Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-07-05

I SuLAiueE uhH-hhA t& <At lAEenl
arms on which they nssllsI are gaupt
and bare as they stretel Aeir naked
arms heavenward. Bat ne sun j;
still shining warm and isprating
eveaes it did on that one xsll remem.
bered day long years age. kiie down
by the noisy brock sons ader bios.
SONS are outliving Their
Tom Brooks has 4 u far and
long under the stars Of Ei&ny climes,
but now as he nears his thplacs a
feeling of intense JOY tax pissession
of all his soul. He has = hssed all
the palaces Of India. tanf kier the
stilI blue skies 81 Arabia md travessed
the mountains Of Switzerland as they
stood bsthed in their own soft misty
light, but nothing he had seen has
had power TO conquer him so speedily
as this one grassy field, with its rick
ETY. stile and the rabbits hiding art
fully beneath. Noting minutely all
the changes that have taken place
since HE departure, his eyes rest upon
the humble cottage of Locust Vale.
Memory, ever true to itself, brings
back wildly that wee childish face
that bade him adieu, and for one brief
moment he relives those happy peace
full hours again.
"She must be woman, his thoughts
are telling him. II wonder what ahe
will be like ?-some graceful princess
or only the plain little country girl
still? I am half tempted to go up
and see if she would welcome me as
warmly as she bade me goodbye.
All scarcely that" he added aloud,
with merry laugh. Then his rev.
erie met with shock. A few yards
from him he discovered a woman with
brush and easel sketehing with fault
less precision the beautiful view around
her. Her face Was partially turned
aside, but ne could recognize distinct
ly very dainty head, whose rebel.
lious curls were securely pinioned in
womanly style. A soft white gown
eaveloped the graceful figure. fndihH
relief only from a bunch o: scarlet
chrysanthums. fastened carelessly il,
nsr belt. He paused aud. regarded
ne. thoughtfully, then ali oblivious o.
the demands OF etiquette walked
straight forward and extended his
hand.
"Miss Summerville, I am delighted
to see you. Now please guess who
am ?"
Only for a moment she hesitated
then in her gladness cried
"Oh Mr.. Brooks it il really You
l knew you would come back some
day"
80 you have been looking for me-
he asked in bis cultured voice. "How
happy you make me I scarcely ex-
pected such kind remembrance"
Il have had every right to remem.
Der you" she returned very timidly
now. while her cheeks flushed crimson
under his seaching gaze. "Such kind.
ness as yours was too great to DO light
~ forgotten. and my dear mother
would have suffered many hardships
but for your timely aid. I must tell
you, however, Mr.. Brooks, that your
instructions were faithfully obeyed
Not penny Of that amount was used
except for my education. After had
acquired that, OF course l was capable
Of helping both mother and myself
but, looking down uneasily. Il hav'
saved carefully every dollar you have
so literally gave, and now nothing
will give me more pleasure than to re
turn it to you"
1t was the mans time to feel dis
concerted now, and then very slowi,
in his great disappointment he asked
WAS it for this you expected me
May2 Truly you never could nov
repay me with those few paltry dol
lars. The wealth / crave will b
harder to gain, but If you will be gen
erous once more l may succeed. As
me up to Locust Dale where / ca
plead to your mother to use her in
fiuence in my behalf. She will vi
derstand how much Tom Brooks love
the sweet child still; the sad tearfr
eyes that wept for him long ago; ,b
soft, proud lips that prayed uncea.
ingly for his return: the woman Of a
others
And don't you think that will do
, she asked saucily, with return OF h,
childish glee. Suppose | finish yor
sentence for you. The one woman
all others who loves you sincerely, no
. withstandiug the fact that you fOrcs
her to do so.
E And so they were married and live
happy ever afterwards as the stol
books tell us. not in the dilapidat,
cottage at Locust Vale, but in Il
. stylish mansion at Brooksville. MI
= Summerville still resides with b
daughter and always looks forward