The Democratic advocate., 1879-03-29

Mary Moore
And what else p asked quickly.
She lifted up her hands to shade her faee
i had seen that very attitude in anoth
or, in my boyhood, many and many a time
and whispered in a sweet bird lik voice.
Mary Moore Chester
My heart sank down like lend Uoro
was an end to all my bright dreams and
hopes Of my youth and boyhood. Frank
Chester, my boyish rival, who had often
tried in vain to usurp my place beside tho
glrl, had succeeded at last, and had won
her away from me. This was the child
his child and Mary's.
sank, body and soul, beneath this
blow, aud hiding my face in my hands,
leaned against the door, while my heart
wept tears Of blood. The little ono razed
at me grieyed and amazed, and put up her
pretty hands as if about to cry, while the
perplexed servant stepped to. tho parlor
and called my sister out to see who il was
who conducted himself so strangely /
heard light step, and pleasant voice
saying
'Do you wish to see my father, sir?"
| looked up; there stood pretty, sweet.
faced maiden of twenty, not much chang.
cd from the dear little sister | had loved
SO we'll. | looked at her for moment,
and then stilling the tempest of my heart
by mighty effort, | opened my arms and
said:
Lizzie, don't you know inc 2"
Harry, oh, my dear brother Harry r.
she cried, and threw herself upon my breast
aud wept as it her heart would break.
could not weep. drew her gently
into the light parlor, and stood with her
before them all. There was rush and
cry Of joy, and then my father aud mother
sprang toward me, and welcomed me home
with heartfelt tears.
Oh, strange and passing sweet is such a
greeting to the wayward traveller And
as held my dear cid mother to my heart
and grasped my fathers hand, while Liz
zle clung beside me, felt that all was not
yet lost and although another, had secur-
ed liie's choicest blessing, many ioy re-
mainGd for me in the deer old sanctuary
at home
There were four inmates ia the room,
who had risen on my sudden entrance.
One was the blue-eyed child whom had
already seen, and who stood beside Frank
Chester, clinging to his hand. Near by
stood Lizzie Moore, Mary's eldest sister,
sister, and in distant corner, to which
she had hurriedIy retreated when my name
was spoken, stood tall, slender figure,
half hidden by the heavy window curtains
that fell to the floor
When the first rapturous greeting was
over Lizzie led me forward with a timid
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my
hand
Welcome home, my boy" he said,
with the loud cheerful tones | remembered
so well. "You have changed so that
never would have known you; but no
matter about that, your heart is in the
right place know"
"llow can you say he is changed ?"
said my mother, gently. "To be sure he
looks more like a man than when he went
away, but hisey and smile are the same as
ever 1t is a heavy heart that changes
him. He is my boy still"
Aye, mother" | answered, sadly, 81
am your boy still
Heaven help me at that moment | felt
like boy, and it would have been bless.
ed relief to have wept upon her bosom as
| had done in my infancy But | kept
down the tremor of my lips and answered
quickly, as | looked into his full, hand
some face.
"You have changed, too, Frank, but |
think for the better"
"Oh, yes-thank you fer the compli-
ment, he answered with hearty laugh,
my wife says | grow handsomer every
day"
His wife Could | hear that name and
keep silent still?"
"And have you seen my little girl p he
asked, lifting the infant in his arms, and
kissing her rosy cheek. 81 tell you,
Harry, there is no such other thing in this
world. Don't you think sho looks very
much as her mother used to?"
Every much, faltercd.
"lIallo y cried Frank with sudden
ness that made me start violently, | have
forgotten to introduce you to my wife;
believe you aud she used to be playmates
in your younger days-yes, Harry" and
he slapped me on the baek-"for the sake
Of old times and because you were not at
the wedding, | will give you leave to kiss
her once; but mind, old follow, you are
never to repeat the ceremony. Come,
hero she is; and for one want to sec how
you will manage those erocous moustach-
es of yours in the operation.
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blush
ing, toward me. A CLEAN Of light and
hope, almost too dazzling to bear, came
over me, and cried out before thought,
"Not Mary"
must have betrayed my secret TO every
one in the room, but nothing was said;
even Frank, in general so obtuse, was for
this time silent. | kissed tho fair check
Of his young wife, and hurried to the
silent figure looking out of the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore r. | said in a low,
eager tone, shave you no welcome to give
the wauderer?"
She turned and laid her hand in mine,
and said hurredly:
II am very glad to see you here, Harry. y
Simple words and yet how blessed they
made me. | would not have yielded her
up for the moment for even an empcror's
crown. For there was tho happy group
and dear home fireside, with dear Mary
Moore. The eyes | had dreamed of .day
and night were falling beneath the ardent
gaze Of mine, and the sweet face | had
so long prayed to see was there beside me.
| never knew the meaning of happiness
until that moment.
Many years have passed since that night.
and tho hair that was black and glossy is
fast turning gray. am an old man and
can look back to a happy and, 1 hope, a
well spent life. And yet, sweet as II has
been, | would not recall single day; for
the very love that made my manhood so
bright shines also on my few white hairs.
Aud an old man---can this be SO? At
heart | am as young as ey9r. Aud Mary,
with her bright hair parted smoothly from
her brow that has slight furrow upon it,
is still the Mary Of other DAYS. To me she