wept
because its mother wcpt. Her friends
struve with each other to inspire hope,
and poured upon her ear their mingled
and ioquaciouS consultations. But one
remained silent. The daughter Of Adam
Bell, who sat by Mrs Eiliot's elbow AT
table, had shruuk into IN obscure
corner OF the room. Before her face she |
held 4 handkerchief wet with tears |
Her bosom throbbed cOnvulsively; and, |
rs occasionally her broken signs burst
from their prison house, significant
whisper passed among the younger
| part of tn" company
| Mrs. Elliot approached her, aud TAX
! ing her hand tenderly within both OF
hers % hinny. hinnyw said she, yer
sighs gte through my heart like knife
An what can do to comfort We? Come,
Elizabeth. my honny love, let Us hope
tur the best Yc see before ye ,or-
rnwin mother. d mother that loudty
hoped to YOU an | Gamma say II.
an am i'll qualified to gle comfort when
nv own heart is like furnace! But oh.
, let US try and remember the bles >ed
portion, Whom the lord lOveth he
= cha>trneth,' An inwardiy pray for
strength to say, His Will he done.
. Time stole on toward midnight, and
= one bv one the unsuccessful party re-
4 turned As foot after foot approached,
j, everv breath was held tn listen No,
d no. no. cried the mother, again and
/ again. with increasing anguish, it 5 no
Y the foot 0 my ain BARN while heI
| keen gaze still remained rivcted upon
II the door. and was not withdrawn. no!
the hope OF despair r-inquished
q till the individual entered. and, witt
l. a silent and omlnou> shake OF his head
Il betOkeneA his iruitlrss efforts. lh'
clock had struck twelve; AL were re
id turned save the father The wind howis,
more wildly; the rain poured upon III
or windows i'll ceasetess torrents. and u
IL ruariug oi the mountain rivers gave
X character of deeper ghnsthues, to thel
re Scpulclral silence; for they sat. eac
re in togeboding-. listening 70 the storm
cr no sounds We're heard, save the groan
Il ot the mother, the weeping OF her Chi
IS dren. and the bitter and broken subs {
IT the bereaved maiden, who leaned he
head upon her fathers bosom. reiusin
e to be comtorted.
IN At length the barking OF The faru
p: dog announced footsteps at distanc
id Every ear was raised to listen, ever
t 5 eve turned to the door; but, before Il
to tread WAS Vet audible to the listeners
ng ..Oh, it is only Peters foot ~ SAID II
ed miserable mother, and. weeping, rose
", meet him.
- Janet Janet" he exclaimed rs
tn. entered and threw his arms around h
neck. what this come upon Us
es- last"
ar. He cast An inqui>itivc glance aroul
IN his dwelling. and a convulsive shiv
IN passed over his manly frame as his e
.. again tell on the vacant chair none II
be vcntured to occuuv. Hour succeed
ain hour, but the company separated n,
rem and low. Sorrowtul whispers mingi
md with the lamentations ot the parents
1ht "Neighbors, said Adam Bell. It
the morn is a new day. and we will wait
ties >re what it may bring forth but, in
She meantime. let us read 4 portion o
'r"- Divine Nord. an kneel together i'll PR
nat cr. that. whether or not the day-da'
aud cause light To- shine upon this sIngu
INN bereavement, the sun o Righteousn
by may arise wi healing on his wings, I
eat on the hearts o this afflicted family,
ana upon the hearts o all present"
NY. Amen" responded Peter, wiring
his hands; and his friend taking do
ary the Ha' Bible read the chapter wher
red, il is written-''lt is better to be in
ow! house Of mourning than in the house
son. trasting;" and again the portion VIII
ntty snyeth-"lt is we'll tor me that | HI
eer- been afflicted. for, before was attiic,
20" | went aStray.'
rosy The morning came, but brought
li! tlulnTS OF the lost son. After sore
the farewell ALL the v;sitants, save Ad
and Bell and his daughter, returned ev
Her one To their own house; and the disc
the soiate father. with his servants. ag
and. renewed their search among the
the and surrounding villages.
said DAYS. weeks. months. and wears,
b,Cd ed ON Time had subdued til. aagl
Her OF the parents into holy calm;
their lost first born was not forgot
she. although no trace OF his fate had |
!m?" discovered. The general belief was
he: he persisted Oh the breaking up of
ith i snow; and the few. in whose rem
t an brance he still lived. merely spok
lips his death AS very extraordinary
cums,ance," rcmarking that he "
such Wild venturesome sor! o lad,
IN Christmas succeeded Christi
hat | and Peter Elliot still kept II
ature commemoration OF him who
Il eX- not For the first few wears after
,ving loss OF their son, sadness and sill
Tor characterizedthe party which SAT do'
dinner at Murchlaw. and still at Pc
Adam rish. hand was placed The Vacant (
brian, Bat As the yuun.rcr branches OF the
lie as iiy advanced III years, the remembr
+ We ui their brother became less poigI
t'''N-' I htlSlllliS WIS. Win III shiboAh hiS
'or. II day of rejoicing, and they bega'
to the make merry with their friends;
assist their parents partook in their e
oush. ments, with u smile. half OF app
ST pe and halt OF sorrow.
com Twelve Years had passed away C.
to be mas had again come. 1t was the
empf' ,erpart OF It's fatal predecessor. The
in the had not yet cast oiftheir summer ver'
led, IN the sun, although shorn OF its heat
icy IN lost none of its brightness or glory
% up looked down upon the earth as Il
participating in its gladness; ans
ng her clear blue sky was tranquil as III
} this sleeping beneath the moon. Many
Y head tors again assembled at Mare
IS. but The sons of MIR. Elliot, aud the
e like men of the party, were assembled
Ighing a level green near the house, am
Bile to themselves with throwing the h;i
mo at and other border games. while n
very and the elder guests stood by as :
't-lOst tors, recounting the days OF their
johnson, the sheep farmer, whom "
aJ ,b. already mentioned, now Drawn
tier ,u gigantic fellow of two-and-ihnty
n that away in every game the palm tr'
at the competitors More than once, as
y way beheld his sons defeated, he telt the
ready of youth glowing in his VEINS anu
/.