The National tribune., 1902-01-23

oIu NIueOu Atuuu, WHO sat gazing VI
the wonderful machinery plying its pad
die wheels, remarked: ''Sich things ez
that ortn't t be allowed t go t'arin'
round tn country q, scarin' tn life outen
people, and maxim MS run every gol-ding
cent o. money in tn settlement into bull
lets t shoot at it, What we goin' t, /, do
George left the pioneers and went to the
home of Mr.. James Grinders, where
Eunice had been left. She was Overjoyed
when informed she 'wls to return home
once more.
George, 1 have n sfriend here. She
came yesterday to stay with me and keep
me company
who is it?"
sally Boggs."
George felt some degree of embarrass-
ment He knew the stout pioneer girl
entertained a hopeless admiration for
himself She was Il strange girl, ignorant
and unframed even in ordinary poiteness'
but her devotion for Eunice had given
her n warm place in the heart of young
McNair. '"-L
II reduired all of Eunice's persuasive
powers to bring the bashful Sally from
her hiding place. She came like child,
hanging back, giggling and blushing, while
he tried to thank her for her tender care
over his sister. =,
"She amt yer sister; l knot now"
whimpercd Sally.
. When told that Eunice was going away
the tender-hearted creature sObbed until
EuIicc promised her she should come to
see her some time, and then her childish
tears were Ornamented with smiles.
Eunice made what haste she could to
depart, and next morning they set out for
home. At n halfway cabin they stopped
over night, and next morning were early
in the saddle and away.
Il can scarce believe it, George. After
all these months and years of terror ana
dread it seems hardly possible that the
sun should once more shine
THE sun always shines brighter aftef
Storm" he answered
1t was about 3 O'Clock in the afternoon
when they came in sight of the dear OLD
place, no longer menaced by smoked titles
and false entries. How homelikc the Old
mansion and its little village of negro
quarters looked, more than ever resem-
bling a motherly hen and her brood.
They were looking for them. The chill
dren had begged to stay home from school
that day, and as soon as they were IN
sight there was n general clatter of bare
feet down the dusty road. Black ana
white, bare-headcd and bare-fOoted, tried
to outdo each other in the race to be the
first 20 welcome the return of Eunice. She
was almost dra eyed from the saddle, and
rode in triumph to the stile- blocks, where
the strong arms of Mr.. McNair lifted her
from the saddle, and Mrs. McNair fell
sobbing for joy upon her neck.
The household had partially recovered
from the first exuberance of JOY, had
auietcd down some, when the school-mas-
ter was espied coming from his daily Ia
bors. His eyes were upon the ground
and he seemed lost in deep thought. His
face was pale, wearing an expression al
most wild as he kept repeating to him
self:
Il am going home; yes, this time l am
going home. 49,. -..- 20.
He reached the house, ceased talking
with himself, and Went directly toward
his room. Suddeply,a when. opposite the
great hall or entry, heapaused and stared
as if vision had. suddenly appeared be
fore him. .5rlto..
Eunice had come into the hall and
stopped as she sawusthe tall, emaclated
form and cadaverauSr face of wild-eyed
stranger in faded coat almost tbreadbare,
small clothes, and three-cornered hat;
/ At sight of her arhe. looked aghast
dropped his basket, and passed quickly to
his room without uttering a word.
There was in his eyes the wild express
sion Of one whose ,rcason had left him.
At the evening peal he did not not appear,
and after some delay Aunt Dinah was
sent TO call him. iShe returned in q, few
minutes, saying. with ,half-hidden dread
in her tones, "Massa George, Massa Van
Loon do be lying in bed with his close on
and he don't Know who l be. He says
who is so, an he lies, q goin' on bout
some one he calls Bessie"
George hastened to the school-master's
room, and there lay his friend talking in
coherently in the tones of madman, and
the Young man saw at glance that the
poor outcast's mind had at last given way
and lie was in the presence of a lunatic.
His father and mother came in answer
to his call, but of no avail the poor out
cast knew them not. He was dead to the
world.
That night as the cocks crew 70 signal
the middle of the dark hours found George
sitting by the bed watching the now quiet
face over which a deeper pallor had come.
Eunice occupied a chair at the foot Of
the bed watching sadly for the end that
all felt was not far off,
Suddenly the sick man rose upon one
elbow, opened his eyes, and looking
straight at the girIish figure in front ex-
claimed in hoarse voice:
''Ressie, l have come. | have kept
the locket you gave me, and have worn
it always next my heart. At last, l am
here. Don't you know me-"
trembling hand into his bosom and drew
out little goldframed miniature, and
convulsively held it out to her.
She took it mechanically and cried:
"Oh, George that is the picture of my
mother! I have one just like it-both
made when she was a girl" and with
that she handed him the little likeness
she had kept carefully hidden since her
mothers death.
Il see it all now," said George. With
in the two years you have grown to be
the counterpart Of this portrait. | have
seen it, but / never thought of it before.
Then your mother was the Bessie our
poor friend has mourned all these years.
What was your mothers maiden name?"
Bessie Robinson" faltered Eunice.
SIT must be so. ! never heard my mother