Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-17

asked, while the wondering servant held tn
door.
She lifted up her hand as if to shade he
eyes Il had seen the very attitude OF another
in my boyhood many and many time,) anc
answered in a sweet bird like voice:
"Mary."
"What else p I asked quickly.
MARY Moore Chester" lisped the child.
Ny heart sank down like lead. Here wa'
an end to all the bright dreams OF my youth
and manhood Frank Chester, my boyist
rival, who had often tried, and in vain, te
usurp my place beside the girl, had sue
ceeded at last, and had won her away from
me! This was his child-his child anc
Mary's.
l sank, body and soul beneath this blow
and hiding my face in my hands, l leaned
against the door, while my heart wept tear:
Of blood. The little one gazed at me grleved
and amazed, and put up her pretty lip as II
about to cry, while the perplexed servant step
ped to the parlor door, and called my sister
out to see who ii was that conducted himself
SO strangely.
heard ligat step, and pleasant voice
saying: O,
'Do you wish to see my father, sir?"
Hooked up. There stood pretty sweet.
faced maiden of twenty, not much changed
from the dear little sister had loved so well
l looked at her for moment, and then, stl
fling the tumult of my heart by mighty et'
fort, opened my arms and said:
Lizzie, don't you know me? p
"Harry Oh, my brother HarryY she
cried, and threw herself upon my breast.
She wept as if her heart would break.
I could not weep. I drew her into the
lighted parlor, and stood there with her be-
fore them all.
There. was a rush and cry of joy, and
then my father and mother sprang toward
me, and welcomed me home with heart telt
tears! Oh, strange and passing sweet is
such greeting to the way-worn wanderer
And as 1 held my dear old mother to my
heart and grasped my fathers hand, while
Lizzie still clung beside me, felt that all
was not yet lost, and though another had Sc
cured lfe's choicest blessing, many JOY re:
NAMED for me in this dear sanctuary OF
home.
There were four other inmates Of the room
who had arisen on my entrance. One was
the blue eyed child whom had already seen,
and who stood beside Frank Chester. cling
ing to his hand. Near by stood Lizzie Moore,
Marys eldest sister, and in distant corner,
to which she had hurriedy retreated when
nv name was spoken, stood tall and slender
figure, half hidden by the heavy window cur
tains that fell to the floor. =
When the first rapturous greeting was over,
Lizzie led me forward with timid grace, and
Frank Chester grasped my hand.
"Wecome home, my boy!" said he, with
the loud, cheerful tones | remember so we'll.
"You have changed so that should never
have known you; but no matter for that
your heart is in the right place, I know"
"How can you say be has changed? said
my mother, gently. "To be sure he looks
older and grayer, and more like man than
when he went away-but his eyes and smile
are the same as ever. He is my boy STILL"
"Ay, mother" 1 said sadly, Il am your
boy still"
Heaven help me! At that moment I felt
like a boy, and it would have been blessed
relief 10 have wept upon her bosom as | had
done in infancy But l kept down the beat
ing of my heart and the tremor of my lip,
and answered quietly, as I looked in his full,
handsome face:
"You have changed too. Frank; but I
think for the better
"Oh, yes-thank you for that compli-
ment," he answered with hearty laugh.
my wife tells ne grow handsomer every
day"
His wife?-could 1 hear that name and
keep silent still
"And have you seen my little girl ?" he
added, lifting hh infant in his arms and kiss
ing her crimson cheek. II tell you there is
not such another in the world. Don't you
think she looks very much as her mother
used to?"
"Very much as her mother used to-"
"Hallo!" cried Frank, with suddenness
that made me start violently, II have for.
gotten to introduce you to my wife; be-
lieve you and she used to be playmates in
your young days-eh, Harry?" and he slap
ped me on the back. "For the sake of old
times, and because you were not here at the
wedding, III give you leave to kiss her once
but mind, old fellow, you are not to repeat
the ceremony. Come-here she is, and for
once want to see how she will manage those
ferocious mustaches Of yours in the opera
ton"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blush.
ing, towards nae, and | cried out before |
thought:
"Not Mary"
1t must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room, but nothing was said. Even
Frank, in general so obtuse, was this time
silent kissed the fair cheek of the young
wife, and hurried to the silent figure looking
out from the window.
"Mary-Mary Moore" l said in low,
eager voice, "have you no welcome to give
the wanderer?
81 am glad to see you here, Harry"
Simple words-and yet how blest they
made me! l would not have yielded up
that moment for an emperor's :crown-for
there was the happy home group, and the
dear home 6raside, and there sweet Mary
Moore! The eyes that had dreamed of by
day and night were falling before the ardent
gaze of mine and the sweet face had so
longed and prayed to see, was there before
me. I never knew what happiness was till
that moment came.
Many years have passed since that happy
night, and the hair that was dark and glossy,
is fast becoming grey. l am growing to be
an old man, and can look back to long and
happy and 1 hope, we'll spent life. And
vet sweet rs it has been, / would not recall O
single day, for the love that made my man
hood so bright. shines also on my white hairs
An old man! Can this be so? At heart
I am as young as ever. Mary, with hel
bright hair parted smoothly from brow that
L.c =. sl;rbt fprrow unon it ia still the Mary