Page 105 - Fairbrass

better than the simplicity of the barrack.

To be sure, just across the landing' there
was another bedroom furnished and fitted

with every luxury and knick-knack that the

date of its preparation for the bride of a

wealthy young squire could provide ; but
though he would often walk round it, and

sigh, and think of times long since vanished,
and never to come again, he had not once

slept in it since his young wife died, leaving

him with an only boy. How lovely she
looked in the portrait that now faced his

bed ! Fairbrass knew at once that the
dark-eyed, sweet-faced creature whose arm

rested on the shoulder of a lad just like
himself was the mother of whom he had

heard his father speak, and whose grave in
the churchyard he so often saw* Sad to

think that those poor old eyes woke every
morning to meet the glance of the wife

whose death he had all too early mourned,

of the son from whom he had been too
many years estranged !