The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-01-10

was an immense one, ana, on reachlng
New York, she succumbed TO q severe
illness, through which Nina had nursed
her, and with whom she had remained
ever since.
Here Harry asked me when we were
going East
had Just receiveda letter from Nina,
begging me to come home in time to re-
ceive New Year s calls with her, and
reminding me that we had not oil held
tho watch together since that night so
memorable to her. handed the letter
to Harry. saying: ave will 60 on Tues
day."
II will 90. too" said he, decidedly.
| only needed one look into his eyes
to know his purpose.
"Go with u.s." said i.
"Probably will" replied he; "but
I will see you again" and, bidding
mamma goodbye, he was gone.
On Tuesday, as we were starting. a
telegram came from Harry saying that
he could not leave, but adding that he
certainly would keep watch with us New
Years Eve.
When we were fairly at home, / told
Nina, and we both concluded that it
was best not to mention anything about
him to Hidegard, lest something un-
foresecn should cause disappoint-
ment.
On New Year Eve we talked OF girl
hood days and doings. 1t had been
fifteen years since we had held our
mountain watch. Nina and were de-
cidedly nervous, no word having come
OF Harry arriving Hildegard seemed
depressed. About eleven clock. Adele,
her husband, and papa, came in to help
Us watch; so at quarter OF twelve
o'clock we formed quite q party. AT
ten minutes OF twelve Mr.. Farquhar
threw back the staineI glass doors that
closed of the third room, and, seating
ing himself before the organ, said h,
would play the Doxology; we oil fol
lowed, and, ranging ourselves in cir
Gle, awaited the striking Of the hour
Hildegard alone was not OF the number
she had been standing in one Of thu
windows, evidently wrapped in thought
Amidst light-falling snow a sleigl
dashed up to the door, and a gen
tleman lcaped out. The porter 'hat
the door open by the time the visitor
reached the steps The transit from
sleigh to the parlor had not taken more
than a minute, and Hildegard, sur
prsed out of action, had only turned
and faced the door Her whole counte
nance must have told how thank
full she was to see Harry again, for in ar
instant he embraced her right heartily
Then we all came forward to extcnt
welcome. Nina would not let Harry
leave the house. but insisted upon max
ing it his home during his visit. TheI
we sang the Doxology, scme minute
after twelve.
As we finished Mina's maid tappe'
at the door, calling her away moment
Harry and Hildegard wandered dow
the parlor. Nina looked in, saying
, "Our Dire sses came an hour ago, an
: Marie has laid them out for us to set
Come up stairs"
Hildegard took no notice OF the II
t vitstion; so we went without interrup
> ing her conversation, which for the ne,
hall hour formed a sort OF low obligal
2 n compartment to certain improvls'
! ti)ns upon the organ, wherein MI
r farquhar gave utterance TO memorie
aroused by this anniversary of his be
! trothal.
| Once in Mina's exquisite little DO,
, DOR, she and | rapturously embrace
= each other; we did not speak, but W
felt pretty sure that ut last all woul
| 90 well with Hildegard; and 1t made u
very happy. Then Adele's eXclamc
, tions of admiration drew our attentio
d TO the dresses we would wear upon th
morrow. From this we fell to discus
9 ing.the number ofcalls we hoped to r
ceive; for we had each sent cards
J. the friend3 we had made since our Sc
d aration: and so on, until Nina remind'
IL us that she had ordered little supp
a laid, and that it was probably waiting
that moment.
|, We hurried down stairs to find h
Q prediction true. When we were seat
ut the table, she said;
!. "Papa, can't you give us speech
y al think / had better defer to nj
t Fenton," said Mr.. Farquhar. and thel
. bowing to Harry: "Your voice will
l least have the merit Of novelty to OF
4 party. whcreupon Harry arose an
r said with pre- aratoy ahem!
b Ladies and gentlemen" and the
dropping the mimic air, proceeded
d "Dear friends-I am overflow wit
o Joy. have this night sa'isiac'ori|
It concluded an affair which ! underloc
% unsuccessfully fifteen years ago !
IT night. Since then have lived In =
O. shadow of the great grief in which III
ne failure enveloped me. Black as I
- darkness Of the night into which
N. stepped when ] let our mountain wat
ad was the sorrow bore with me. Brii
We rs the light Of this luxurious. hospita
on home, and Of your bcaming faces, is
no radiant Joy bear. Hildegard viii
'er my vile. Congratulate me, and
to heartily wish you each what this ASST
" 20 me-a happy New Year!'
ew On Iildegard's face there was r
mo- full happiness expressed, which no mo
,re had ever seen there before. The
,ut satisfied expression was gone. And
,n- united in wishing Harry what ], pati
Ct reader now wish you-A Happy N
ity Year!-G Godey's Lady's 6So&
lis
4 ~.