The Labor enquirer., 1883-02-10

Then he put notice In all the papers
telling Tom to come back but he dit
not come.
The winter passed away with long
long nights of bitter remorse, and tende
recollections of the dear husband. .whos'
strong arms had once been my stay ane
support. The spring came the summer
another winter. Three years went by
crept by.
My.child, Toms little baby, grew to bt
ia fairy little thing, with fair blue ,eyet
and golden hair, and tongue that never
wearied of its childish prattling. AL
day long she sat on the door step, where
the evening sunbeams slanted in, lisping
to her doll, and listening, while / told
her of the father who would come back
to us one day. For surely he would
come. Surely Gods mercy would vouch'
safe some compensation, some pardon
for such tears, such bitter repentance as
my soul had poured forth.
That third spring was. peculisr some
how; the far-of sky seemed to drop
down in nearer, bluer folds; the sun
wore a softer radiance; the trees, the
grass, the flowers, a diviner, tenderel
beauty. rose up every morning, and
looked out of my little window at the
kindling glories of morn, with feeling
of strange, tremulous expectation.
seemed to feel the shadow of some great
event that winged its flight above me
the one prayer of my, soul seemed about
to be answered
One evening-oh, that evening! A
May sky, soft and blue, hung over a
green blossoming earth. The turtle
dove cooed in the distant wood, and the
robin twittered to her young brood amid
the milky bloom of the orchard. Gods
love shown in the golden brightness of
the westward-going sun. My child, little
Etfie, sat on the door step, talking to her
doll, and watching the birds. All at
once she clapped her dimpled hands and
bounded to her feet.
Nanny" she cried, gleefully, 'pappy
comin'-pappy comm; Efie go meet
him p
The words stirred my heart to its in
most depths, and, dropping my work, l
followed her out at the door. A man
was coming up the garden path-his
garments tattered-his step slow and I'M
certain. A beggar, no doubt l called
to Effie to come back, but she ran on,
needless of my command. Toms little
spaniel, that l had petted and taken care
of for his sake, darted from. its kennel
with peculiar cry, such as I had never
heard from it before. What did it all
mean? My heart throbbed, and my
knees began to tremble. Little Effie ran
on, holding out both dimpled hands, her
golden curls blown all about her rosy
face
"How- -de-do, pappy? rs your little
girl; Effie," she lisped, as she reached the
mans feet.
He stopped and raised her in his arms,
and then his glance rested on me. And
such glance-sucE face! Pale, hag-
gard, worn by sorrow and suffering to a
mere shadow. Toms ghost come back
from the grave. Not that either, for my
frantic arms grasped something, some
tangible form.
"Oh, Tom !" 1 cried, "is it you? Speak.
speak, and tell meH'
eyes, Lucy, it's me. couldn't bear it
any longer. Pm dying, I believe, and l
couldn't 60 without seeing you and the
little one again"
My arms held him fast, tattered gar
ments and all; my kisses fell on his poor
pale face like rain. I would never let
him 60 again.
"Tom, Tom," 1 sobbed, going down on
my knees before him, "oh, forgive me!
forgive me have suffered so much"
"It's me that must ask forgiveness,
Lucy" he said, humbly, mot you'll was
wrong"
But I stopped him short.
NO, Tom, my cross word did it ALL" l
said, "but for that we might have been
happy together all these weary years
Nanny, nanny" interposed Eftie,
twisting herself round on her fathers
shoulder, don't cry no more-pappy's
come back"