The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-20

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"That may be, though no doubt, you
would rather say 1t yourself than hear it
from Others" said he, "but you should
not let your prosperity spoil your men,
ory for old friends"
''I am not one to forget those that l
have once called friends" she returned,
with some asperity at the want of re-
spect implied by the smile which curl
ed his lip.
The visitor rose from his seat and
drawing his hand from the vest, in
which he had held il with seeming care
lessness, he extended il toward her. She
glanced alternately upon it and his face,
and then growing quite pale, exclaimed,
II cannot be mistaken in that handl--
you must, indeed, be my own lost boy,
George Sladeln
"Indeed 1t is, mother, your own boy,
In flesh and blood, and nothing else, that
you should look SO bewildered," he re-
turned, without any change of manner;
"now, if had come back lean and rag
ged, looking as if 1 had lived upon
husks, and slept as well as fed among
swine, like the prodigal you used to
preach to me about, you'd have known
me well enough, but it seems almost
too much for you to believe that should
have returned like gentleman"
The mother had extended her arms to
give vent to her feelings upon the neck
of her son, but a pang, such as she had
not known since the years of his boyish
transgressions, smote her heart at the
light, mocking tones with which he
sought to evade her welcome, and gush
of tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Tut-tut, mother where's the use
of crying 7" said he, ''you are not sorry
to see me, suppose, and as to crying
for joy, though L have heard that you
women could do that, it seemed so ridic-
ulous that 1 never believed it. Wipe
your eyes, and, to change the subject,
tell me who that pretty girl is, that
stared at me as if had been an alligator
she that called you motherp'
"My adopted daughter, George, a dear,
blessed child, who is the greatest COM
fort of my life."
"Adopted !-hah-is thet all ? - the
thought struck me that you might have
provided yourself with another husband,
and me with new stock of brothers and
sisters, and L felt almost sure of it when
you spoke of the old place as your own"
"No, George, the place is, indeed,
mine, but 1t was purchased by my own
earnings, and has been embellished,
chiehy,by the labors ofmy Pretty Jane, "
returned the widow, gravely.
"Jane-Jane," he repeated, as if try
ing to refresh his memory.
"Have you, indeed, then forgotten
her--the child of poor Margaret Will
mot ?" and believing that the remi-
niscence would be painful one, with
her usual delicacy she avoided his eye,
that she might not seem to be watching
its effect.
"Wilmot-Jane Wilmot,' said George,
and for the first time he spoke as if not
altogether at ease 81 think / have a
recollection of her-a puny, cowardly
little thing; but, of course, she remem-
bers nothing of me?"
"She indistinctly remembers her
mothers death, and you were with me
some months after it. She has, at all
events, often heard of YOU"
"And no good of me, suppose you
would say, if you were not too civil to
speak your mind. Well, there will be
time enough to makeit all up yet. But
am glad to hear that there are no other
interlopers to put my nose out of joint,
for as you are woman of property,
may have chance to become q man OF
consequence in these parts"
Their dialogue was interrupted by the
re-appearance of Jane, who, when her
first surprise was over, vainly endeavor-
ed to force feeling of sympathy with
what she presumed must be the happi-
ness of her foster mother. There had
always been gloomy association in her
mind with the name of George Slade.
She now saw nothing in his counte-
nance, nor in the bold familiarity of his
address, to remove the unpropitious i'm
preston. AS to his mother, there was
too much in the restless flashing of his
eye, and in the reckless scoffing of his
tongue, not to remind her of his early
temper and habits, and her thankful
ness for his return was alloyed with fear.
| George Slade assiduously sought to re-
yive the acquaintance of his boyhood