Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-11-28

Bevan. need not tell you to keep
this n profound secret from
Austen and Mrs. Calender. Pray pre-
sent my respectful compliments 10 the
esteemed lady"
Tessa could not q. first decide wheth-
er to tell Mrs. Bevan the good news at
once, or reserve it until she could def
nltely fix n time for the meeting be-
tween the mother and son. She de-
cided ultimately upon the latter course.
The suspense and excitement would,
she thought, be more than Mrs. Bevan
in her enfeebled state could bear with
that the meeting might not be very
long delayed.
The letter arrived on Tuesday, and
on the following Thursday Austen and
his sister were to attend a scientific
conversations given by the Mayor OF
Pennington. They would be compelled
20 leave home early, as they had some
distance TO drive, and would probably
not be back till late.
Tessa, after long and earnest DELHI
GRAFTON, decided to write To Anthony
and ask him to meet her at the small
gate at the end of the laurel path, at
nine o'clock on the following Thurs
day evening. None of the servants
rooms were on that side of the house;
and Tessa concluded it would be quite
possible to smuggle the visitor through
the drawing-room window unobserved.
The next two Gays did not pass very
pleasantly. Austen was too proud to
COndescend to ask any further ques-
tious about the mysterious letter; but
there was constraint in his manner
which Tessa tried in vain to remove.
lit is horrid TO deceive him! But
how can 1 help itP'' Tessa thought
sadly.
"Say something to me, Austen, she
said coaxingly, as he came into the
drawing room on the eventful Thurs
day evening, and found her standing
by the window looking out rather dis
corsolately into the garden. II shall
have such long, dull EVENING"
AT the touch of the little clinging
fingers, Austen's heart softened, and,
STOPPING, he kissed the pretty pouting
lips.
''Iiow are you going to amuse your
self this evening, Tessa?" he asked.
ZIP Oh, / shall sit with auntie!"
Tessa answered, with quick blush.
She watched the carriage drive
down the avenue, and kissed her hand
gaily to Austen; then, re-entering the
house, she went slowly upstairs to Mrs.
Bevan's room. 1t was then little
after eight. At nine o'clock Anthony
would be waiting at the gate. and Mrs.
Bevan had yet to be told OF the surprise
in store for her.
Very gently and quietly Tessa broke
the news to the old lady, and told her
the son whom for seven long years she
had mourned for and vainly longed to
see would soon be by her side.
"'1ou are sure you are strong enough
that it will not make you worse.
auniieP" she said anxiously, as Mrs
Bevan lay back on her pillows and
gazed at her, trembling and speechless
with delight and surprise.
Worse? How could ftp Oh, Tessa,
is it really true? Shall l really see my
boy againP" the poor mother cried in
her sweet trembling voice. "Oh, go
down TO him, my dear-don't keep him
waiting a moment! The servants are
all at supper now. Go, Tessa-quick!"
With the prospect before her, new
life and strength seemed to come back
to Mrs. Bevan. Her eyes brighter ned
and her pale cheeks flushed; with
u trembling hand she smoothed her
pretty gray hair and changed her
cap.
my boy used to be proud OF his
mothers pretty face; | must look my
best now," she said with pathetic
little smile. $50 Tessa"
1t was scarcely nine o'clock; but An
tony was already waiting when Tessa
reached the gate. He was a little
man with dark hair and eyes-was
slight end fragile looking and had
timid depressed air, as if the world
had dealt hardly with him, Tessa
thought.
Very few words passed between
them Tessa motioned him to follow
her to the house, and, unobserved took
him upstairs and left him at the door
OF his mothers room.
What passed in that last solemn in
terview between mother and SON
what prayers for pardon-what VOWS
OF repentance and amendment-the
infinite love which pitied and forgave
all-was too sacred for any other eyes
to witness-any other ears to hear.
The evening went on; the twilight
deepened into night; Mrs. Bevan's
maid came before retiring to ask if
her mistress required anything more,
and was sent away by watchfnl Tessa
and still the low voices rose and fell
increasingly within the bedroom
Tessa grew frightened at last. II
was getting late-Austen and his sis
ter might at any moment return; but
yet she hesitated to shorten the inter-
view.
She opened the door gently.
"Mr. Bevan, you must go! II is
terribly late" she said hurriedly.
y