Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1893-11-30

gether Meanwhile Prudor.~v threw
her eyes around the room in search OF
one who had not yet hidden her well
come lie had withdrawn from his
seat by the fireside and vas standing
near the door, with hi1 face averted,
so that his features could be discerned
only by the Pickering shadow OF the
profile upoh the wall. But Prudence
called TO him in o cheerful and kindly
tone
Come, Robert said she, won't
you shake hands with your old friend?"
Robert held back for moment, but
affection struggled powerfully and
overcame his pride and resentment
He rushed toward prudclce, seized
her hand and pressed it to his bosom.
There, there, Robert" sid she.
smiling sadly as she withdrew her
hand, you must not give me too warm
II welcome"
And now, having exchanged greet
ings with each member OF the family,
Prudence again seated herself in the
chair AT John Inglefield's right hand
She was naturally gin of quick and
| tender sensibilities, gladstone in her
general mood, but with n bewitching
/ pathos intcrfused among her merriest
words and deeds. 1t was remarked of
ner, too, that she had faculty, even
/ in childhood, OF thrc wing her own
| feelings like spell over her compan-
| ions such MS She had been in the
days of her innocence, so did she APP
/ pear this evening. Her friends in the
surprise and bewilderment of her re-
turn, almost forgot that she had ever
! left them, or that She had forfeited
any Of her claims to their affection.
In the morning, perhaps, they might
have looked at her with altered eyes
but by the Thanksgiving fireside they
felt only that their own Prudence had
come back to them and were thankful.
John lnglefields rough visage bright
ened with the glow of his heart as it
grew warm and merry within him.
Once or twice he even laughed till the
room rang again, yet seemed startled
by the echo of his own mirth. The
grave young minister became as frol-
icsome as a schoolboy. Mary, too, the
rosebud, forgot that her twin blossom
had ever been torn from the stem and
trampled in the dust. And as for Rob
ert Moore, he gazed at Prudence with
the bashful earnestness of love new
born, while she, with sweet maiden
coquetry half smiled upon and half
discouraged him.
In short it was one OF those inter
walls when sorrow vanishes in its own
depth of shadow and JOY starts forth
in transitory brightness. When the
clock struck s. Prudence poured out
her fathers customary draught of
herb tea, which she had been stepping
by the fireside ever since twilight
God bless You, child" said John
Ingletied, as he took the cup from her
hand; you have made your old father
happy again. Bnt we miss your
mother sadly, Prudence, sadly. 1t
seems as if she ought TO be here
now"
Now, father, or never" replied
Prudence.
1t was now the hour for domestic
worship, but while the family were
making preparations for their duty,
they suddenly perceived that Prudence
had put on her cloak and hood and
was lifting the latch of tine door.
prudence, Prudence, where are YOU
! going?" cried they ali with one voice.
AS Prudence passed out of the door
she turned toward them and flung back
her hand with gesture of farewell,
but her face was so changed that they
hardly recognized it. Sin and evil
passions glowed through its comeli.
ness and wrought a horrible deformity !
a smile beamed in her eyes as trium :
plant mockery at their surprise and
grief