Year: 1874

.SPooCo sunny hoiOu. UIuC cgco
baby, not quite year old. That boy
was lnyselt-Harry Church that baby
was Mary Moore.


Later still, / see myself at the old
school house, drawing my little chaiss
up to the door that Mary might ride
home. Many beating have [ gained
on such occasions, for other boys be,
side me liked her, and she, / fear, was
something of a f1irt, even in her pima
fore. How elegantly she came trip
ping down the steps when / called her
name; how sweetly her blue eyes look
ed at me, how gaily rang out her merry
laugh. No one bat Mary could ever
bring her heart so near her lips. L fol-
lowed that laugh from my days OF
childhood till l grew an awkward,
biushing youth [ followed it through
the heated noon of manhood and
now when the frosts of age are silver
ing my hair, and many children climb
upon my knee and call me " father"
find that the memories of youth are
strong, and that even in gray hairs I'm
following the music still.


When | was fifteen the first great
sorrow of my life came upon my breast.
| was sent to school, and was Obliged
to part with Mary. We were not to see
each other for three long years. This
to me was like sentence of death, for
Mary was like life itself to me. But
hearts are tough things after all.


| left college in all the flush of my
nineteenth year. l was no longer awk-
ward or embarrassed. [ had grown
into tall, slender STRIPPING, with a
very good opinion of myself both in
general and particular. If l thought
of Mary Moore, it was to think how /
could dazzle and bewilder her with my
good looks and wonderful mental at
tainments, and never thinking she
might dazzle and bewilder me still
more. l was a coxcomb, | know, but
as youth and good looks have fed, |
trust that | may be believed when |
say that self-conceit has left man also.


An advantageous proposal was made
me at that time, and accepting it, |
gave up all idea of profession, and
prepared to 20 to India. In my hur-
ried visit home of two days L saw
nothing of Mary Moore. She had
gone to boarding school at some dis
tance, and was not expected home un-
til the following May. l uttered a
sigh to the memory of my little blue
eyed playmate, and then called myself
"a man again.


In year, thought, as the vehicle
whirled away from our door, ! will re-
turn, and if Mary is as pretty as she
used to be, why then, perhaps, | may
marry her.


And thus l settled the future of a
young lady whom / had not seen for
four years. [ never thought of the
possibility of her refusing me-never
dreamed that she would not condescend
to accept my offer.


But now | know that had Mary met
me then she would have despised me.
Perhaps in the scented and affected
student she might have found plenty OF
sport; but as for loving me, l should
perhaps have found myself mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely be-
cause of my success, but because my
laborious industry had counteracted
the evil in my nature, and had made
me better man. When at the end OF
three years ! prepared to return, l said
nothing of the reformation of myself,
which knew had taken place They
loved me as / was, | murmured to my
self, and they shall find out for them
selves whether | am better worth low
ing than formerly.


picked up many token from that
land of romance and gold for the
friends [ hoped to meet. The gift for
Mary Moore / selected with beating
heart; it was O rough virgin gold
with my name and hers engraved in
side-that was all, and yet the sight Of
the little toy strangely thrilled me as /
balanced it on the top of my finger.


To the eyes of others it was but q
small plain circle, suggesting thoughts,
perhaps, by its elegance, of the beauti-
full white hand that was to wear it
But not to mellow much was en-
bodied there-all these delights were
hidden within that little ring of gold


Tall, bearded, and sun -bronzed, ]
knocked at my fathers house. The
light in the parlor window, and the
hum of conversation and cheerful
laughter, showed me that company was
assembled there, I hoped that sister
Lizzie would come to the door, and
might greet my family when no strange
eye was looking on.


But no, servant answered my sum-
mons. They were too merry in the
parlor to heed the long absent one who
asked for admittance. 4 bittel
thought like this run through my minc
as heard the sound from the parlor
and say the half suppressed smile on
the servants face,


| hesitated a moment before making
myself known or asking for any of my
family. And while | stood silent 8
strange apparition grew up before me
from behind the servant peered out a
golden head, tiny, delicate form and
sweet childish face with blue eyes, sc
like those of one who had frightened
my boyhood, that | started with sud
den feeling of pain.


What is your name, my prettyY
I asked, while the wondering servant
held the dgOr.


Mary MooRs."


And what else?" | asked quickly


She lifted up her hands to shade
her face. | had seen that very atti
tude in another, in my boyhood, many
and many time-and answered in ;
sweet bird like voice:


Mary Moore Chester"


NY heart sank down like lead. Here
was an end to all the bright dreams
| and hopes ef my yogth and manhood
Frank Chester, my bOyish rival, whC
had often tried in vain to usurp nj!
place beside the girl, had succeeded a
last, and had won her away from me
This was the child-his child anC
Mary's.


| sank, body and soul, beneath thi
blow, and. hiding my face in my hands
II leaned against the door, while IN,
heart wept tears of blood. The littl
one gazed at me, grieved and amazed
and put up her pretty lips as if abOu