The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-09

ciCSAl tuH Sung 50 giad was ne Of tho
sunshine. 'ne
Madame opened her eyes and smiled
docs the bird disturb you, deariaa;;
asked Mrs Merton shall / take Il
away?''
No, no; my bird has long been mn
one solace- Poor pet, it is inviting raa
to join its melody, but l shall never sire,
again on earth; my soul is saving M IS
songs for Paradise" ~
The sun sank down reluctantly. sbor-
ing his glory OF gold and crimson Io,.
after his bonny face was hidden bebin5
bank OF clouds. Madame was lool,
ing brighter for long sleep. and wa,
listening for the footsteps that had oncs
quickened as they neared her.
Now she heard them linger on n.
landing; she elasped her hands sh5-o
her heart, and said in a clear high Ton,
Felix
1t was like the yearning CRY of ono
who feared to lose a Ionged-for. but a..
most despaired of, blessing.
The door was pushed back quickly
and DIR. Holt entered and crossed IA tio
bed quickly. sinking down on his knees
beside it. and silently hiding his face on
her feeble fluttering hands.
Darling / knew you would coma
Oh, husband, husband, can you for0iya
me all the silence of these bitter blasted
years"
The mans broad shoulders beavad
and the little waxen hands beneath bi.
face were wet with tears coming from
bursting heart. Still that wooing voice
went on unanswered:
Felix, | wanted you TO know that
though L, like the wicked waywsrd
thing was. tired Of your stiff English
ways and the dull routine you called
duty, | did not tire of you. Oh. nv
love, my love, how have lOnged for
you, but / knew how stern YOU could
be. and / feared that ice-cold woman
your mother, would not let YOU take me
back. | was mad with the monotopy
Of my life. dear; who had been brought
up from my ba&yhood in bright Bobe-
milan gaiety. So / ran back to nv Old
profession, and sang my heart sick On
the Italian stage Yet not even that
ice-woman YOU call mother could have
lived a purer life than l. Then nv
beautiful babe was born. Oh. husband.
you start. you tremble; there is some
compassion left in you for our little
child who blooms amid the blossoms Of
my southern home, guarded by nv
poor old mother. After my child came
my voice failed, and l grew sickly, 50 |
staked my all in one venture, and came
TO England to try and win your forgive
ness for the child's sake. l dared not
bring her with me, for | might have
died, and left her among strangers"
Here the wooing voice grew faint, and
DIR. Holt raised her in his arms. and
pressed some wine between the palHd
lips. She looked gratefully into his
face with such fond entreating ewes,
that he closed them with kisses. saving.
''Hush, no more now, poor foolish lit
tie wife. Rest and wait"
Then followed a reconciliation the
sweeter for their long parting.
A month passed, and summer was
softly signing into autumn. DIR. Holt
was alone with his good but severe
minded mother.
Felix, my son." said the old lady.
smoothing her silvery hair little ner-
yously beneath her quaker cap, surely
some great good fortune has come to
you. What shas the old mother done
that she is not allowed to rejoice in the
happiness of her only child?'
emotion, and the keen old eyes Were
misty with unshed tears. Her son ssi
down beside her, and in eloquent words
revealed to her all the misery he had
suffered, all the WEAKNESS of life that
seemed so unenjoyable without that
brighter half of himself that he had a.
lowed to drift away. Then came the
history of his wife's suffering and neat
ness to death; and last, but most NOV
ing of all, his joy at his child's birth.
and his longing to see her face.
my life has seemed so empty, mother,
so dreary and undesirable; now it Is
full of hope and joy and gratitude. |
am going to take Mignon back to the
sunny south, to the birthplace of our
child. VIII you come too and 'share
our happiness, as you have shared our
mistakes and miseryP'
Not yet, my son, for | feel helped
to make the trouble. but when my boy
has made a separate home, then Will
come and live near. but not with you
till your darling can come to our colder
but truer home. Man and wife should
live in a home unshared by any but
their own flesh. their children. | have
been unjust through my jealous love
lad. but it shall never bring aught but
blessings to you again"
Three years later, happy family
group arrived at their bonny English
home, and the quaker grandmother
leads by the hand gailyattired little
lady, who with the wanton waste OF
childhood, throws aside little bunch
Of flowers. The old lady bends her dig
nified body to pick them up, and says
with fond severity:
Never despise bunch of flowers, pet;
for bunch Of flowers brought peace to
.wo aching hearts, that both my little