Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-22
AFTER MANY YEARS.

Well, darling |" l said, catching her
Two hands in mine, as we met under the
trees IN the lovliest corner of the square.
81 | had nc other words, and she needed
none.
"The old story" looked up at me,
jnst glance that showed her pretty
eyes had been crying. I" m I'm here
Shirley"
Do you know what those three words
mean ? That Edna Verderay, before the
1rst star looked out of the open sky up
above us, would be my wife.
1t was the old story, you see-a penni
less lover, true-hearted l.ulo woman
clinging to her faith, and parental curse
impendng over both our heads. We
bad done our best, and she would have
been true to her father and lover both,
only i. was not to be. She had made the
1ast attempt to day to win a lnte consent
to our marriage, and had failed she
came to tell me so, and to follow me and
my fortunes.
4 The sun was only just setting, hot and
fed the long street was nAame, and its
Bordering palmettos looked crested with
gold. drew her hand tight through my
arm, and we walked away together very
'quetly, for she was tired, and the little
hand trembled against my side. She
only told me that she loved me, and she
would be glad to rest when it was al oyer,
and we two safe and far away together.
And so we went on, and were married.
& Then took home my wife, 1t was
door home, but she was not afraid to
asweeten it with herself, and she had said
That sne was glad to come. You do not
care to hear how our happy time went by,
Rand could not tell you; only it was
very sweet, and we were ali the world to
each other. She never spoke Of her faith
er or mother, and, never seemed TO miss
fthem or regret what she had lost in them.
n never would have know that it was a
4 Egr'et to her, but for one day. She met
Inc when l came home at night, with her
face all sparkling and her voice unsteady
with excltem ent, and, even before sho
kissed me, cried out
" I've seen my MOTHER
" Your mother? Has she been here ?"
" Yes Only think how glad Was
how surprised She came and kissed me-
and iorgave me-" putting her arms round
my neck and beginning to cry in her
gIadne's, "and forgave you, too and
she said she couldn't live and lose her
Fonly daughter. Oh, Shirley, il was the
only thing more that wanted on earth (!
Pm so happy, darling /"
And your father ?"
lie couldn't be as kind as she was"
said my little wPo, with her cheek on
mine. Fathers never are but she
thOught-she was sure, she sad-that
he'd forgive it all, and that no loved me
ust as much all the time, and it would
beall right at last, Shirley. Oh, aren't
you happy, too ? Look glad toll me
you're glad, dear you don't know how
much | wanted it |"
was glad for her sake, God knows /;
Tor my own l would never have cared to
look on either Of their faces again.
could not forget that they had made my
darling wretched for twelve long months /;
the forgiveness they talked ofwas like an
lnsult to us both.
Bat all that was changed now. Mrs.
Fsrdersy's carriage ratified, day after
day. down the little dull street. and stood
"t Mrs. Lecomptes door, and Edna Le-
cempte was pardoned and petted and ca
Fes'ed as il Edna Verderay had never
diso5syed. And then wa were asked to
d'he at homs," she and 4; and then
the old man greeted us both kindly, and
Kissed his daughter with two tears in his
cold eyes, and seemed to bury ali our old
ehmlty as he shook my hand, and after
'ha'' all was sunshine between US.
But never ceased to feel an odd chill
~ my heart like prophesy of something
oi'ter coming between us. Perhaps it
was because instead OF growing richer,
since l married wife, only grew poor
er' and the world outside our little room
got dark and threatening lhead, and
seemed only cold place for my unborn
child TO inherit.
lie came to test its tender mercies last
win the early Winter, and, as he came,
Edna was very nigh going out forever.
one was delicate little thing and need
Cd SO much pettiag and nursing and ten