The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-03

honor, till she became quite a toast and
a belle.
September came and passed-0cto-
Der, November, and at last the drear
December.
But this year there were no blithe
Christmas festivities up at the grand
house on the hill.
II hardly care to have much merry
making while the master of the house
is away" Rose Edgerton would say to
her friends.
you expect your cousin back soon
then?" they would question.
"We do not know what day he may
come home,' was her inyariable re-
joinder.
But the winter was gathered to the
numberless winters which had gone be-
fore; spring swept on with chill, and
rain, and breaking buds, and still to
one woman's gentle heart, so generous
in its patience, came no word or tiding
of the exile.
Over the mantel in the library a
great portrait of him hung. Occasion
| ally she went in and stood before it,
looking up at the grave, kind face with
the soulful eyes and frmly-sweet
mouth. Then she "ould turn and go
half-guiltily away.
Summer clasped hands with autumn.
The rolling fields around Silver Cliff
were clad in cloth of gold. Harvest
time had come. Bright blades flashed
as swung by strong arms the scythes
moved down the sunny seas Of grain.
One day Miss Edgerton, driving
down the country-road, refined in her
milk-White ponies, and leaned forward
to watch the reapers.
The day was excessively warm, but
she was attired in the coolest and airi-
est of India lawns, and held above her
head a paraso1 of snowy satin.
Quite suddenly she sprang from the
phaeton, and leaped the low stile with
a frightened cry.
One of the workers had ree1ed and
fallen heavily. They were all around
him in a moment-his c~o-laborers.
They fell back and made way for Miss
Edgerton as she approached.
"What is it?" she cried. "What is
the matter? Is he dead?'
No, miss; it's only the heat. He's
a new un-only come this morning
Seems as if how he amt been used to
the business. Seems kind of delicate
like. He's coming to. It's only the
heat"
The PROSTATE man raised himself a
little and looked up. He had a thin,
dark face, still young but heavily
bearded, and with a tired look in the
sunken eyes.
Just a second Rose Edgerton regard
ed him, speeches.. Then she fell on
her knees beside him, and caught his
hand in her own slim, kidded fingers.
"Maurice!" she cried. .You have
come home, Maurice"
But once more his head dropped, his
eyes closed. They bore him up TO Sill
yer Cliff, and there for many weeks lay
almost within the valley of the shadow.
When he awoke to consciousness it
was to find a kind, old face bent over
him, and strangely familiar all his sur
roundings.
"Rochef' he whispered.
"You mustn'ttalk," the other COM
manded, sternly. go to sleep, and I'll
ten you all by-and-by.'
And "by-and-by" there were mutual
explanations.
II could not succeed" Maurice said,
with one of his slow, sad smiles. II
tried a little of everything-from teach
ing in a school to working before the
mast. But ] tell you hoy who grows
up without a profession, trade or
course of business training is very cas-
lily worsted in competition with those
who have been in harness all their
lives. / did not dream of stopping
here, you know, but happening to be
passing through the village, I heard
there was a demand for laborers up at
Silver Cliff. So, being penniless. and
II suppose you have guessedit-hun-
CRY, 7 presented myself. ! did not
dream Of recognition, 50 completely
one year had altered nj. I went
away q strong lad; / have come back
a weary man. ! must get strong and
try again.
Once, when he had lain silent for
some time, he looked up suddenly.
strange how she. and she only,
knew me-wasn't it2
Roche nodded. IS S.
God bless herr he said, huskily.
But the day carne when Maurice,
coated and capped, approached his
faithful nurse, and held out his hand
in farawnII -. -