The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-18


"He became a player, l dare say" th'
sergeant said; just the kind of hf
a good-for-nothing like him would fancy
And yet he might turn up one of thes
fine days as rich as the great actor, War
zen, who is to play here tomorrow night,
so the bills say"
"F0r Miss Amy's sake, if for nothing
else, I'd be glad if he'd come, back as poor
as he went. T think it's killing her to
have him away SO long, She could be.
married since, ifshe liked, and to a rich
man, too; but she loves him too well to
marry anyone else. Why, if you could
only see her when aperson speaks of him,
the way her face lights up, and the soft,
bright light that comes into her sweet
eyes - but there's the mistress calling
me-"
"Stay, Nancy I" exclaimed the sergeant;
but Nancy had already left the room. Lie
went after her, returning soon, however,
and going over to the fire, he stood whero
Amy Bradley had stood, saying often to
himself, as if the words pleased him,
T"Happy Mr.. Harry! Happy Mr.. Har-
ry!"
He resumed his seat as the knocker
sounded at the hall door; and shortly af-
ter John Edgeworth ushered into the
room two persons, one evidently from his
appearance clergyman, the other an old,
sharp-featured, stony-eyed little man,
whom the sergeant surmised to be the
bridegroom. The cause Of the soldiers
presence being explained to him. by John
Edgeworth, old Frazer, for it was he, in
sudden fit Of generosity, threw him
crown, desiring him to drink his health
with it.
The coin fell unnoticed at the sergeant's
feet, for the door was opened, and Mrs.
Edgeworth entered, followed by Amy
Bradley, on whose arm leaned, or rather
clung, pretty, child-like little creature,
her pale young face impressed with the
sadness of heavy heart. She did not
raise her eyes to greet her future lord,
who hobbled over to her side, and the
hand which he took lay cold and passive
in his own.
1t was painful sight, that ill-mated
couple standing before the clergyman to
utter VOWS that to one, at least, must seem
Lx,,,11 Do, ,,f,,1 ,nIaaI ~ ,,,c+
have been to the manly heart of the SER
geant, for his chest heaved with sup
pressed emotion. He rose from his chair,
but sat down again, passing his hands
over his eyes,. He saw. John Edgeworth's S
face whiten with intense agony-he saw
the bowed heads of Mrs. Edgeworth and
Amy Bradley; he heard the low voice OF
the clergyman faltcringly begin the mar
riage ceremony, as if he felt that the bless
ing which he would invoke would be a
mockery. He saw all this, repeat, un-
til the clergyman, turning to the poor
rirl, asked her eff she would take that
man there present for her lawful hus-
band" then springing up, he shouted,-
"Never, Matte never, my sister ''-
but the rest Of the exclamation was lost in
the cries of "Harry y that burst from the
lips. Of the astonished women, and the
next moment they were clinging around
him, weeping, heartily enough, to. be
sure, but their tears were the blessed tears
ofjoy.
Harry, Harry, my dear boy7" falt-
cred John Edgeworth, still halt, incredu7
lous.
eyes, father,"' returned the sergeant,
removing from his face at the same time
the beard and mustache which had dis
figured it, "your. son, indeed, who has re:
turned to ask your forgiveness, to snatch
DOOR Matte from a miserable. future, and
if Amy loves me yet, and won't say no.
wby. to become her husband"
Amy hid her blushing face on his shoul'
der, Whispering
"Indeed | won't say no, dear Harry"
ooh, Harry, darling, are you in ear
nest?" Matte cried, still clinging around
his neck. "Oh, know you are-and
won't have to marry him ?"
"That you won't poor little thing" sale
Harry.
Where was old Frazer during this inter.
esting colloquy - where, indeed, bu
standing over by the window, gnawing hi'
lips, and forcing his nails into hisclenchet
hands.
"My money my seven hundred gol'
guineas, John Edgeworth !" he gasped.
"There's your money, old Shylock =
Harry said, throwing well-tilled purs
across the room. "And now, bark ye
quit! Well, yes, satisfy yourself, an'
count it. You'll find it right, for | assur
it was placed in there for you"
Old Frazer deliberately emptied tn
purse of its contents upon the table, an
!, finding the sum to be correct, neryousl
- / ~ -, I'D Kill, hal, ;p4o ~ ~,