The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-24

very long ago, had SO thoroughly enjoyed
Irritation, She wondered why, in spite
of herself, she was SO istlessly Indifferent,
and honestly tried to catch the infec-
hon of Mrs. Pcmberton's excitement oi
Joy.
The old lady had put on her best dress
o rich, rustling silk-to do honor to her
sons coming, and Blanche thought, as she
went into her parior, that she had never
seen a sweeter tableag of placid, aged beau
ty, and happy old days, than Mrs. Penn
berton offered, in her lace cap and gray
pufs, and pale face lighted by such glad
eyes,
GLOW your son ought to worship such
mother!" she said, with q warmly
graceful little impulsiveness-a charac-
acteristic of other days, to which she sell
dom gave way now. "Mr. Pemberton
surely does"
Mrs. Pemberton jumped up from her
chair at the sound of carriage wheels al the
door.
"He has comei Oh, Blanche! But
whatever possessed you to think his nalae
was Pemberton Why, John is my first
husbands son!"
Aud Blanche slipped out of the back
door as the gentleman came in the front
one-went away upstairs again, leaving
mother and son to the sweet sacredness of
their glad meeting.
In all her life, Blanche had never felt SO
lonely as in that half hour she spent up
stairs, knowing how entirely forgotten she
was. She was not selfish, either, but it
seemed as if all the trouble she had ever
known came surging its waves of keen re-
membrance over her.
She realized as she had never done be-
fore how pitifuily alone she was in the
world, and then into the midst of the har-
rowing thoughts, the tears that had left her
heart but had not yet reached her sweet,
sad eyes, into the midst of the desola-
ton of her young life, came Mrs. Pember-
toms voice, quick, glad, exultant, as she
called from the foot of the stairs:-
blanche, Blanche, do come down!
There'sa mystery can't quite understand.
Come here!"
And Blanche, hG.f smiling at the dear
old ladys rardonable excitement, went
quietly, promptly, to be presented to her
son.
Mrs. Pemberton caught her by both
hands, to drag her perforco into the
parlor.
"It beats all I ever did hear of! never
was So"
Just then tall, handsome gentleman
came through the parlor door, with quick,
eager steps, and blanche looked and saw
Elmer Westcourt.
blanche Carroll My darling, whom
l thought | had lost until few minutes
ngo! Blanche, my love!"
And the girl stood looking at him,
clutching Mrs. Pemberton's hand in vice
Like grasp that was chill as death, her face
pale as her dress, her eyes full of mingled
pteous bewilderment, and wondering
doubt, and mute ecstacy.
'"ro think never once thought of tell
! ing you Johns name was Westcoult! You
see, I always call him John, although
Elmer is prettier, and he has an equal
right to it, it being his middle name.
And to think "Well, I'm clean beat /"
And Mrs. Pemberton sank down in the
hall chair, and wiped her eyes and her
glasses, while Mr.. Westcourt took Blanche
in his arms and kissed her, and hastily ex-
planned whao she did not fully understand
till later-how he had written to her in the
hour of his sudden, imperative departure
abroad how he had sent her letter after
letter, and how he concluded she had done
with him.
And they both knew then that Blanehe't
equally sudden removal from her ole
home, and her self-elected retirement
to the country, had been sufficient rea
son why she never had received wha
would have changed all her life fol
her.
But the sunshine was come at last--tht
glad, bright sunshine, that was all the bet
ter for the dark weather that had SO Ions
hidden it. And Blanche's life. blossomet
out anew, under the radiant influences O.
love and hope.