But this day was to put an end to her mind's prolonged and painful suspense, in regard to him.

From about nine o'clock in the morning, she began to look momently for his arrival.

But the time slowly wore on, and yet he did not come.

Ten, eleven twelve, one o'clock came and went, and the boy was still absent from his mother, whose heart yearned to see his fair face, and to hear his voice, so pleasant to her ear, with unutterable longings.

But still the hours went by--two, three, four, and then the dusky twilight began to fall, bringing with it the heart-aching assurance that her boy would not come home.