Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-20
here this day to claim Won,

The gentleman smiled and en-,
tended his arms, and the excited
girl threw herself within them. and
burst into q passion of tears.
He soothed and petted her, whik
he gave her proof of his identity
and deew from her, in little sobbinq
sentences, the touching history d
hei mothers life.ss she remembered
1t, in the far back years of her b.
: byhood.
bat it is over now, and your
own dear mamma is safe in heaven !
he said, brushing the tears from his
own eyes as he sought to comfort
her, holding her fast, till into her
face came look of blank dismay,
and she cried cut
4ou have come to take mel l
love you, but cannot go. Auntie has
done everything in the world for
me. | was to be her daughter to.
night. See, this is what these gar,
lands were for. We were to BE-
bound by solemn ties. OH what
shall | do p and the hot tears fell
like summer rain.
Mr.. Westbrook looked serious.
You are Of age, my child p he ques.
toned.
Yes. eighteen to- day
You shall follow the promptinQs
of your heart. he sighed. You
come of a race whose affections can.
not be trifled with. You are like
your mother; she was but a little
Older than |, and | worshlped her
but fathers stern command forbade
even the mention of her name, y hen
from forced choice she went ont
youthful stranger who had won her
innocent heart. She flew away to
make her own homo, nest, no softly
said, as he noted the startled, dep
recating look in Mazie's eye-sand
you were the pretty birding within
| it.
'ilave | stop-sunt,e, or an aunt.
lie in-law, or anything p whispered
Mszie, her cherry lips close to his
ear.
No, be said gravely. And there
for<; perhaps, it were better your
plans should be carried out. This
lady, no doubt, has the desrer right
But you need not decide to. day.
But | can. L will be just to my
self. | seem never to have been
what | have set out to be. We will
have our party the guests will come.
You will stay, dear sir. Auntic
will ask you,' and with q quick
movement she slipped out, and closed
the door after her. -
A flash from the past, and flash
upon the future, like electric cur
rents. were meeting over her, and
maturing her first bewildered
thought. She glanced quickly
about. Halt open rosebuds had been
twined with with full blossoms TO
make up the floral arch. They were
to typify her youth. In q trice she
had taken them down, aud grouped
them alone at one side; she went
to the conservatory and culled great
open red roses aud placed in their
stead, clapping her hands now and
then in surprise and delight.
In the library, two hearts were
at retrospect. Along the green
lanes of memory, and up The fair
hills of hope, they traversed (; and
bethought them, mayhap, that there
had been songs by the way, and
love words, and soft kisses, that Ike
tie bright winged birds in the
cleaning. had fitted forever away.
Are tond dreams ever fulfilled
Doth not the rainbow Of the morn.
log betoken cloud ?
We cannot but think what might
have been, the gentleman said Of
length i shall be grateful all my
coming days, that we were allowed
this interview. Without our knowl.
edge or Intervention, our interests
all these years have been interwov.
en- !; holding either cad of the chain
We have come again together. /
will give you your pet. | know
she is already yours by the dear
right of second motherhood; but
want, nevertheless, TO give her TO
you; she shall be my tbank-offer-
ing. Heaven bestow upon you all
rich blessings You will lot me kiss
you once now, for the sake of the
dear hope of tho past2 Your hus-
band could scarce say me nay.
Then | will go again abroad, pray
ing for bis happiness and yours
My husband | have not mar.
ried I she said, astonished, her face
crimsoning.
But your exquisite home Your
name p
This homo is my own by legacy
and it is uucle's name you saw on
the door. But you? Time has
brought you some treasures of lover
May. The love of my youth has
stretched through the years of my
: manhood. We hsve been facility
coofessiog TO each other, Mary, that
we have beer lost and desolate
apart; shall we not bridge tho
space now, and sock for happiness
together
But she could not answer-so
much was dependent on her-so
much contingent on her every act |;
I aud she had naught but words to
heal the lifelong hurt. But they
sat hand 10 hand till the twilight
fell
The guests of the evening, look.
ing about the bower of taste aud
beauty, thought it little strange
that their hostess was not present
TO receive them. But then, she was
always odd Mrs. Finch, dazed
but important, held guard at the
door. Maize was standing there
alone by tne massed rosebuds, silent
aud expectant but scarce noticea.
bic, shve from the simplicity of her
oseas, and the grace Of her flowing
hair The clergyman stood little
: apart. q distinguished stranger at
bis side.
Miss Mansfield came al length,
, through the great rooms. The rich
robe she bad designed for this hour
had been put aside, and the one she
wore held in it the simmer OF q