Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-05


best" The world unseen is purer and
fairer, and more to be desired, and God,
even oar GOD, is Lord Of that as well as
this. But still the river is dark that lies
between, and the mists come up and fall
into our hearts, chilling and shadowing
them, and yelling the brightness that lies
beyond.
Mamma, mamma" sobbed the child,
alonep
The woman's eyes wandered wistfully
around the room. Mrs. Anderson went
Ralph, who was sleeping little, broken
ing eyes frightened little, and the lips
smile, which brought the tears to Myra
Anderson's eyes.
Mamma, here lie u.s." cried the girl,
eagerly, looking up with smile breaking
through her tears.
The woman lifted her arms with sud-
den strength, and drew the bright face
down to her bosom, and kissed it passion
ately; then she laid the little hand in
Ralph's, and turned away her face.
There was q little moment of silence.
and then she started suddenly, and caught
at the child's dress.
cit is not Mallard-your name, Viola
it isis "-and her voice died away in an
indistinct murmur.
"What is the child's name p Mr.. An
derson asked, putting his ear to her lips
quickly.
"You will find it in-the-trunk-
wrote-it out-all-all" she whispered,
with fast failing breath.
CHAPTER II.
The sun came up through golden halos,
and the blue skies bent softly over the
sea, still moaning and sobbing like pas
sionate child. The shore was strewn with
pieces of the wreck, and trunks and boxes
of merchandise were scattered here and
there in wild confusion. Some of the
trunks and boxes were stove to pieces !;
others scarcely injured by their battle with
the elements. Two or three bodies had
washed ashore during the night; and it
was concluded all on beard had perished.
The hull and shattered masts of the ship
were barely 'discernible through the
waves that still broke over them when the
tide was in. At low tide she was plainly
visible, and her name, k Bran" could
be distinctly seen.
After her mothers death the child had
cried stormily for . little time, and then
grew suddenly quiet. She was . slight,
1t not been for the bright color in her
dark cheeks, and the fearless look in her
great black eyes. One would not have
taken her to be over six, at first but when
he heard her talk, he would be willing to
add six more. She, however, laid claim
to but eight years, which, indeed, seemed
quite preposterous, she was such q bit of q
creature.
"You must find my mammals trunk"
she said gravely to Ralph, when some
time during the forenoon they were pre-
pairing to visit the scene of the wreck.
There had been 80 much to do at the
house that there had been no time before
81 am afraid cannot" Ralph replied |;
cts not very likely to come ashore, and
if It does it will be stove into Hndling
wood"
Butt tell you, you shall find it," she
cried flercely, her eyes flaming. Didn't
my mamma say it was in the trunk-all
about me. She never would tell me about
my papa, but remember, but, O, such q
little bitr' and the small face took on sad,
thoughtful look-such very, sery old
look for q child!
But shall not know your trunk, little
Wildfire," Ralph" said, teasingly, enjoying
her display Of spirit with true boyish
relish.
II am not Wildfre, and you needn't
call me sO!" she cried sharply. / am just
Viola Mal-no, she said that was not it |;
IL don't know who am" and the red
lips trembled, and the flashing eyes filed
with quick tears.
There-there, don't cry" Ralph said,
soothingly. = ] am mean fellow 10 tease
you nOss. I'm very sorry, and I'll try my
best to find your trunk If you will tell me
something how it looks, whether It's black,
or white, or blue"
"Bluet A blue trunk" she replied,
scornfully.
"Well what is there 80 terrible about
that? My mother has got Q blue chest
that is, 0, ever 20 old, III guess it come
over in the May6ower."
In WHAT" her eyes dilating.
20, you don't know anything about
it." Ralph replied, loftily, "h concerns
our ancestors. Come, I'm going"
Thus admOuished the child began .
hasty description Of the trunk, which
amounted to this: It was not very large,
was black, and her mamma had always
called it hair trunk" It had great
many very bright brass nails in it-at the
top and sides and round the bottom and
great n. In brass nails ON the cover.
There was quite crowd Of people on
the beach when Mr.. Anderson and Ralph
reached il. A vessel had run down from
Duxbury, and several wagon loads OF men
had come down from Plymoutht0wn, all
drawn hithcr to see and hear about the
wreck, and variously engaged. some In
picking up the shattered boxes and some
by far the larger outstanding about in
groups talking over the incidents Of the
storm, and the wrecks reported here and
there, and this one in particular.
I'D no idee any on 'em escaped, /
hadn't" said Ned Rradlee, just as Mr..
Anderson came up. lt
Escaped! You don't mean to sayf"
II mean-ter say that them are three
men there-why, one of 'em isn't there
o, there be II down the blackwell, he,
and them two just putin of in Simmons
boat, belongedtO that vessel. They are
French chapA take 1t, leastwisc cne Of
ennis, the tall one, he was mate Of the
ship" s. as iss
ss r2..< hrx.v -c,., ~, -, u ~ 1865