American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-03-13
VOLUME xxx.


left his lips. Then he told in n child
simple language of his chase after tn
rabbit and the departure of the trai
without him.
But why did you come to this hOus
when there are so many nearer the sta
tion?'
"Because my mamma used to com
here once" replied Willie. "She sal
it was seven years"
"Seven years since she came here
Tell me what your mamma is like
Willie"
Willie described his pretty mother a
well as he could, surprised that at tn
end of his recital the stranger kissed hin
again and again, and said he was yery
glad to have him as guest.
| What time the two had in that big
house! Roger Conway had come hom'
from abroad only that day, and ther'
had been no one to welcome him or ar
range for his comfort. But for nearly
seven years he had been used to trough
ing it" and did not mind few incon
veniences. He left Willie in charge o.
the house while he went after provisions
and then they cooked their supper in
high glee; but before it was half eaten
Willie's head began to nod, and his big
blue eyes to droop, for he had had a
fatiguing day and was very sleepy.
Roger Conway undressed the child as
tenderly as woman could have done,
and was about to lay him in bed when
Willie spoke up
"I haven't said my prayers, Mr..
Roger" in a very rebuking tone.
Roger smiled as the little boy knelt
down before him; but his eyes filled
with the first tears that had gathered
there since Lulu's death as he heard the
sweet, childish voice pray for I" poor
mamma" and ask that God would bless
all his IS fren's and 'lations."
Meanwhile little Mrs. Dandy was
almost i'll with distress. Not until the
train had left Jarvis mile behind did
she miss Willie, and then she could find
out nothing about him; no one could
explain his absence; no one had seen
him. When she reached Belden and
found her father waiting for her she
threw herself into his arms with wild
Sob
"My Willie! I've lost him." she
said brokenly; and it was some time
before old Mr.. barley could arrive at
any explanation of her words. When
he at last understood, he went at once
to the telegraph Office and sent a dis
patch to Jarvis inquiring about the
child.
Now don't worry, Gertrude. Willie
will turn up all safe and sound to-mor-
row. I will go to Jarvis on the very
first train and see if can't find him, if
we receive no answer to the telegram"
"There is no train until ten O'Clock
Tomorrow" sobbed Gertrude. 81
shall die of suspense before then"
But when she has been driven home,
and welcomed by her two sisters, who
conforted and consoled her, she grew
calmer, and at last began to believe
that Willie would be cared for at Jarvis,
and that she should see his bright little
face on the morrow.
When the pleasant home supper was
over she went out on the wide, vine COW
cred porch and looked around on the
familiar scenes of her girlhOod. Six
years had passed since she had left her
home with handsome viii Dandy, and
now she returned dressed in widows
weeds, and Will was lying in his grave
in the Far West.
Yet nothing was changed about the
old home. There by the gate still stood
the old elm tree beneath which she and
Roger had plighted their first vows.
How wildly these familiar scenes
brought to her the recollection of her
first lover! Where was he now? In all
these years she had heard nothing of
him, though her sisters had written of
Lulu's death. She wondered if he was
and where he lived, and what
his wife was ike-if he had one, as of
course he had, for men never remain
true to a first love. How well she re-
membered the quarrel which had caused
their separation. 1t had been principal
ly her fault. She saw that when her
anger had cooled sufficiently to let her
see any thing; but she was too proud to
ask her lovers pardon, and had made
haste to marry VIII Dandy "to show
Roger how little. she cared" and had
gone to Kansas to live.
She had learned to love VIII very
dearly, but it was very different love
from that she had given Roger. Still,
they were happy together, and she had
mourned Wills death. After
= six months struggle to earn living
in the West, she had consented to re-
urn home to her father, expanding her
asst cent in the expenses of the journey.
She intended to try for the position of
.eacher of the district school at Belden,
or she was too proud to be dependent
upon her old father. She felt that she
must earn the bread she and her child
,te.
The next morning the barley family
-ose early so that Mr.. barley might
nave ann he time to prepare for his Jour
hey to Jaryis,-- no telegram having
cached them concerning the missing
BOY. g.
The old buggy was brought up tothe
yate under the shade of the elm-tree,
ind Mary barley, who was to go into
3elden with her father to see him off,
,ame down the path drawing on her
Irving gloves.
81 shall die of grief il you come back
Without my boy, father,' said Gertrude,
IS she handed the reins and whip to her |
sister.
"Never fear," said old Mr.. barley.
You'll sec him come home with me
afe and sound"
Just then cloud of dust came rolling
Up the road, and in the midst of it APP
,eared gentleman on horseback, and
before him sat child frantically wav-
ng small straw hat.
A moment more and Gertrude Dandy
leld Her lost Willie in her arms, and
vas sObbing over him as if her heart
would break.
She did not notice the greetings her
listers were giving the gentleman who
mad brought back her treasure. 1t was
,nly when Willie sobbed out something
about "Mr. Roger" that she look ed up
md saw the lover of her youth, the man
rom whom she had parted in anger
'even years before. Her face turned