The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-24
HER HOME ONCE MORE.

One capable of /, aching music and lnngua-
ges, and bringing uneXceptgonab.e reteren-
ceS.
"At Bravton Lodgel Dear old Bray
ton. my own home.' cried Lucille Bray
ton, throwing down the paper, and
bursting into tears. How can | ever
90 back there as governess, and see 1t
owned by strangers; and yet. what else
offers itself? | cannot starve.
Almost desperately she sprang UP,
and walked about the little room for
moment, and then picked up the paper
and re-read the advertisement.
''How | wonder who owns the dear
old place nowr' she mused is there
any girl now who is as happy as | was
who, perhaps, has my room. loves the
flowers and walks as did. Has a lover,
perhaps, and rows with him on the lake
in the moonlight evenings. Oh, Lloyd.
| Lovdl WHY do | torture myself in this
way?" she broke off suddenly throwing
herself on the little old lounge, in pas
sion of tears and grief.
/ Hers was truly sad story.
Ten years before, a petted only daugh-
| ter, surrounded with every luxury and
affianced to one whose devoted love she
fully returned, sorrow had singled her
| Out.fiS q target lOr It's arrows
First, her lover was called abroad.
and in mid-ocean went down with the
fated ship on which he had taken pas
sage. Then, just as her heart seemed
| breaking with its weight of grief, ter
rible blow fell over her home-none
| other than the death of her father by
his own hand. and the sudden terrible
knowledge that he had succumbed, first
to one temptation and then another. in
tending in time to replace all, but driv-
en- to desperation al last by the accumu-
lation of bad luck and wrongdoing.
To make what reparation they could.
the heartbroken widow and daughter
gave up their home and everything they
possessed. and then went away to cover
up their shame and grief in a part of
the world where they would be strang-
ers to all.
The year that followed had been one
continuous struggle with sickness and
poverty. in the midst OF which Mrs.
Brayton quietly folded her tired hands
over her broken heart and died. leaving
Lucille alone in the world.
After that, overcome with loneliness
and longing to see her old home. Lu-
ellie slowly driited back to the place of
her happy girlhood; had just tonight
arrived in the little village, taken a
room in the hotel, asked for the paper
and read of the governess wanted in her
old home.
Il can at least go and see the dear
old place. she said to herself the next
morning. when. after night spent in
sleepless sad memories. she ate ner
breakfast without seeing one familiar
face. and started off
Il don't suppose | viii do. because
my references are too far away. and
will not let them know who ! really
anl.n
How familiar was every turn and by
way of the little village and the road
leading off to the Lodge. Lucille's eyes
were so continually blinded with tears,
that she hardly noted the faces of the
| few passers-by, and no one noticed her.
Yelled, and in her plain black gown,
she bore little resemblance to the beau.
, tifnl Lucille Brayton, who. in othel
years, had dashed gaily over these roads
/. ON her pony or in her pheton, the ad
| mired of ali observers.
Il At last the dear familiar tower, peep
: ing above the trees, rose in sight, and
: then, only few steps, and she was al
the gates. stretching Hospitality open, al
; in ol,ien times. with the smooth white
drive rolling away beyond under tn.
shady beeches.
Il must-I must control myself sh,
murmured. leaning for a monlen
| against the lichen-covered stone gate
e pillar But. oh. how hard it is, Ant
E how little everything is changedi | ha,
. hoped to find II so. and yet how doubi,
!, | hard it makes it TO bear.'
Slowly she went on, winding in ant
e out the wide shady drive until the hous
!, was reached. and every step reyeale.
: how lightly time had touched tn
! place
g The new owners had made no chan
: ges. Every scat. arbar. and statue wa
: the same. and unchanged as to posi-
II ton
Two children on the shady ston
porch sat ON the same ornamental sci
Il tee she had always used, and at th
2 sight Of her one Of them jumped up.
III Il spect you're our now governess
= = Do you want TO see ulamma?n
/ YES answered Lucille, with . grea
: cxsrfion at stcadying her voice.
g And the child at once disappeared il
to the house. leaving his sister starin
shyly at the stranger.
al q pleasant-faced lady soon appeare
er in tho doorway.
+, .sNin YOU walk in. please2 It is ver
st warm without. :
Lucille did 50, more By sense or fee
IL ing than sight. for memories Were ove1
q. powcring.
s. s. .You came in answer 70 The adve
fSnoprsonf Mis-