Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-04

her that sacred anniversary. Ihe
fancy consoled her beyond expr'
sion. She glanced over at the
sleeping boy with dim hope that
/ his father loved and watched over
him. Then sudden impulse shot
across her mind. She would not
keep the anniversary Of her we'd
ping day in the garments of her
widowh hood; she would put on the
robe he loved. If he knew aught
of her poor, sad lite he should see
how sacredly she remembered and
observed his simplest wishes.
Stealing up to her chamber, she
took out the mauve silk anil the
dainty laces, growing yellow and
timeworn, and a pretty jet and
gold ornament, ant arrayed herself
as in days gone by, and the Old
bloom came back to her cheeks
and the brightness to her eyes, and
she seemed to drop her years and
her wldowboOd, and to spring out
afresh into the rare beauty of ber
early maldenaoOl. THUS arrayed, ,
she went down softly and seated
herself before the blazing fire, her
face fearful aud expectant. If bis
soul was near-she clung to lite
he should see how tenderIy she
reu embered him.
The anniversary night were 90,
wild aud dark with storm and still
the poor wife, halt dazed by her
terrible sorrow, sat by her lonely
hearlhSt me, robe I IN her festive
garments. At last there came a
step without, a sharp, impatient
step on the gravel, but she did not
hear it. \ weary, travel. worn
man. brOnzed By exposure and
pale with long endured grief, came
up to the front entrance and paused
beneath the low window. Through
the parted curtains shnne the
ruddy frelight, revealing the
warm, attractive room-the old,
familiar room, with his hat upon
wall and his books and meers'
chaum on the maDtle unmOved, as
he had left them; revealed The
kitten purring on the rug, and :ht
little curtain bed in the distance,
ard the dear sweet face, wet will
tears, and the dress he loved il
happy days, that seemed too tai
back to the poor wanderer to t'
real.
Was 1t air a dream! Was tha
the wife from whom he bad Sc
long been parted, whose face haC
been with him through all hi
lonely hours of peril and imprisOr
neuti Vas she waiting and watch
ing aud keeping his home bright
for his return?
He left the window, stole sOftl'
to the porch and approached TIT
side door. He raised the latch
1t opened and he stood upon tn
threshold.
Intent upon her musings, he
own sweet memories and sal
reflections, Maud heard no sound
Her heart was far back with tn
husband she loved so well. Tb
old dress had revived old associs
tons and his verS presence seeme'
around and about ber. She locke
up with clasped hands and stream
Ing eyes.
'Oh, Harry! Oh, my husband
she murmured, If you knew how
loved you, how l mourn Your los'
surely your soul might speak
mine aud tell me that you are nea
me'
Maud, my wife, my darlingH
She started to her feet, with
wondering, startled face. There l
=, stood, worn and weary, change
from the man he had been, the wi
recognized him ~ an instant. FL
a moment solemn awe filed h
ewes, and her love hesitateG au
= tremb.ed in the presence ofa spir
:, from the other world, but the ne1
. instant she held him in her arm
with a wild cry.
!, 'Oh, Harry, my husbandl "
. are nOt dead; you have come bat
o to mel
n His passionate kiss on her fac
e his strong arms and throbbil
?, heart answered her as no wor
n could have done. lie has col
IA back to her from imprisonme
a amid the wild western mountain
,e from perils and dangers aud deaf
2 itself.
Is For awhile, after she had hea
ut his story and tally assured hers
IN that he was really flesh and bloc
ID and not a spirit, as she had b
H. believed him, she lay Quie