Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-10-16


no recollection OF my first home, but
shall ask my father TO take me there
before we return TO Ohio"
"And your father loved his wifep"
"What a strange question" said.
Yet she appeared to have spoken
without thought. 'If he had not loved
her do you think he would have re-
manned true to her memory fifteen
years?"
II have headache and shall re-
tire. Mrs. Thornton said. rising, and
coming to my side she kissed me tan
Derby and with a flushed cheek Left
the library.
For long time sat gazing into tl.n
dying Goals. We're her questions tha
magic key that had unlocked the Gag
ket where the memories of my child
hood were storedp could not tell. Yet
there came dim remembrance Of n
time when was playing alone in thu
garden and strange face peered in'O
mine. as some one clasplng me in hhr
arms kissed me again and again While
my face was wet with tears. | never
knew whence she came or whittier she
went, and it seemed strange that dim
memory should come back then.
From that night the mystery OF the
library deepened. ] had nervous
dread of being left alone with that
yelled picture, and my imaginative
mind pictured scene of horror that
would thrill every nerve and freeze my
hearts blood.
My father returned and when | told
him how kind Mrs. Thornton had been
he called to thank her in person. but
she was ill and could not leave her
room.
In two hours l would leave my kind
friend and | was going without the
mystery of the library being solved; so
1 ventured to hint that when | came
to visit her the next year. hoped to
see the yelled picture unveiled. She
did not reply but taking my hand led
me into the library. She would tell
me all, she said. for perhaps we might
never meet again.
Mrs. Thornton told her story briefly
She was the only child of wealthy
parents. and married at the age of
nineteen. For three years she was
happy in the pleasant home to which
her husband took her; then cloud of
midnight darkness overshadowed that
home. Someone envying her circu-
lated reports injurious to her reputa-
ton, and these coming to her husbands
ears he, being naturally of jealous
disposition. believed them. The wife
loved her husband devotedly, and be-
ing Innocent how could she bear pa
tiently his taunts and uncalled for sur
yeillance? She proposed returning 20
her paternal home and the husband
said. Col only she must leave her
child. She did go, and three years
after her parents bong dead. she emit
to Europe. where she remained eight
years. Returning to America she
came to New Haven. where under the
assumed name of Thornton she had
since resided. Once she visited the
home of her husband during his alb
sence. and bribing his housekeeper by
the present of a well-flled purse, pro-
cured his portrait; and in all her wan
derings it had been her companion.
though closely yelled, lest some one
should recognize it, and thus her early
history become food for idle gossip.
Then, too she had seen her child, and
for a brief moment pressed it to her
bosom. but words could not express
the agony OF her breaking heart as
she turned away from her child.
Your husbands name" l said.
sinking at her feet and gazing wonder
ingiy into her pale face and dark
liquid eyes bent so lovingly upon me.
for n strange hope made my heart
throo wildly.
II cannot repeat his name but you
may look upon his counterpart she
said. rising.
Slowly, almost reverently. she put
back the folds of that silken veil. while
/ stood half breathless before her.
Was it a dream. or was it realityP
There was no installing that likeness;
and involuntarily the words, My
father!" burst from my lips, Then.
like a swift-moving panorama it all
passed before my mind, and throwing
my arms around her neck called her:
My mother-my long-lost motherl
My father told mo all yesterday" L
said when l had become more calm.
HE learned the reports were without
foundation, and hearing you had gone
TO Europe. for three years he has
sought you there, and now his heart
is sad because he can find no trace Of
you Will you see him?"
She AID not reply. but / read her
answer In the beaming eye, and hasti-
ly DOMINIC bonnet and mantle. ran to
the hotel. where surprised my father
by pushing breathless into his room.
Come with me; Mrs. Thornton
will see you now" | said. nervously
clutching his arm and pulling him to-
wards tho door; but he, resisting, asked
what had occurred to excite me so.
1t was not there that would explain,
so he followed my rapid footsteps a
long the street and up the shaded
walk; but when 1 threw open the door
leading to the library, he paused.
She is here-come, l said. draw
ing him into the library. She had
risen; how lovely she looked then
4 L -