The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-07
stead of, as was sometimes the case
ssneed I dc it?"-"I don't want to, ""wby
10 MT Willie 7''

| stead of, as was sometimes the case
"need I dc it?"-"I don't want to, ""wby
can't Willie :"
Nellie was to small to render much
assistance, but she often turned from hel
frolic with her kitten, to look at hel
mother, and utter some childish remark
expressive of Joy and love.
At last the clock struck the hour when
Mr.. Thornton was expected, and his wife
proceeded to lay the table with unusual
care, and to place thereon several choice
viands of which she knew he was partlc-
ularly fond.
Meanwhile, let US form the acquain'
tance of the absent husband and father,
whom we find in the neighboriug town
Just completing his days traffic. He is
fine looking, middle-aged man, with an
unmistakable twinkle of kindly feeling
in his eye, and the lines of good humor
plainly traced about his mouth. We
know at glance that he is cheerful and
indulgent in his family, and are at once
prepossessed in his favor.
As he is leaving the store, where he
has made his last purchase for the day.
he is accosted in familiar manner BY a
tall gentleman just entering the door.
He. recognizes an ..old friend, and ex-
claims, "George Morton ! is it your"
Tho greeting is mutually cordial. They
we're friends in boyhood and early youth.
but since, Mr.. Morton has been practic-
ing law in q distant city, they have sell
dom met, and this is no place to ex-
change their many. questions and an.
swers. Mr.. Thornton's fine span of
horses aud light democrat" are stand
ing near by, and it needs but little per-
suasion to induce Mr.. Morton to accom-
,pany his friend to his home which he
never has vet visited. The conversation
islively and spirited. They recall the
feats of their school days and the expert
ences of after life, and compare their
present positions in the world, with the
golden future of which they used to
dream. Mr.. Morton is bachelor, and
very fastidious in his taste-as that class
of Individuals are prone to be. The re-
collection of this flashes on Mr.. Thorn
ton,semind as they drive along towards
their destination. At once his zeal in the
dialogue, abates, and he becomes
thoughtful and silent, and does not urge
his team onward, .bnt seems willing to
afford Mr.. Morton an opportunity to ad-
mire the beautiful scenery on either
hand-the hills and valleys clad in the
fresh verdure of June-while the lofty
mountain ranges look blue and dim in
the distance. He cannot help wonder
ing if they will find his wife in the same
predicament in which he left her that
morning, and involuntarily shrinks from
introducing so slatsernly parsonage to
his refined and cultivated friend.
But it is now too late to retract his
polite invitation. They are entering the
old Homestead" One field more and
his fertile farm, with his we'll kept fen
ces, appears in view. Yonder is his neat
white house, elms and naples. They
drive through the large gateway, the
man John comes from the barn to put up
the horses, and Mr.. Thornton hurries up
the walk to the piazza, leaving his friend
to follow at his leisure. He must see his
wife first, and, if possible, hurry her out
of sight before their visitor enters. He
rnshes into the sitting room. Words
cannot express his amazement. There sits
the very image of his lovely bride, and a
self conscious blush mantles her cheek as
he stoops to kiss her with words of joyful
surprise, "Why, Ellen r. He has time
for no more. George Morton has follow.
ed him, and he exclaims, "Ha Charley,
as lover.like as ever-hasn't the honey
moon set YET ?" and then he is dnly
presented 10 Mrs. Thornton, who, under
the pleasing excitement of the occasion,
appears to far better advantage than
usual. Tea is upon the table, and the
gentlemen do ample justice to the tempt
ing repast spread before them. A happy
meal it is to Charles Thornton, who
gazes with admiring fondness uuon his
still beautiful wife. Supper over, Mr..
Morton coaxes little Nellie to sit on his
lap, but she soon slides down and climb.
ing on her fathers knee, whispers conf.
dentially, "Don't mamma look pretty ?"
He kisses her and answers, eyes, my
darling"
The evening passes pleasantly and
swiftly away, and many half-forgotten
smile of their life pilgrimage is recalled
BY some waymark which still CLEANS
bright in the distance. They both feel
younger aud better for their interview,
and determine never to become SO like
strangers again. Mr.. Morton's soliloquy,
as he retires to the cozy apartment ap.
propriated to his use is, "Well, this is a
happy familyl What a lucky fellow
Charley is. Such handsome wife and
children-and she's so good housekeep.
or, too! Maybe I'll settle down some
day myself'-which pleasing idea that
night mingled with his visions.
The next morning Mr.. Thornton
watched his wife's movements with some
anxiety. He could not bear to have her
destroy the favorable impression which
he was certain she had made on his
friends mind, and yet some irresistible
impulse forbade his offering any sugges-
tions or alluding in any way to the deli
cate subject 80 long gunmentioned between
them. But Mrs. Thornton needed no
friendly advice. With true womanly
tact she perceived the advantage she had
gained, and was not at all inclined to
Telinquish it. The dark giugham dress,
linen collar and snowy apron formed an
appropriate and becuming morning
attire for house keeper; and the table
afforded the guest no occasion for alter
ing his opinion in regard to the skill or
afability of his amiable hostess. Early
in the forenoon, Mr.. Morton took leave
of his hospitable friends, being called
away by pressing affairs of business.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thornton returned to
their accustomed avocations, but it was
with renewed energy, and sense of
quiet happiness, no less deeply felt be-
cause unexpressed. A day or two after
wards, Mr.. Thornton invited his wife to
accompany him to town, saying he
thought she might do some shopping
and she, with no apparent surprise, but
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