Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-09-28


Tie autumn leaves scattered here
and there over the new mound in the
churchyard The wife returned to
her husband. and rumors came back
to G that Myra Forbes was not
happily married; that there was some
truth in former rumors; and we re
called the sad expression of the
beautiful eyes a. proof.
The once happy home was again to
l." ehrouded III grief. and the
mother, ere the SHOWS fell. joined the
father. leaving Myra ali orphan.
When We again met, IL was beside
IN" mothers grave, and my heart
reached ont in sympathy a. thought
over the intense grief Of Myra.
Heart broken. and made an orphan
IN 50 short time. We rendered her
our sympathy and love; but there
seemed no resignation on her part.
The Hall WAS now closed. There
was 10 one left of the family but
Myra: even Mss Linda left our town
and a. sh. hadc lis good by she
told H. her heart was "sorel y grieved.
but Their" WAS still more trouble and
grief for More:on Hail. We pom
lrred over her words. and waited for
time to explain them. One after an
other our schoolmates and friends
had left us, and there only remained
limited number. We passed the
Hall and would shuddcr as we
thought how desertedj ii was in SO
short time. The grass had grown
in high and tangled masses, and
every surrounding showed us deser
ton and decay.
The months passed into years, I'M
Ill four long years had passed. As l
sat. one October evening, [ saw
strangers walking through the
grounds Of Moreton Hall, and l
learned there was to be new occu-
pant there The house was thrown
open. and everything around soon
resumed its accustomed aspect. The
| grounds were tended, the house re
paired. and the new occupant came.
watched the black robed figure
moving about the house and grounds.
and, to my surprise. saw and recog
nized Miss Linda, my old friend.
Strange thoughts filled my mind, and
stranger fancies still. when. in few
days, a carriage stopped at the Hall,
and left there small lady, dressed
in Cdeepest mourning. This was
Myra Forbes, and she was alone.
Could she have returned widowed?
Surely death had spared her one
among her loved lones
Busy hands were outstretched to
welcome her, and render the Hall
once more homelike. Tender words
greeted her coming, and loving kind
ness was shown by Miss Linda. The
Hall was home once more for the
wanderer, but the loved ones were
gone: Marble slabs in the church
yard told Of their silent homes.
Miss Linda found that her charge
grew sadder in mind and weaker
physically. Change there must be
change. or death our physicians said.
as they looked upon the pale, Wan
face OF Myra. Miss Linda's eager
gaze and quick perception found
there must he change or another
grave ere long. So, after weeks of
persuasion, q bevy of small children
thronged at Moreton Hall to their
new teacher. Myra's busy hands and
employed mind soon gave back hope
that peace, il not happiness, would
once more come to the heiress of
Moreton Hall.
The seasons passed, and spring
and summer until October came again
Glorious October, with its mellow
sunlight and bronze leaves? The
schoolhouse showed its accustomed
number Of girls and boys, but | to-
morrow they were free-the last dAy,
with its entertainment 40 Moreton
Hall. The school mistress had re
gained health and strength, and the
beautiful black eyes sparkled once
| more.
The morrow came. The banners
waved from tho Hall. and the
grounds were alive with children
Loud were the voices that called
Miss Myra" among them, and en-
treated her to join their play.
III you will not. then we'll play
it's May Day, and you're our queen'
said one boy; and they forced Myra
into a seat, while they danced around
her and crowned her with tinted
leaves and scarlet berries.
But ere they were aware. some
thing had happened A drunken
man had stumbled and fell; his head
struck stone. and he lay insensible
and bleeding.
Myra forget her queenly station
and crown, and, with a cry, raised
the bleeding head and gazed into
| the face of Leslie Forbes, her hus-
band.
They were both restored to health,
and strength. and the fallen man
vowed to be a man once more-a man
freed from the coils of intemper-
ance.
As sit in my doorway, 1 see hus-
band and wife standing side by side.
He looks down upon her tenderly,
and the old light has come again to
those beautiful eyes; while behind
them, with her spectacles and snowy
curls, stands dear Aunt Linda.
THE OLDEST PLACE OF WORSHIP IN THE
TWO AMERICAS.
A few miles below Murry Bay,
Province Of Quebec. stands today
the oldest place of worship in the
two Americas. Here at the mouth of
the river of death first landed the
French, September. 1884; about fifty
years only after Columbus discovered
the new world! The river is wide like
sea, although we are 400 miles from
the open ocean. The scene is much
like the Bay of Naples. The air is
certainly vastly superior in purity
and sweetness The soil is tawny
sand, dotted with plateaus of birch,
and pine, and cedar, which seem to
have fled up the rugged rocks that
rise gradually and gracefully back
from the water. Here these trees
hover in the steepest and most mac
4 r A. Al