Year: 1867

There were four other inmates of
the room who had risen on my sudden
entrance. One was the blue eyed child
whom had already seen and who now
stood beside Frank Chester, cIinging
to his hand. Near by stood Lizzie
Moore, Mary's Oldest sister, and in a
distant corner to which she had hur-
riedly retreated when my name was
spoken, stood tall slender figure half
hidden by the heavy window curtains
that fell to the floor.


When the first rapturous greeting
was over, Lizzie led me forward with
timid grace, and Frank Chester
grasped my hand.


Welcome homo my boy ! he said,
with loud, cheerful tones | remember
ed so well. You have changed so that
never would have known you; but
no matter about that-your heart is in
the right place, know


How can you say he is changed 2?
said my mother gently. TO be sure
he looks older and graver, and more
like a man than when he went away;
but his eyes and smile are the same as
ever. 1t is heavy heart which chan
gcs him. He is my boy still


'Ay, MOTHER l answered sadly, i
am your boy still


Heaven help me. At that moment
[ felt like a boy, and it would have
been a blessed relief to have wept up
on her bosom, as had done in infancy
But [ kept down the beating of my
heart and the tremor of my lip, and
answered quietly, as looked into his
full, handsome face


You have changed, too, Frank, but
l think for the better.


oh, yes-thank you for the compli
ment, he answered with hearty laugh.
My wife tells me grow handsomer
every day


His wife. Could l hear that name
and keep silence still?


and have you seen my little girl
he added, lifting the infant in his arm!
and kissing her crimsoned cheek q
tell you, Harry, there is not such an
other in the world. Don't you thinl
she looks very much like her mothe
used TOP


Very much faltered.


Halo cried Frank with a sudden
ness which made mo start violen tly, {
have forgotten to introduce you to m,
wife; | believe you were playmates il
your young days-yes, Harry and h
slapped me on the back. For the SAX
of old times and because you were no
at the wedding, | will give you leav
to kiss her once-but mind old fellow
you are never to repeat the ceremony
/ Come-here she is, and for once wan
to see how you will manage those ft
rocious moustachcs of yours in th
operation


Hepushed Lizzie laug hing and blush
ing, towards me. A gleam of ligh
and hope almost too dazzling to bea
came over me, and / cried out before
thought


Not Mary?


1t must have betrayed my secret tc
every one in the room. But nothing
was said: even Frank, in general SO
obtuse, was this time silent. | kissed
the fair check of the young wife, and
hurried to the silent figure looking out
the window.


Mary, Mary Moore said, in a low
eager tone, have you no welcome to
give the wanderer


She turned and laid her hand in mine
and said hurriedIy-
L am very glad to see you here
! Harry


Simple words-and yet how blessed
they made mo. | would not hav
welded her up that moment for al
Emperor's crown. For there was tn
happy home group and the dear hom
fircside, here sweet Mary Moore. Th
eyes l had dreamed of by day an
night were falling before the arden
gaze of mine, and the sweet face ha
so long prayed to see, was there besid
me. l never knew tho meaning o
happiness until that moment.


Many years have passed since tha
happy night, and the hair that wa
dark and glossy then is fast turning
gray. l am now grown to be an oil
man, and can look back to happy
and hope well spent life. AM
yet, sweet as it has been, would no
recall a single day, for the love tha
made my manhood SO bright shine
also upon my white hairs.


An old man. Can this be so? A
heart am as young as ever. AM
Mary, with her bright hair parties
smoothly from brow that has sligh
furrow upon it, is still the Mary o