South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-03-30

alone in her pride and renlorsc, aud
his wife-no one knew where. per.
haps driven to he grave by scorn and
rnkindness.
We will Tot dwell upon the stormy
scene between the mother and son.
Il go to seek her, he said, Mt length:
'and until | find her, and she with her
own lips forgives you. I shall never
forgive you nor call you mother
And with this terrible eentencc
ringing III her ears, the mother was
left alone again.
For two years, Douglass Moore
wandered vainly over the land with.
out the slightest clue to his young
wite's fate How could he hope to
find herr And yet he was ever hop
ing against hope. striving against fate.
God, surely, could not be SD unkind
heargued, to part them forever, when
they loved each other so. His heart
was full Of bitter, unforgiving thoughts
toward Ills mother, and, he had al.
most lost fai h in God and man.
AT last. one evening in June saw
him sit down in little village among
the white Mountains. whittier he had
gone with friend to seek rest, If rest
could ever be found for his troubled
brain and heart. He had no knowl.
edge OF the place before he came, ex.
cept that the name. White Cross,
seemed vaguely familiar. Puzzling
over this in his room, in the quiet lit.
tie inn, it suddenly flashed over him
that this had been the name of the
village, where years before a sister o.!
his father, Faith Dunstan, had made
her home when left widow.
Il believe, Hartwell. he said sud-
denly, to his friend, that have an
aunt, somewhere ia this vicinity. |
am going to inquire
Seeking the landlord. his inquiry
was answered by smile all over the
broad face.
Know Mrs. Dunstan, sir?' he said,
q fancy there is no one i'm all this
country that does not know her: |
will send boy to show you the place.
1t is one of our show places, SIR
In few moments. Douglass was
sauntering up the shaded street, u
shock. headed youth of some twelve
summers trotting before him. 1t was
only short distance to the sweet Int.
tie cottage set in its bright frame OF
roses. and having given the boy his
coveted dime. Douglass opened the
little white gate and went in alone.
Everything was still, with sab
bath like stiffness, that almost seemed
as If the only inhabitants of the place
were the birds and bees. But sud
denly the silence was broken by u lii.
tie cry, in childish voice, from a.
mong the thiclSest Of the roses.
Use dot him mamma, bat Use fast
in the roses and tan't Diet out,-why,
where is my mammal
Pushing his way through the thick
ct, Douglass came upon what he
thought was the sweetest picture his
eyes bad ever seen. A boy of nearly
five years, with big blue ey es, now
wide with trouble, and long golden
cur!s, caught and tangled in some way
about rosebush, holding in one club
by hand "a brilliant, fluttering butter.
fly, while the other tugged and pulled
at the obdurate curls.
Stop, little man. said Douglass
gently. q will help you loose
The boy. evidently not afraid OF
strangers, said politely
IF you please, SIR and stood very
quietly while Douglass unwound bis
curls. Il do not know where ms
mamma can be- he said. Il wish she
would cut oil these old curIs, but she
Is saving them for papa 10 see. Iwil
hunt her. and before Douglass conld
stop him be sprang away among the
r03es.
With strange thrill ut his heart
Douglass went on TO the house, walk.
ing like one IN 4 dream. Knocking
gently at the open door. he heard tbC
sound ofvoices within su Idenly cease
then an elderly lady with soft whit,
balr, bande! above a broad low brow
where benevoleuce and love seemed
enthroned, and mild dark eyes
that beamed with kind thoughts, cam,
noiselessly and stood before him If
silence for moment. Then puz
lied smile curved the sweet mouth.
great joy illumined every feature.
1T is--it must be my nephew
Douglass Moore she said, aln.os
solemnly.
And in the next moment he wa.
clasped in her motherly arms. ant
drawn gently into her cool. brgh
sittingroVm. Then she sat down. a
one exhausted by intense feeling look
ing at him with strange wonder il
her eyes.
What chance. nay. what rrovi
dcnce, bas brought thee here, Doug
lass? she said. with her quaint GOA
ker speech. How didst thee eve
find thy old aunt after all thes,
years {?
Then almost ashamed he told her