Year: 1867

vens are above the earth. Perhaps
in the scented and affected student
she might have found plenty of sport
but as for loving me, save regre
that / should make such an unmiti
gated donkey of myself, l know she
would not.


India was my salvation not mere
ly because of plentiful share of golt
had laid up, but because honest la
Dor had cOunteracted the evil of ma
ture, and made me better man.
And when at the end of three years
prepared to return, l wrote nothing
to the dear ones | was about to meet
of the refOrmations | knew had takeI
place.


"They loved me as | was" l muir
INJURED to myself, "and they shall fine
for themselves if | AN better worth
the loving as | am"


packed up many a token from
the land of gold, for the friends l was
about to meet. The gift of Mary
Moore was one | had selected with q
beating heart--the ring of virgin gold
with my name and hers engraved on
the inside. That was all ; and yet
the little toy thrilled me strangely as
| balanced it on the tip of my finger
To the eyes of others it was but q
small plain circlet, suggesting
thoughts, perhaps, by its daintiness
of the dainty white hand that was tc
wear it. But to me-oh ! mellow
much was embodied there ! A loving
Welcomes happy home and sweet
smiling face there--a group of merry
children to climb my knee-all these
delights were hidden in that plain
ring of gold.


A tall, bearded, sun bronzed man, |
knocked at the door of my fathers
mansion. The light in the parlor win
dows, the hum of conversation, and
cheerful laughter, showed that com,
pany was assembled there. | hoped
my sister Lizzie would come to the
door, and that | might greet my fam
lily when strangers eyes were not
looking curiously on.


But no,a servant girl answered my
summons they were too merry in
the parlor to heed that long absent
one when he asked for admittance.-
Some such bitter thoughts were pas
sing through my mind as l heard the
sounds from the parlor, and saw the
half suppressed smile on the servants
face.


| hesitated a moment be ore made
myself known, or asked after the fam
lily. And while l stood silent, a
strange apparition stood up before
me. From behind the servant peer.
ed a small golden head a tiny, deli
cate form followed, and blue eyes
were lifted up to mine, 80 like-so
like the ones that had frightened my
boyhood, that | started back with a
sudden feeling of pain.


i" What may be your name, little
one !" asked while the wondering
servant held the door.


She lifted her hand as if to shade
her eyes-I had seen that very atti-
tude in another, many and many
time and she answered with a sweet
and bird-like voice


Mary Moore"


"And what else ?" l asked.


Mary Moore Chester" lisped the
little child.


My heart sank down like lead
Here was an end to the bright dreams
and hopes of my youth and man
hood !


Frank Chester my boyish rival,
who had tried in vain to usurp my
place beside the girl, had succeeded
at last and won the woman away
from me This was his child, his
and Mary's. And l must go in there
and meet her once again, and then
go away forever and die.


| sunk, body and soul, beneath this
blow and hiding my face in my
hands, l leaned against the door
The little one gazed at me grieved
and amazed, and put her pretty lips
as if about to cry, while the perplex-
ed servant stepped to the parlor, and
called my sister out to find out who
it could be that had conducted him
self so strangely.


l heard slight step, and pleas
ant voice, saving


"Did you wish to see my father,
sir ?"


| looked up. There stood a pret.
ty, sweet faced maiden of twenty,
not much changed from the dear lit
tie sister | had loved so well. l look
ed at her a moment, and then sitting
the tumult at my.heart by mighty
effort, l opened my arms, and said :


Jennie, don't you know me 7"


Harry !! Oh, my brother Harry !"
she cried, and threw herself upon my
breast. She wept as if her heart
would break. l could not weep. l
drew her gently into the lighted par
lor and stood before them all. There
was a rush and a cry of joy, and
then my mother and my father sprang
towards me, and welcomed me home
with heartfelt tears. Oh, strange
and passing sweet is such a greet
ing to the wayward traveller. And
as held my dear old mother to my
heart, and grasped my fathers hand,
while Jennie clung beside me, | felt
that all was not yet lost, and though
another had secured life's choicest
blessings, many joy remained for
me in this dear sanctuary of home.


There were four others, inmates OF
the room, who had risen on my sud-
den entrance. One was blue eyed
child whom l had already seen and
who now stood by Frank Chester,
clinging to mis- hand. Near by stood