Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-12-30


dropping brim, edged with black
lace, reached down a parasol, and,
speaking a word or two of direction to
the buxom maid, she set forth on this
novel tour of inspection.
"Well." she said. when it was over,
"what do you think, Colonel Merry
dewI"
He smiled.
THAT Mrs. Burney is an excellent
farmer" he said. Indeed, madam, l
am more than pleased with what l
have SEEN"
But you will remain at the old
place all night?" she said, with gra-
cious hospitality which became her
well. "You will be my guest for a
little while ?"
"If you inyite me-" he answered.
What strange, sweet spell, was
there in this Mrs. Burney-this dark
eyed, grave-faced little creature, who
sat in the old arm chair where his
mother used to sit?
Colonel Merrydew remained at the
farm week. Then he returned home
for few days. Then he came out a
second time to the farm. So that ii
was nearly the first of October when
at last he decided that he must posi-
lively return for good.
Mrs. Burney was standing with
him on the old portico, where the red
and gold maple leaves fiuttered softly
down at the light touch of the sunset
wind. They had grown to be real,
cordial friends by this time, the Col
onel and Mrs. Burney.
"Do you know" said Colonel Mer'
rydew, "that l shall go back with q
lighter heart, knowing that the old
house will seem more like home to me
In my memory you will be its guard
ian angel, Joanna"
She looked wistfully into his face.
Colonel Merrydew," she said, 81
have something to tell you. My
name is not Burney. / was Joanna
Burney before l was married; bu
my real name is Mrs. John Merry
dew"
what" he cried, starting back.
II am Johns widow" she said, tears
and smiles striving for mastery in hel
eyes. Don't look grave; don't turr
away. Your mother never loved me
she never called me anything bu
Mrs. John !; she never allowed me tt
have any charge or assume any re-
sponsibility. So when Mr.. Huxley
died, came here, determined to prov,
whether or not was worthy of trust
Tell Mrs. Merrydew how the old place
looks"
Colonel Merrydew was silent for {
minute or two, then he extended hi
hand.
Joanna" said he, Il owe you al
apology. When the news of Johns
marriage first reached us | was no
pleased. l may have said foolish
and ungracious things. Will you al
low me to recall them now ?--wil
you consent that all shall be forgotten
and forgiven ?"
Willingly" she answered, the soft
dark eyes full of happy light. "Mort
than willing! And, oh, my heart il
so much lighter, now that my secre
is told! !"
II, too, have a secret to confide,
said Colonel Merrydew, with rather I
conscious look.
"You?" she echoed.
eyes, l. Will you listen to it
Joanna?-will you hear me tell 20,
how dearly l have learned to low
you will you promise, dear Joanna
one day to be my wife ?"
She did not quite promise, we
Colonel Merrydew went joyously oil
his way, with his heart full of hope.
And when, the next year, old Mrs
Merrydew came back to the farm, he
son, the colonel, stood on the DOORSTEP
to welcome her, with Joanna smilinl
at his side.
Mrs.Merrydew was aged and feeble
She had looked back on her past ex
istence and sighed for many a los
opportunity and misused chance
And when her sons wife-her daugh
ter-in-law for the second time-cam
forward to meet her, she burst int,
tears.
Forgive me, Joanna" she said
forgive me p
And young Mrs. Merrydew tool
the slight, weakly form in her arm
and kissed her, and whispered the on