Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-01-25


he finds out his mistake
But what shall | do?' cried poor
Louise, fairly bursting into tears. !
haven't any other things for Harry
with me, and there is no time to get
anything. lie was to have been SO
perfectly lovely"
Never mind, darling said the
young man, doing his best to s'ifie his
laughter and cons lie his wife. Scrub
him aud comb his hair and wrap him
up in anything. He is sure to be a
beauty anyway And with this as.
surance Louise was obliged to find
what comfort she could but her anti
cipations of pleasure for the day were
completely spoiled.
Her own toilette was sooL made, and
the child rendered as presentable as
circumstances would allow, the def
ciencies of the attire he had travelled
in being covered as well as they might
be by white opera cloak lent for the
purpose by a sympathizing but very
rash cousin and an hour later the
wedding ceremony was over.
The bride, the wedding presents,
and the dark eyed Growing baby IN
tumbled dress ard embroidered opera
cloak were disputing the attention OF
the few guests at this quietest of we'd
dings, when Mrs. Laurence, the moth
er Of the bride, was called from the
room, returning a few moments later
and approaching Harry's mother with
rather a perplexed face.
NV dear .he said, drawing her
guest aside, there is an OLD gentleman
waiting in the library to see some one
who, think, must be you. He says
he doesn't know the name, but he
should be glad TO see the lady with
whom he had the pleasure Of travel
ing this morning. From the descrip-
ton it can be no Que else : you are the
only one who arrived with baby
Yes, it must be my old gentleman :
replied Louise, q little wonderingly.
What can he want?'
Perhaps he knows something abou,
Harry's petticoats, sug. .ested her hus-
band. i think will follow you in II
moment, to see What your old admirer
is like
Hurriedly Louise accompanied her
hostess int" the library; and there,
sure enough. stood her acquaintance
of the morning aud-yes. on the table
beside which he was standing was the
brown leather bag, the loss oi which
she had so incurred! !
The old gent eman saw the direction
his companions eyes Immediately took
aud laa ghed heaf,ily as he advanced
to greet her.
Yes, madam, have come to r, store
your property, for which have as
little use as you probably have for
mine, and must beg thousand par
dons for the stupidity which has doubt
less caused you good deal Of incon-
venience.'
Thank you so much,' replied
Louise, with sigh of reliet-her
cherished infant might even yet be
able to dazzle the eyes of the assembled
guests before their departure.
i am so glad | didn', throw out
your s:ones. | was thinking of it.
Il am very glad, ,oo.' said the old
gentleman smiling. 'By-theway,
had some difficulty in getting into the
house at all, not knowing your name.
The servant evidently had the strong
est doubts as to my respectability.
Il shall ask my aunt to discharge
him Immediately Louise responded,
promptly. How odd that shouldn't
have told you my name. am Mrs.
Lewis-Mrs. Henry Lewis. | beg
your pardon ; is anything the matter !:
for the old gentleman had started
violently rs his companion spoke.
No, no, nothing ut all, Mrs. Lewis,
he said slowly, after leaving the ques
ton for moment unanswered. Il had
very dear relative Of that name who
died years ago; but it is common
enough name. In fact, my own name
is Lewis
is it possible:' cried Louise, with
deep interest. Il wonder if you coul(
be any connection
But Louise's speech was never 6n
ished, for the sound Of hurried ex
clamation from the open door behine
her made her turn qnickly, to see he
husband standing spell bound for al
ins ant, paler than she remembered
ever having seen him. Then, with !
half smothered cry-'Father! Father.
he pnssed his wife with hasty strides
and grasped the hand of her visitor il
both his own, while for full minut
the two men gazed silently into eacl
others faces with eyes asking an eager
mementous question which thei,
tongues as yet hardly dared to utter
'Harry-my SONNY own boy! sal.
DIR. Lewis, at last, in broken voice
DO my old eyes deceive me, or ha
this greatest Of all mercies been vouch
safed to me in my old age?'
There is ne deception, dear father
For years it has been my great grie
that you-as supposed-died befor
| could beg your forgiveness for tn
sin and disobedience OF my boyhcod
and now find you again when | ha
long ceased to hope for it
My boy, it is for me to ask your for
givntss for the unnatural harshnes
which drove You forth from your home
But tell me of your life-remembeI
| know nothing since you disappeare'
sixteen years ago
Louise had been standing quietl
near the door. fairly sobbing with de
light aud intense sympathy; but no,
her husband turned, and drew her to
wards him.
Here, father, is the crown of m
glory for liie,' he said, quietly, as b
placed Louise's hand in that Of his fs
ther. IF have anything in the worl
to be proud of, it is that half of my
self which call my Wife
.Thank Won my da.r for uho{ no