Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-03-07
her heart. ana SAD IN a clear nign tone:

her heart. ana SAID In clear nign tone:
.'Felix.'
1t was like the yearning cry of one
who feared to lose a lonmed-for, but al
most despairol Of, blessing.
The door WAS pushed back quickly,
and DR.. Holt entered and crossed to the
beside it, and silently hiding his face on
her feeble tuttering hands.
'Darling | knew YOU would come.
Oh, husband. husband! can YOU forgive
me ealt the silence OF these bitter blasted
years?"
The mans broad shoulders heaved.
and the little waxen hands beneath his
face were wet with tears coming from =
bursting heart. Still that wooing voice
went on unanswered; -
Felix, wanted you to know that
though j. like the wicked wayward
thing was. tired OF your stiff English
ways and the duh routine you called
. DUTY, did not tire of you. Oh, my
love, my love, how have longcd' for
you, but knew how stern you could
be, and feared that iee-cold woman.
your mother, would not let you take me
back. | Was mad with the monotony
of my life, dear;I who had been brought
up from my babyhood in bright Bohe-
mian @aiety- So | ran back to my d
procession, and sang NY Eeart sick on
the italian stage. Yet not even that
ice-woman YOU call mother could have
lived purer life than I. Then my
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 my
poor old mother. After my child came
my voice failed. and grew sickly. SO
staked my all in one venture, and came
to England to try and win your forgive
ness Tor the child's sake. / dared not
bring her with re, for l might have
died, and left her among Strangers
Here the woonG voice grew faint, and
DR.. Holt raised her in his arms, and
pressed some wine between the pallid
lips She looked gratefully into his
face with such fond entreating eyes,
that he closed them with kisses. saving:
"Hush! no more now. poor foolish lit
tic wife. Rest and watt
Then followed a reconciliation the
sweeter for theis long parting.
A month passed, and sumner was
softly signing into autumn. DIR. Holt
was alone with his good but severe
minded mother.
''fc!iy, my SON." said the Old lady,
smoothing her silyery hair a little ner
vousiy beneath her quaker cap, ''surely
some great good fortune has come TO
YOU. What has tie old mother done
that she is not allowed to rejoice in the
happiness of her only cbisd?"
The cool firm tones were broken by
emotion. and the keen old eyes were
misty with unslied tears. Her son sat
down beside her. and in eloquent words
revealed to her ali the misery lie had
suffered, all the wcaiiness of life that
seemed so unenioyable without that
brighter half OF himself that be had al
lowed to drift away. Then came the
history Of his wifc's suffering and near
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.
.Mr life has seemed so empty. mother,
SO dreary and undesirahle; 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, us you have shared our
mistakes and misery?"
Not vet, my son, for l feel helped
to make the trouble, but when my boy
has made separate hone, then l will
come and live near. but not with You
till your darling can come TO our colder
but tiuer home. Man and wife should
live in a home unshared by any but
their own flesh, their children. l have
been unjust through my jealous love,
lad, but il shall neyer bring augllt but
blessings to ycu again.
Three years later, q happy family
group arrived at their bonuy English
home, and the quaker grandmother
leads by the hand gaily-attired little
lady, who with the wanton waste of
childhood, throws aside little bunch
of flowers. The old lady bends her dig
nifed body to pick them up, and says
with fond severity:
'.Nevcrdespise II bunch Of flowers pet;
for bunch Of flowers brought peace to
tHo aching hearts. that both my little
maid and her cross old granny love
dearly"
A lovely little lady left her husbands
arm. aud tip-toed to kiss the good old
face gratefully.
Felix Holt's heart sings at the cra-
cious sight. and he smiles approval on
her and says graveiy:
''rhank YOU, wife"
''No." she says softly, rearranging
the little noscgay, thanh the flowers"