The Osceola times., 1880-07-31

breath. He had made great mistake. |
He felt a sudden joyous reaction from
the misery which had been bowling him
TO the earth. lie did not wait a moment
longer, but stood forth from his conceal
ment, the dog still fawning upon him.
Il am here" he said, mot in spirit
only, hut in bodily shape. have ccme
back 10 you, my wife"
For one moment her heart stood still,
but she did not shrek or faint at the
sound of the dear, well-remembered
voice. He had lived So continually1in
her thoughts that she had not seemed
to be separated from him. RYAN," was
her single exclamation, in tone of rap
turous delight, and stepping through the
window she flew down stairs, through
the front door, and along the dewy lawn
to meet him.
With outstretched arms he clasped her
to his heart.
you are not dead to me. always
thought you would come back" she said
in a voice trembling with Joy But
why did you not come TO me at once?
Why did you walt for Coby to find
you?"
Before be could answer Lawrence
came along, followed by John with a
lantern; also Florine's sister, whom he
had mistaken for her. And there were
eager, confused exclamatioDs, and John,
faithful old servant, shed tears of Joy,
while CODY seemed in danger of dislo-
eating his limbs in his mad efforts to ex-
press his pleasure.
Then all went inside, and while the
house was being Illuminated from base
mcnt To attic, and the other inmates
were being appraised of the joyful event,
Florine led her husband upstairs to her
chamber. There, in one corner, with
one hand thrown out over the white
coverlet, lay beautiful boy in the deep
sleep of health and innocence. sour
child, dear husband" she whispered.
and the strong man knelt by the bed,
his wife beside him, and sent up to
heaven heartfelt thanksgiving for the
cup of happiness which was now full to
overflowing.
Wake up dear, papa's come home.
You know | told sou that he would
come some day." the mother said
The child opened his eyes slowly, and
fixed them upon the face bent over him.
"Arc you my papa" he asked; and for
answer the father caught his child close
to his heart and kissed him hungrily.
Down stairs supper was being pre-
| pared, and Mary, the cook, another old
servant, wiping away the tears of joy on
her apron from time to time. And bye
and bye they all gathered together in
the parlor and Ryan told his story OF
the past years, and also the misery he
had suffered that night in thinking that
another had taken his place.
Alt was no wonder that you mistook
| Josephine for me in the darkness" said
Florine, as she sat with her hands clasp.
ed in those of her husband. "Oui
voices and figures are exactly alike. No
one pretends TO know US apart until they
look into our faces, which you see arc
| quite unlike. She has been widow in
reality, while | never considered my,
self as such. used to drea n of seeing
you nearly every night. ! could not
think you dead"
at never occurred to me that you had
a sister. | was not in state of mind tC
reason. What terrible step was OH
the border of takingl" he said with q
shudder. 81 was going to steal away
again and leave you, as | supposed, with
your new-lound happiness. You are the
| olt, utdf olu toug, bdtliiig lnt toln
nose of the dog as he lay on his knee
THAT deserves all the credit OF righting
the matter"
| Josephine and her husband, neither
of whom RYAN had ever seen, were on q
visit to Florine. Hence the mistake
that might have ended SO sadly.
Afterward Ryan happened TO find out
who the lady was he had heard of in the
car. 81 was SO fun of gloomy iorebod-
ings," he said in speaking of it, "that
every trihe was confirmation of my
fears"
And in the sunny atmosphere of Flor.
ines love, and that of his boy, Ryan is
growing young again. The past is tad
ing gradually, so that it seems now like
some shadowy dream. sorrow may
endure for night, but joy comes in the
morning"