The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-27

servant will care for your horse"
The stranger bowed again, and passed
her silently, as she held back the broad
leaf of the door. What was it that, at
at the sight of that tall muffled form,
caused her heart to beat so wildly? She
put up the bar that secured the door and
then preceded her guest to the apartment
she had left.
She stirred the smouldering embers,
and threw on fresh wood, which caught
the flames that soon leaped cheerily up
the broad chimney. Leaving the stranger
covering over the blaze, she went and
called the gardener to take charge of the
horse that was nelghing impatiently at
the outer gate.
When she came back she busted her
self, silently, in preparing refreshment
for the stranger, who still sat beside the
hearth casting curious glances at her as
she moved about. Thrill after thrill shot
through Elsie's frame as she met those
bright, strange glances. She had begun
to feel almost frightened at his singular
manner, when he suddenly addressed her.
"Madam," he said, pointing to the row
of little shoes, and the overhowing bas-
ket of toys, 81 see that, lonely as is this
house. it is not desolate. Human flowers,
that brighten so many homes, bloom
here. You have little childIen, beautiful
and loving, and doubtless a good hus-
band. Pardon me, Madam" he added,
observing Eisic's emotion, 1--WE who are
wanderers up and down the world are
wont to notice, with somewhat of jeal-
ousy the tokens of domestic happiness
that are denied to us"
He WAS silent, as if waiting for an an
swcr, and Elsie, conquering her emotion,
answered quietly:
There are children here, but not
mine. | have neither husband nor
chi dren," and faint sigh struggled up
from her heart, as she thought of what
might have been.
Just then The gardener came stamping
in at the Kitchen door and showed him
self, shaking the water from his gar
ments. Elsie turned to the stranger
"iour meal is prepared" she said:
when You have partaken, the servant
will show You to your room"
And lidjing her guest good night she
went to her room and lay down upon her
bed, but not to sleep. Through the long
hours, until the late autumn dawn, she
tossed rcstlessly upon her couch, thinking
much of the strange guest and marvel
yelling why his image mingled 50 con-
tinually with her visions of the past.
The next morning, when the breakfast
hour was passed the stranger spoke of his
departure.
Before | 60, madam" he said, 81
ought to inform you who am that you
may at least know you have not bestowed
your kindness on one unworthy
"For twenty years have been a wan
derer in other lands, a sad, lonely, dis
appointed man. Yet / have ever kept
ono hope bright and vigorous, the hope
of return to my native shores and the
scenes of my early happiness.
81 was born and lived till manhood in
the midst of region much like this in
which your home is situated. | was an
orphan. but | had a small compcsence
and many friends. My guardian had d
daughter VIII N I loved, who acknow-
ledgrd that my love was returned. We
were betrothed, by the consent of her pa
rents, and our wedding day was very
near, when strange misfortune over
whelmcd my Alice. Her father died ter
rible death; then her mother dropped be-
cath the blow and quickly followed lcav-
ing to Alice the care Of the younger chill
drcn, and cxacting from her
promise that she would never
leave them until they were
all provided for. ] would willingly have
shared the heavy burdens that now fell
upon Alice; but she refused to bind me to
her life Of toll and self-9acriiice, She
laid her love and all her bright hopes
upon the altar Of duty; and /, appalled,
by the sacrifice and mad with diSap-
pointment, fed from the country and be-
came a wandcrer in other lands
elsie, promis d to return when vour
task WAS ended! | am here! Have you no
word of welcome after all these years Of
separation@'
He had 10 need to ak, for Elsie lay
sobbing in the arms opened to receive
her, while the little ones looked on Won
derngly; and the old gardener, to whom
the secret had been impaired the ninht
pcyious, stood with cla8ped hands utter
ing CALCULATIONS Of tlankfulnesA
Elsie, shall we ever part againT
"Never," said Elsie, with her ouict
simplicity; ''neyer again until DEATH"
aud she looked up in his face with the
old coniiding glance that had greeted him
a score OF years before.
Very quietly the middle-aged pair
settled down at the old homestead. which
was beauli6od and adorned by the
| wealth John Francis brought from for
eign lands, and dearr far to them than
any palace home. with the store of mem
cries chat people it. dim chambers, and
all the green demesne which had wit
messed their early joys, and their reunion
after weary years of separation.
Your Own Inclination.
Tn choosing an occupation for life,