The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-08-13


those who loved her scarcely per-
reived how her youth slipped from
her. But Mildred felt it in the added
repose which each year brought. felt
it and Was thankful that she had been
led toward land of such peace,
whose Indian summer sunshine and
haze would grow softer and more
golden ~ she passed on toward
In all those years she had not seen
Maurice Hadon; he had gone hack to
his foreign life. aud his aimless
wanderings. But she some times
heard his name mentioned. and she
knew that her cpuns-ls had. in a
measure. lightened the difficulties he
tween him and his wife
1t was autumn. still early and
pleasant. when she learned that he
had returned home. and that he had
lett his wife buried in the far I'd
country.
Oaly u few DAYS later she received
L note from HadOn. asking permission
Ia see her, such u ssd. di-virited letter.
that she could not haze rrflse,i his
request. ~ it Wa decided. between
her and her frth-r. that he should
once more enter the house. where he
had brought 50 much suffering.
In the very room where she had last
received him. Hadon found her. the
light Of her prr>enc- shifting hi
heart like that IL soune g"ni ange,
whom his cruelty and sin had driven
from his Path.
lie WAS only few wears "k!er than
herself. hut his lace was 81 worn aud
teaien by the WAIVER VI his storn,y
life. that it hsrdiy seemed rs i; they
oould have been young together.
This is very kind of yo"." he sai.i
after the first troubled moments. Il
ought not To have asked tn see you.
but in all my weakness and doubt,
had nowhere else TAI turn. i have
worn out the patience "f all good
friends. and tear it is ,oo late now t.
change
Then Mildred questioned him, and
learned how much his f,rtune was
embarrassed by his reckless course, an
urged upon him the care and attention
To his affairs. which might make the
impending ruin less disastrous.
1T l had any object in ife." he
said mournfnlly. anything to love
me; if my wife Had left children
But am sd entirely alone!"
Never u word which related to their
common past. He knew that never
in all his coming life would he dare u
utter such. But spoke much for hi.
mind and heart that he was able to
bear the forgiveness Of the woman he
had wrongod.
They heard happy voice ringing
through the hall, and Mildred said.
You shall see nv child, the
adopted daughter God sent me to
complete mv content"
She went tn the door. drew Elsie
in, and presented her to Mr.. Ha.ion.
He stood for q long time. holding
her hand. and looking in her face,
whose youth stirred his heart with an
unde6nable regret. seeing her feature.
not SD much AS images that its fresh
ness called up from the dimne>s of the
past.
Elsie's eyes never deceived her,
EI>ie's memory never failed: she
recollected thi, man. She had met
him on that New-Year's Eve when she
stood barefoot in the snow. He had
hurried by her without even hearing
her appeal for assistance.
She stood. at first chilled by tina,
remembrance. but a better feelin.
came over her rs she locked up at him
and read his face more clearly.
"God bless you" he said. land
make you worthy Of the blessing Of
this woman's 1--we. cannot ask more
for Your child"
And Elsie saw the regret and the
pain in his desolate face, and all the
tenderness Of her womanly nature
went out toward him in his suffering.
cousin Mildred makes everybody
happy" sine said. IF you are her
friend, you cannot be unhappy long"
lie had Lust the right to call her his
freud. and the thought was so plain
in his face that Mildred. with some
thing Of her old impulslveneSs. laid
her hand over his as it clasped Elsies,
saying softly,
always your friend. Mauaice. al
WAYS; remember that"
Away hack in the ruined life since
he had heard her speak that name.
speak it with passion SD unlike the
calm Of her present voice, whose tones
to him like the whisper Of .
blessed spirit among the dreary graves
where he walked!
When he had gone. Elise said.
"They all speak i'll Of him. but I
feel very sorry for him--he suffers"
"Yet this man has done great
wrong in his life," Mildred answered.
"You see. Elsie. We should learn to
forgive"
Elsie told her Of her recollection of
him. not bitterly. but conscious that
had observed the first ex-
preston Of her face when she looked
ut him.
"And he passed you in the snow ?"
she said, shivering. "Ah! he was
full of suffering and bitterness. that
New-Years Eve. Child, pity him.
All the more from that recollection.
Just as he went BY YOU. that night.
md neglected the blessing to himself
which good to Others always brings,
has Maurice Haalon passed every OPP
portunity in his life which. properly
lsed. might have brought him peace"
Elsie understood better than ever
before why Mildred had taught her to
hink gently Of her fathers memory.
TH L. IL k~~.> I:.,:~- Ii