Morris tribune., 1883-03-10

or was she thinking of the bright, beauti,
full girl who had just left her, Fidelia
Shepherd.
AT this juncture the girl Of all work
opened the door with a tiurried
manner, and tall. well formed young
man entered. He advanced to the mid.
die of the room, and lifting his cap, flung
1t on the sofa. This action was so much
like the old time boy. The woman gazed
at the bearded face, and would have
fallen to the floor had not q strong arm
caught her.
"Mother! have changed SO much?"
Frank, my boy"
II am never to leave you again,
mother"
Before the evening was spent Mrs.
Rensselaer, made known the invitation
she had received to spend the evening
with her old friend, Mrs. Shepherd.
"And this accounts for your being SO
becomingly attired?" smiled Frank, as
he let his fingers fall over the soft bands
of silver hair.
1--WE have both changed, Frank" with
a gentle tenderness in her eyes. "And
you will find others have changed. You
remember Della, Frank?"
E"Delia was little girl. Looking back
from this point, how long it seems,
mother"
"she is now a lovely girl and teaches
in the normal school and is a superior
musician. But you have not told me
will you go?"
eyes, mother" 1t was such a pleasure
to say mother. He was 50 glad and hap
py that he was permitted to say it.
There, were friendly greetings; not
many who remembered him as boy
even. But all reioiced that Mrs Rens-
selaer's son had returned, and none gave
him more co rdial welcome than Fidela
Shepherd.
II hardly know that | should have re-
cognized you" she said naively, al
though we have talked Of you frequently,
TO the attic and showed me the small
wagon in which you drew me to the
circus. Do you remember it?"
"My memory is very good" he an
swered; from the time | entered the
village until reached my mothers
door, not an event of my boyhOod but
seemed to stand out before me. 1t was
like walking through gallery Of old and
familiar pictures, with new and strang
surrounding"
Frank Redsselaer stood long at the
window gazing INTO the night, The
stars looked kown upon him just as he
had seen them looking into the face of
the sea. Then he could sleep and
dream at home, now he was at home
and still he could not sleep. The camp
was broken up; but where were they?
And would he see them again2 The pale
face of Lance Leonard came up before
him. He had promised. There were
some old worn letters in the pockets of
the sick youth, letters that revealed the
mothers residence, and the wealth of
love that flowed ont to her boy.
To this story of. Lance Leonard, FL
della Shepherd was sympathetic listen,
er.
"Of course you must go; it will be
comfort to his mother
Mrs Rensselaer, was loath to lose him,
even for few days. but it was doing as
she would be done by.
The winter passed joyously. Music
brought the young people together. Old
ties were strengthened. The claim upor
Mrs Shepherds baby would not admit
of partnership. The question was asked
and answered.
When the apple blossom. showered
their rosy petals over the garden walks,
there was we iding in the old house.
And as the young bride crossed the
threshold good wishes followed her, and
a handful Of rice was thrown for luck.
PHILIP -----.