The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-21
After Many Years,

"Well, darling?" I said, catching her
two hands in mine, as we met under
the trees in the loveliest corner of the
square.
had no other words and she needed
none.
THE old story" looking up at me, just
a glance that showed her pretty eyes had
been crying 'Im-Tn. here, Shirley"
Do you know what those three words
meant? That Edna verderay, before the
first star looked out of the opal sky up
above us, would be my wife.
1t was the old story, you sea penni-
less lover, true-hearted little woman cling
ing to her faith, and parental curse i'm
pending over both our heads. We had
done our best, and she would have been
true to father and lover both, only it was
not to be. She had made the last attempt
to-day to win a late consent to our mar
riage, and had failed; she came to tell me
30, and to follow me and my fortunes.
The sun was only just setting, hot and
red; ths long street was ahame, and its
bordering palmettos looked crested with
gold. I drew her hand tightly through my
arm, and we walked away together very
| qnietly for she was tired, and the little
hand II tembled against my side. She only
told me that she was not afraid, thai she
loved n,e, and she would be glad to rest
when it was all over, and we two safe and
far away together. And 20 we went on
and were married.
Then took home my wife. It was o
poor home, but she was not afraid to
sweeten it with herself, and she had said
that she was glad to come. You do not
care to hear how our happy time went by,
and I could not tell you; only it was very
sweet, and we were all the world to each
other. She never spoke Of her father and
mother, and never seemed to miss them or
regret what she had lost in them. l never
would have known that it was grief to her,
but for one day. She met me when
came home at night, with her face all spark
ling and her voice unsteady with excite
ment, and, even before she kissed me,
cried OUT
| 'Tve seen my mother!"
''Your mother? has she been here ?"
eyes Only think how glad was-how
surprised! She came and she kissed me,
and forgave me-" putting her arms around
my neck and beginning to cry in her glad
ness, "and forgave you, too; and she said
she couldn't live and lose her only daugh-
ter. Oh, Shirley, it was the only thing
more that I wanted on earth! I'm so
happy, darling!"
"And your father7"
''He couldn't be as kind as she was, Il
said my little vito, with her cheek on mine.
'Fathers never are; but she thought-she
was sure, she said-that he'd forgive it all,
anG that he loved me just as much all the
time, and it would be all right at last,
A Shirley. Oh! aren't you happy, too!
Look glad Tell me you're glad, dear
YOU don't know how much wanted it!"
i I was glad for her sake, God knows, fol
my own would never have cared to leol
on either of their faces again. could no
forget that they had made my darling
wretched for twelve long months; the for
: giveness they talked of was like an insult tt
us both.
But all was changed now. Mrs Yer
deray's carriage ratified, day after day
down the little dull street, and stood q
{ Mrs. Lecompte's door, and Edna Lecompt
was pardoned and petted and caressed as i
Edna verderay had never disobeyed. Ant
then we were asked to dine lat home,
!, she and I; and the old man greeted us bot
kindly, and kissed his daughter with tw
$ tears in his cold eyes; and seemed to bur.
all our old enmity as he shook my hand
, and after that it was all sunshine betweel
8 US.
!, But never ceased to feel an odd chill i
my heart like prophecy of something BIZ
ter coming between us. Perhaps it was be
: cause instead Of growing richer, since
j married wife, only grew poorer, an
the world outside our little room got dar
|, and threatening overhead, and SCENE
r only cold place for my unborn child t
I inherit
He came to test his tender muscles jul
with the early winter, and, as he cam
y Edna was very nigh going out forsvel
7 I She WAS delicate little thing, and needle
4 20 aauah pstaiaS and nanaiaE. end asnAl