The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-11-27
by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

teen, whom nobody could look ut without
thinking ofa rosebud almost b%lossolned.
The only other person at tho ilrcsidc was
Robert Moore, formerly an apprentice Of
the blacksmith but now his jOurneyman,
and who seemed more like all own son OF
John Ingleiicld than did the pale and
slender student.
Only these four had kept New Englanl's
festival beneath that roof. The vacant
chnir ut John l%nglegeld's right hand was
in memory Of his wife, whom death had
snatched from him since the previous
Thanksgiving. With n feeling that few
would look for in rough nature, the be-
reaved husband had himself set the chair
in its place next his own, and often did
his eye glance thitherward, us II he deem
it possible that the cold grave might
send back its tenant to the cheerful fire.
side, at least for that one evening.
Thus did he cherish the grief that was
dear to him. But there was another grief
which he would fain have torn from his
heart; or, since that could never be, have
buried it too deep for others to behold or
for his own remembrance. Within the
past year another member of his house.
hold had como from him-but not to the
grave; yet they kept no vacant chair for
her.
While John 1nglefeld and his family
were sitting round tho hearth, with the
shadows dancing behind them on the wall,
the outer door was opened, and d light
footstcp came along the passage. The
latch of tho inner door was lifted by some
familiar hand, and a young girl came in
wearing q cloak and hood, which she
shook Off and laid on the table beneath
the looking glass. Then, after gazing a
moment at the firesile circle, she ap.
preached and took the seat ut John 1ngle-
fields right hand, as il it had been re-
served on purpose for her.
"Here ! am at last, father" said she.
"You ate your Thanksgiving dinner with
out me ; but I have come back to spend
the evening with you"
Yes-1t was Prudence Inglefeld. She
wore the same neat and maidenly attire
which she had been accustomed to put on
when the household work was over for
the day, and her hair wa parted from the
brow in the simple aad modest fashion
that became her best Of all. Ii hcr cheek
might otherwise have been pale, yet the
glow Of the fire suflusel it with u health.
ful bloom. II she had spent the many
months Of her absence In guilt and infa,ny,
yet they seemed to have left no trace on
her gentle aspect. She could not have
looked less altered had she merely Step
ped away from her fathers tireside for
half an hour and returned while the
blaze was ~quivering upwards from the
same brands that were burning at her de-
parture. And to John Ingle6eld
sl,o was the very image OF his
buried wife, such as ho remembered her
on the first Thanksgiving which they
had passed under their own roof; there
fore, though naturally a stern and rugged
man, he could not speak unkindly to his
sinful child, nor yet could he take her 10
his bosom,
"You arc welcome home, Prudence
said he. glancing sideways at her, and his
voice faltered. "Your mother would have
rejoiced to see you, but she has been gone
from us these four months" e G
~ know it, father, l know it," replied
Prudence, quickly. Sand yet, when l
first came in my eyes were so dazzled by
the freight that she seemed to be sitting
in this very chair"
BY this time, the other members Of the
family had begun to recover from their
surprise, and became sensible that it was
no ghost from the grave nor vision Of
their vivid recollcctions, but Prudence
her own self. Her brother was the next
that greeted her. He advanced and held
out his hand afTectionately, as q brother
should; yet not entirely likea brother,
Tor with all his kindness he was still a
clergyman, and speaking to a child OF sin.
"Sister Prudence" said he earnestly, II
rejoice that a merciiul Providence hath
turned your steps home ward in time for
me to bid you n last farewell. Ina few
weeks, sister, l ain to sail rs a missionary
to the far islands OF the Pacific. There is
not n OF these beloved faces that | shall
ever hope to behold again on this earth.
Oh, may | see all OF thcm-yours and all
beyond tho gravel"
a shadow fitted across the girls coun-
tnnauce. mo Js
"The grave is very dark, brother, an
swcred she, Withdrawing her hand some
what hastily from his grasp. "You must
look your last at me by the light OF this
fire." E
While this was passing, the twin.girl-
the rosebud that had grown on the same
stem with the castaway-stood gazing at
her sister, longing to fling herself upon
her bosom, SO that the tendrils OF tkei,
hearts might INTERVENE again. At frs,
she was restrained by mingled griel and
shame, and by n dread that Prudence was
too much changed to respond to her afIec.
ton, or that her own purity would be fell
as IL reproach by the lost one. But MS she
listened to the familiar voice. while the
face grew more and more familiar, she Tor
got everything, save that Prudence haG
come back. Sprinsing forward, she woult
have elapsed her in n close embrace. Al
TINT very instant, however, Prudence
started from her chair, and held out both
her hands with warning gesture.
mo, Mary-no, my sister, cried she
"Do not You touch me. Your bosom
must not be pressed to mine >"
Mary shuddered, and stood still, for she
felt TINT something darker than tho grave
was between Prudence and herself, thoupl
they seemed so near each other in tn
light Of their fathers hearth, where the,
had grown up together. Meanwhile
Prudence threw her eyes around the room
in search, Of one who had not yet bidde,
her welcome. He had withdrawn iron
his seat by the iireside, and was standin,
near the door, with his face avcrted.9 *
that his features could be discernel onl,
by the fickering shadow OF the profile OF
tho wall. But Prudence called to him, il
q cheerful and kindly tone:
Some, Robert" said she, wont 20,
shake hands with your old friend?"
Robert Moore held back for a moment
but affection struggled powerfully ant
overcome his pride and resentment; Ii
rushed towards Prudence, seized her hand
and pressed 1t to his bosom.
"There, there, Robert" said she, smll