The Van Buren press., 1878-09-17

farisg man ike yourself"
~ke captein suddenly caught bin by
he shou.da..
Earney--was that the namef BY my
good ship, man, tho hand of Providen ce
is in it! I've beor in the country this
very day to find out the wife and child OF
George Harney. Destitute did you say ?
Why, I've a pile Of gold soveregns for
them-all honest money fairly earned
Take me to them at once. I'm burning
to discharge my mission
At the end Of hour they reached their
destination They met DR.. Gilhert at the
door He gave cheering accout of Mrs
Harvey, saying the most she needed was
nourishing food and plenty of fresh
air.
"Send your coachman around with the
carriage every fine morning. Gerald" he
said. In conclusion. Iii will kill two
nIrdB WITH Un6 st0Yc-mHybc save fife
and give that idle fellow something to
do
"We'll see to that, young sir" chimcd
ia Captain Breese's hearty voice. Then
Gerald introduced the two and they shook
hands cordially.
1t transpired that Mrs Harvey had ney-
or received the letter sent by Capt, Breese.
1t had undoubted gone to the deadlet.
ter office. So she had oil the particulars
of her husbands illnesa and death to
hear. She shed bitter tears as she lis
tened to his loving messages to his ab-
sent wife. but it was relief to learn that
one of his countrymen had ministered
to his wants and closed his eyes
at last, with . tender and sympathetic
touch.
Her heart turned toward the home
whence she had received her husbands 8
parting emprace. So Captain Breese took
q day from his sailing preparations and
saw that all was made comfortable to re
ceive them aud one bright summer morn
ing Gerald bade Adelaide and her moth
er goodbye In parting. he said to
her, "Write me how you like your new
home, little girl shall be interested,
to hear" And thus they dropped, after
fashion, out OF his world.
From time to time the letters came as
he had requested. At first in round,
school girls hand; then tue more ele.
giant chiography told Of culture and apt,
ness for improvement
Years had passed. One of the dainty
missives came one morning lust as be
had received orders from his physician
to stop mental exertion and 90 to some
quiet place in the country where he could
have complete rest
Adelaide's letter decided him, He
would write and engage board near them
and renew acquaintance with his little
friend and mother.
MksaYs snbsaAs AsA tRss SpSs Rip aRs as
ing the thoughtful lines between the
brows, and clothing lips and cheeks with
a luxuriant growth of hair. He was no
longer smooth faced, happy-hcarted
boy
Once in the village it was easy to find
the cottage; and he was soon sauntering
leisurely up the heat walks. Evidence oi
refined taste were visible on every hand
AS he was ascending the steps, he found
himself face to face with young girl
who had opened the door and come out
upon the yeranda humming glad little
song
Thoughts of pale, earnest face look
ing with its deep, gray eyes out from o
tangle Of golden curls, haunting him al
through his journey 1t had not occur
red to him that the child had grown into
womanhood. So it almost startled him
from his self possession, when after q
surprised, lingering glance into his face
this beautiful, stately maiden held ou,
her hand with glad thrill in her musica
young voice, said.
"This is indeed pleasure! Come in
Mr.. Gerald; mamma will be SO glad to
see you once more"
He followed the graceful figure like
one in dream, and when fair, matron,
ly lady, with widows cap resting upon
her glossy hair, came forward to meet
him at Adelade's impulse--"Oh,m mamma
it is our friend. Mr. Gerald 1'-he seem
ed still in wonderland. Could that be
the emaciated, hectic painted face he re.
membered so vividly ?"
The evening passed on flying wings.
Adelaide said but little II filed her will.
a strange content to listen to the deep,
musical voice Of this friend whose kind.
ness dated back so far into the past, and
yet whose acquaintance could be mum.
bered almost by hours. Now and then
she would glance up into his handsomo
face to assure herself that Mr.. Gerald, as
she still called him after the old childish
fashion, was real person, not dream
myth.
His stay in the quiet village was pro.
onged much beyond his original inten-
ton. He was once more well man
physically; but mentally he was troub-
led with strange unrest. He had grown
to love Adelaide with the whole force of
his ardent nature, and like al! noble-min
ded men, he was free from conceit about
his own powers of pleasing. He hesita-
ted to break the spell of silence. lest in
asking her to become more than friend
he might lose all
One morning he called to leave book
she had expressed wish to read. He
found her in the garden tying up vine
whose heavy clusters OF opening rose
buds had weighed it almost too heavily
For a INC ment he stood watching her,
then she turned saw him. The light of
sudden joy that irradiated her face car
ried an intuition of the truth to bis pre-
vious!y doubling bsart, and he said soft
ly, hesitating no longer:
"IIas my little friend rose for me p
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