The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-02-22

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Hasr4 .a@B ~a4 49, sIf niiA b
us.ksi.r - f'.e santis ~ esiai
4 arsI - fefks sA day lonl
lt.ni1E never e. tire of the mu
~ a4 she -ta
The dsy after her drive with Il
HIaunt. she ioook her child by IL
and and started out for a. longel
raik than usual. She wanted 4
look again at the old house by tn
fca. where dwelt the woman VIII,
hai io-t beneath its relentless wave
All that had made life sweet to her
Leaving Eflie to play on the san,
by the shore, Mrs. Arden walked to
ward tie house, and, after some bes
itation. entered the garden Al
was silent There was no sign o
life among the trees where the wilo
birds flew from branch tc branch.
Seeing path that had evidently
been much trodden, Mrs Arden
turned into it, wondering where i
led to some rustic seat, perhaps
where she could rest after her Ions
walk.
She started little, and gave {
quick sigh us she came suddenly
upon little grave under 9 cedar
tree child's grave, tufted thick
with purple pansies, and dressed
here and .here with snowy daisies.
She needed not 10 be told what
child lay there her warm, mothers s
heart told her that.
Aquick step sounded on the path
/ behind her, and she sprang to her
feet to see woman approaching,
whom she knew mt once could be no
other than Mrs. Granger. She was
a woman of middle age. tail and
straight as an arrow, with large,
deep grey eyes, and dark hair thick
/ ly sprinkled with gray. Her iea-
lures were regular, and she must at
one time have been very beautiful,
but now her face was like marble in
| its perfect repose. There was no
warmth in her cheek or lip, but
there were lines about the mouth
that told of past tempests.
what are you doing here :? she
exclaimed, in quick, excited way
'Itis nay grave you have no right
10 intrude upon 1t.
Il came upon it by the merest nc
cident,o apologized Mrs. Arden.
Il intended no intrusion, but ana
not sorry | came, for it is so beauti-
full" And then with a sudden inn
pulse she could hot resist, she
caught Mrs. Granger's hand in both
Of hers saying. with sobbing breath;
20, how / pity YOU How would
help you if | only knew how /; If |
only could. You havesuffered so =
Mrs. Gran tr drew her hand away.
and turned her head aside, as she
said, in i cold voice, made bitter by
suffering
II want no help, no sympathy.
Words like yours are false and hol-
low. What can you feel for one who
is stranger to You. Go. | would
rather be alone"
She was looking down toward the
beach, where the great waves were
tumbling and tossing upon the
rocks, locking far cut over the
green waters with their iieecy crown
of foam. But suddenly she started
violently, and great change passed
over her face. She put her hand
over her eyes, as if to shut out some
sight that panied her, some phan-
tom of the past that rose up to tort
ure her. Mrs. Arden looked in the
same direction, wondering at this
change, and saw Efiie coming up the
path, her hands full of shells, and
her golden hair falling loosely over
her bare shoulders.
Mamma. mamma she called
in her childish treble, where are
you"
Before Mrs. Arden could answer,
Mrs. Granger sprang forward with
a faint cry, and threw herself at the
child's feet, holding out her arms
pleadingly, hungry, yearning look
in her face, an agony of love in
her glowing eyes.
But instead of running into the
strangers outstretched arms Eilie
drew back with Il cry of alarm, and
Mrs. Granger rose instantly to her
feet. shudderiEg as with sudden
chill.
Not mine = she said, in q de-
spairine, wailing voice "Ho! ho
mine is dead dead Even her
spirit can never come back to me-
and she threw herself prone on the
ground, hiding her face in her arms.
For moment Mrs. Arden stood
silent and motionless, not knowing
what course to pursue Then she
whispered to Effie, and the child
early taught unquestionable obedi-
ence, went to the PROSTATE woman, (
knelt beside her, and winding her |
little arms about her neck, kissed .
her softly on the cheek.
The long, unfelt caress, Il child's
gentle kiss, accomplished
what nothing else had done The
barrier of distrust and hatred in that
heart broke down the
of tears so long sealed open
ID at last, and with q cry of JOY and
-elief, Mrs. Granger clasped the lit
lie girl in her arms, and wept until
he was utterly exhausted. Then
till holding Effie close. she. APP
,roached Mrs. Arden.
Forgive me if ! have been rude
o you," she said; my grief has
made nee callous TO the worlds
opinion. Is this your child ?"
My only one," answered Mrs.
Irden.
"She is so like mine my little ,
Ninifred. The same eyes and hair; {
The same expression. / believed at
irst that it was my own darling
ONE back to me" and she sighed J
eavily.
"We must go now it Is several {
niies to the village said Mrs. Ar I
en-. seeing how exhausted Mrs !
ranger appeared. But may we
ot come again tomorrow p
"Yes, come tomorrow any day I
every day" was the answer.
Mrs. Arden thanked her and {