The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-04-15

from church with . large bunch OF box
pRnt. She places it Unsa little side
table, and suddenly the whole room is
filed with the strong, fresh odor.
Bourgueil is no poet he has not .
very refined nature. Yet he is i'm.
questionable for all thst-liks } on or
me-and the sight Of the green
branches recalls far of memories.
While the old is busy taking
apart the twigs to decorate the rooms
with them, the penetrating perfume
affects his old heart. He remembers
IA certain Easter morning-ah, so long,
long ago-when he was still q work
man, aud his young wife n dress
makers apprentice. 1t was their
honeymoon. for they mad married a
few days before Lent. Then, too, she
had returned from church with u fra.
grant burden and made their only
ICON bright and festive. How pretty
sis looked, and how he loved her I!
And by n rapid effort OF Imagination
he recalls in an instant their long
years Of married life; she has ever
been so industrious, so thrifty, so de.
voted. And now he fortunes her
this good, brave woman-he makes
her suffer On account Of his wicked
son.
But is Edward really so wicked rs
all that? OF course q fellow ought to
honor his father aud mother, and
obey them; but then, are not youth
and love sufficient excuses for many a
fault? He watches Mother BourSueil
with moist eyes, rs she goes to place
a spray of box above Edwards pic
ture on the wall-a picture of their
boy in his college suit, when they felt
SO proud OF him and of his studies.
"What is the matter? The old
mason hardly knows what'he is about.
His head swims; 1t is that strong odor
of the plant, doubtles. But mis- heart
fills with something that Ieems very
much like mercy and pardon. lie
goes up to dis wife, takes her hands,
and, looking at the picture, mutters.
his rough voice grown strangely soft
".Say, Clemence, shall we-forelve
him?" All; the cry of Joy that bursts
from the mothers lips! And he has
called her ''Clemence," just as in their
young days. He has not given her
that name for more than fifteen years.
And she understands that he loves her
still-her husband, her old com.
panion.
She throws herself in his arms and
kisses him frantically, all over his
face, takes his head III both of her
hands, and whispers in his ear. The
other. day-she couldn't help it,
reauy-she went to see their boy. He
is SO unhappy to have offended them.
And it he has not come n hundred
times to beg their forgiveness, it is
simply because he did not dare. 'You
know" she adds-andsh her voice ,be.
comes soft aud caressing-''you
know ] have seen his wife, and you
really cannot blame him for loving
her, she Is so sweet, and as fresh rs q
rose. : She just worships our Edward
on can seq that at once; and she
keeps their little home in such apple
pic order"
Bourgueil feels oppressed-he is
choking. Putting n trembling finger
on hrs @ife's lips: "rhat will de-! no
says. ":Send for a cab. Let us take
some OF these sprays to them in sign
of peace, and bring them homo with
us!" "" ~ '' d,
Aud while the old mother, stunned
With JOY, falls sobbing on her nus.
bands shoulder, Boursueil-the Ro.
man, the old Brutus begins to cry
softly, like a child.