Year: 1863

to look at


s'Why, bless my soul, no." said the old man


beginning to suspect that he was his own son
and growing very much excited over it. "No


I'd kiss him over and over again; I'd make my
viii tonight and will he and Jes. everything
! had; I'd kill the fatted calf, and have a feas
over his return; I'd pull down the old hous'
and put up palace for be and Jes. Why


bless my soul, sir, Id-Pd-


"Well, my honored father" said the young


man, rising from bis chair, ''you can have that


pleasure this night I am your own son who


has ever loved you"


What you my son, my cast of boy 2" cried


the old gentleman, scrutinizing him closely.


~ ou the little fellow that went down the lane


in the dusk Of the evening with his bundle OF
/ clothes under his arm. Ab, don't deceive me,


young man; don't tell me this unless you are
sure, before God and man, that it is true" and


toddling to the one who he believed was his
son, he threw his arms fondly around his neck,


while Mrs. Tawney kissed both hands and
smoothed back the thick hair from bis fore
| head.


That was happy night for Squire Tawney.
| He rubbed his hands together as he walked
around the boy, as he called him, then to the
picture TO see if he could trace out any re-
| semblance between the two. All seemed
| changed but the hair. The thick brown curls
were all that was natural, aad he was happy
TO see that those were not changed. He could
run his old hands through them and that would
carry him back to when he was the little mus
ing boy. The young man, with all this devo-
tiou. hesped upon him, could not help but be
happy out more so because he saw Jessie stand
ing back with dancing eyes witnessing the ex-
treme happiness of those who had been father
and mother to her, and of him who should be
more than either soon.


And now that they fully realized that be
was their own son, be sat down ard gathered
them around him while he told them that he
had spent good portion of his time in New
Orleans, where he went first.


81 have Travelled a great deal, he said "snd
when the rebellion broke out came north and
joined one of the regiments, and have been in
some hard battles. Those clothes that you
dislike so muGh and for which 1 came very
near being banished the second time, are not
my own,-one of my men having captured
them on the battle field at -, and at this
little Iady's suggestion put them on. I met
her in the city. ard learning through her that
you knew me to be innocent and incurred my
absence deeply, l resolved to return to you,
and by your consent my dear parents, make
this little lady my wife,"


YES" said the old mau, blowing his nose
violently on his red silk handkerchief, Eyes,
God bless you; yes, take her.


Patrick O'COnner turned two or three sum-
mersaults when he found that the long legged !
gintiman was the little boy he used to follow
around so many years ago. He declared he'd
"'uiver seen the likes ov his masther TO come |
so near turnin' him off the sicond time; he
musbt be out ov his head intirely if not alto
gether."


Several nights after this there was a large
party at Squire Tawney's. The news of the
returned son spread through the country, and
all the young and old in the surrounding
neighborhood were invited to the wedding
Jessie was exceedingly happy, but the Major, |
strange to say, seemed to wear an air of sad
ness. The whole house was made brilliant |
with taller candles and large fires upon the
open hearth; everything looked bright and /
cheerful, and Patrick O'Conner was very busy
going from room to room, with snuffers in
hand, and, to use his own expression, topping |
the candles, occasionally forgetting the snuffers
and using his thumb and fore finger instead |


The country guests were fast gathering in;
Jessie was giving the finishing touch to her
toilet, which was very simple but beauIiful;
the ole Squire was looking very pompous
with bis broadcloth and gold headed cane;
while Mrs. Tawney was looking exceedingly |
happy in her brown satin that she had laid |
away for this occasion for years The United |
Brethren Minister was there with his long
hair and white neck-cloth, ready to unite the |
long lost son to the belle of the country; ev-
cry thing was ready, and all anxious for the
appearance of the parties to be united. Why |
did they not come?


Jessie was waiting anxiously up stairs for
her intended husband, when hearing voices in |
the yard beneath her window, she went to hear
what it was. Standing there few moments
she heard enough to send her reeling back |
from the window, and sunk her heart like lead |
in her bosom. She heard the voice of her
lover in low but distinct tones, and a low bro |
ken voice as of one very much injured, answer
him.


George Tawney," said the first, chow did
you come here, and why did you come to frus-
trate my plans. left you in the hospital,
and supposed you were dead before this"


'Ha, so you took my name, thinking, have
no doubt, was dead, and that you would get
my fortune and my bride by SO doing but we
will see about that, for have heard since my
return that my father and mother have school
ed Jessie Tawney to wait for me, and by so
doing would get with me my fathers fortune,
and you sir, thought you would never be dis
covered in your deception; but I will marry
Jessie Tawney tonight, since it was me she
was waiting for. have no doubt she will
love me just as well as she does you, if the for
tune is thrown in


George" said her lover, his voice slightly
trembling, "this is folly. I did wrong in taxi
ing your name, but it is too late now l must
marry her.


Stop p cried the newcomer, very much ex-
cited you shall never marry her. l will
shoot you down as l would a stray dog OF
rebel if you dare to say you must marry her
again. You do not love her, you would marry
her for my fathers fortune, and not for herself"


you are mistaken, George, do 1--we her;
but as she is to marry old Tawneys fortune,
whether she loves the man or not, you are wei
come to her hand, and may you ever be happy"


This was all she heard, their voices seeming
to die away in the distance; but almost before
she could recover her reason she heard foot
steps on the stairs. She stood in the middle
Of the room, her hands clasped tightly togeth-
er, looking like II statute, so marble-like were
her features and complexion. She stood there
not caring to move. So sudden had been the
revelation of the deception practiced upon her
that she was ready to hear all. Nothing
could affect her now; she had heard the worst
e. hnr-nIf