Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-11
summer swallows, and we we're left almost

summer swallows, and we were left almost
alone.
''Could'n you manage to make little
trip to the sea-shore, my dsar?" Mrs. Van
borough bad suggested, and Jack had
caught at the Idea with eagerness.
''We might, Nell; think we can. I'll
try to borrow few hundred somewhere. +"
"Oh, Jack, no. no.'' sobbed out in my
remorse and despair 81 won't 60 to the
sea-shore. You see how ill baby is. Oh,
Jack, ask !, your father to let us return
home. snp1a
sob. you wouldn't be satisfied, Nell. if
we went back. It is dreadfully stupid
down there these summer days, with the
hay-making, and the reaping, and all that
sort of thing. We should never be able to
endure it now.'
said no more. The long, bright, burn
ing days wore on, and our bills ran up
higher and higher, and baby's little breath
seemed to grow weaker and weaker, and
poor Jack himself seemed to be dreadfully
ill and worn. And one afternoon he was
sent home in carriage, quite uncon-
scious, stricken down by a sudden fever.
I put my pride aside then and wrote q
letter to Jacks father.
'Jack and baby are both ill.," / said,
land we are sick and tired of this life
Pray forgive US and let us come home"
The very next day the dear old gentle
man arrived, but the bailiffs and officers
of the law were before him. The rumor
that Jack intended to leave town had got
out, and our creditors rushed in anxious
to secure the lions share of our Effects
The Brussels carpets, the handsome furni
ture, and costly brio a-brac, all went under
the hammer at disastrously low figure.
"Never mind,'' said my father-iD-law
not shadow of reproach on his kind old
face; ''let them squabble over it if they
will. We must get our sick ones home -
So we got Jack into the carriage, and
with his poor hot head upon my knee, and
baby in nay arms, turned my back upon
the scene Of my short lived triumph.
1--WE are going back to Cherry Hill"
said the old gentleman, as in the dusk Of
the golden day we drove through tho dewy
stiffness Of the mountain ravlne
"Tha old home has been waiting for
you all these long months. I was pretty
sure you'd want to come back"
I could not utter one word in answer
A great full moon was rising above the
mountain peaks as we reached the house
Not the smallest thing was changed. The
great red roses bloomed on the terrace, the
bees droned in their hives. and the cattle
bells tinkled in the barn yard.
The doors stood wide open. We carried
Jack in and laid him down in the broad
breezy room that had been our bridal cham
Der.
He opened his eyes and drew deep quiv-
ering breath, as the mountain breeze
touched his throbbing head.
''Nell. where are your" he.said, "surely
this must be homer"
II am here, Jack, >" answered, through
my tears; land this is home, dear old Cher
~ Hill.''
THANK God!" he murmured, and fell
back on his pillow and saw great tears
trickling slowly from beneath his closed
eyelids.
Beyond the open window, in the silver
glory of the rising moon, the old grand
father sat with baby at his feet, half hid
den in rank, cool grass, and even at that
late hour the pigeons nuttsred around her
as of old, and she seemed filed with rapture
q q che oI,,tohod Of tharo NTH bor fh;,, III
tie hands. aaf
rose softly and fell on my knees beside
Jacks pillow. @t
sob, jack sobbed, II have been so
wicked. Forgive me, Jack, forgive me-
I ana SO glad to be at home again."
And then and there, claspsd to my hus-
bands heart, in the safe, sweet shelter of
the home he loved, understood all the
past.
''You didn't mean It, jack" whisper
ed. "You only pretended to to enjoy it
all TO please me-"
He smiled at me with his grave. fond
eyes.
"And. oh, Jack. our money is all gone,
and
He silenced me with kiss.
mo matter, little woman, the lesson
we have learned has been cheaply bought.
We shall not care to leave the safe old
mountain nest in search of fashion and
society again."
[ could not answer. [ heard my baby
cooling to the pigeons in the grass, and sat
there claspsd in Jacks forgiving arms
the happiest woman the round world held.