, 1881-05-13


his thoughts the mother rushed TO the
spot almost frantic with grief at the
sad fate she thought had befallen her
darling, and IN her great Joy at finding
him safe, saw nothing save her baby.
But Herbert Graham looked at her III
wonder and astonishment There be
fore him was the living. breathing
image of his lost wife, i widows cap
above her rich hair, and clad i'll deep
mourning. There was no time for
wonder. however, for the Western eX-
/ press rushed past them and he must so
! on to duty.
Thank you. sir, again and again"
| the little woman murmured. God
| Will reward you; l never can"
Madam. said Herbert, mo thanks
/ are called for duty performed. L Will,
/ however, request the pleasure of calling
at your home on my return, anu inqulr-
ing for the welfare of your child. May
l ask for your name?'
! His heart stood still as he listened
breathlessly for her reply, as she was
! about to speak 1t bounded high,
and at the name, sunk like leaden
weight.
My name is Brown The Widow
Brown. and | live in the cottage yOnder.
! Do call when YOU are ut leisure, for You
| Will be IL welcome visitor at grateful
mothers home
She Was fairer anu seemed more WON
anly than Viola OF old, and his brain was
| in such whirl that when once more on
the road he half believed the whole
thing Il wild Imagination of an excited
mind that was perhaps losing lis power.
He thought of the dead of last night, then
I pf no 90 NVnnilrnI II
at last he had become insane with his
terrible grief.
And then for moment. one brlet
moment, he would hope for the best,
only to Danish the thought in the next
and go back to that lonely grave where
had been buried what he considered hls
all. He repeated the words of the child
to himself, ''Herbie loves papa, poor
papa" and with each repetition there
passed thrill through his frame of
wonderful and doubtful Joy. Between
the time of what had nearly terminated
in fatal accident and the hour that
found him at the cottage door, he lived
through an eternity, If time could be
counted by emotion. He was shown
within the neat little parlor, where his
poor, troubled heart found a something
convincing, and certain Joy. There,
met him that almost stunned him for the
moment, but the fullness of his over
burdened heart found vent III one eXcla-
nation:
Thank God! AT last"
There in the best possible position
the little room afforded, hung a life-sIze
painting of himself as he was three
years ago. He had found his wife at
last.
Mrs Brown opened her violet eyes
wide, indeed, as shes entered the parlor,
npon seeing her visitor in such evident
agitation; but she closed them dreamlly
as the delicious sense of rest and pro-
lection and love overcame her, when the
strong arms clasped her close to the
= great heart, and the voice, almost choked
by emotion, asked:
Viola, my wife, do you not recognize
in me your husband of former years."
The explanation he had once deter
mined to receive, was soon given.
Il thought perhaps you loved her;
she said you did; and she was so bril-
liant and / so dull, and you seemed
tired and weary at times, not telling me
the cause, and she told me that you were
unhappy and intended to marry her
some day. She told me as friend, you
know, and made me promise beforehand
that l would say nothing to you. SO l
thought | was only n barrier between
the happiness of two, and that it would
be but one life, and that mine, that
would be unhappy, and, my husband,
1 loved you so well that could even
give you to her, feeling sure that at
some time you would know how Viola
adored you, that she could sacrifice all
she had, if it would only give a mo-
ment's happiness"
Then lie told her of the dead, so re-
Gently buried, and for the sake OF the
true sorrow he had felt one whose lot in
life and whose sudden and sad death
must ever remain a mystery, she re-
solved to visit the grave and place fresh
flowers upon it, thinking that her own
life had once looked forward to Just such
all unknown resting place.
"Viola," said he, looking fOndly into
the face that was losing, in its great Joy,
the worn and sad expression that had
become haDitual, Viola, what have you
named our boy?"
II had called him." she answered.
Herbert Graham Brown" placing a
! !, mischievous emphasis on the Brown
"Will you humor whim of mine,
my dear, and let it be Herbert Dave
Graham ?"
! Her fond reply settled the matter
/, Cora Palmer, IN Williamsport Break
fast Table.
/ Victor EmanurI's Simple Tastes.