The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-27
Pearl.
BY ETA w. PIERCE.

OF MarDlencau, close 10 inc WalerSlue,
stood a dngy little inn, known as the
Gray Gull. 1t was kept by one Simon
Goelet. a retired sailor with a wooden leg
and u face as round and merry rs Il full
| Summer moon.
At the time Of which | write Marble
| head had somehow acquired throughout
the country a reputation tor laWlessneSs.
To the lords of trade it was represented rs
Il smuggling port for Boston, and it fire.
qucntlY furnished pilots for the latter place
It's population was thoroughly seataring,
and noted for n singularly adventurous
and daring spirit
The coast swarmed with treebootcrs,
who continually harassed the fishermen,
and, in spite OF the province law against
piracy not untrequently appeared in the
streets Of the town, where the discreet i'll
habtants received their gold and silver in
open trade, and asked no questions
1t was dubious night Rain was fall
ing. and wild wind ragged through the
craggy, irregular by-ways of the old port,
| which did not then contain above four
hundred houses all built of wood, 'the
generality miserable says an old hlstorl
an ''and mostly close in with the rocks
ln the inn of the Gray Gull the tallow dips
were lighted, and drittwood fire shone
on the low black raiter, the sanded floor,
and the pewter vessels Of the bar, where
old Goelet dispensed hospitality, assisted
sometimes by his niece, Susannah, or his
only daughter, Pearl, the handsomest girl
in the Bay Colony
"Where's Andy Hall to-night?' cried
old Goelet, stumpng to the window to
| stare out into the darkness.
GLOW should | know?" answered Pearl
from the chimney corner Il am not his
| keeper"
She sat where the light of the drittwood
| shone full upon her-a girl of seventeen,
with skin like strawberries and cream.
and masses of fair hair tumbling down her
milky neck over the square bodice of her
brown stuff dress.
! "lndecd you are, Pearl, for he has given
himself to you" said the quiet voice of
| Susannah Gocet. who was Just entering ut
the door, with her home-spun skirts piaued
up around her, and some pewter piatters
in her hand. She was older than Pearl,
and she had none of the latter's beauty;
| her face was salloW and wan, and her
| gray eyes seemed never to have looked on
anything happy in life. BetwiXt the beau
tiiul petted daughter Of the house and the
dependent niece and drudge there was a
| great guilt fixed.
Its a gilt never sought said Pearl,
tossing her fair ilippant head
Susannah put down her platters on the
oak dresser.
''Eie :" she murmured. 10 speak like
! that OF Your promised husband y
| And IA lad like Andy cried old Goe-
let. docs not fall to every girls lot
| B.o,l civ ba,. fi,ll ,vbitn shoulders
'<lIe's an awkward rough-handed lout."
She laughed Nothing more, as you both
| know"
"Nay," protested Old Goeet, there's
no better fisherman in all Marblehead."
"And I'm sure mis- face is comely," NUT
| tered poor Susannah. "Ah. Pearl, if your
love was like his you would see no fault
| in him-he sees none in VOu.
Pearl opened her lazy violet eyes.
| Because there's none to see, Susannah
Plenty oflovcrs have told me that"
| Susannah turned on her angrily.
Pride and vanity have blinded you to
your own good luck" she cried. "Many
u woman in the town would give years of
her life for a lover like Andy Hull"
Il know of only one," answered Pearl,
mockingly, and that's yourself, Susannah.
I
good for YOU
Susannah's thin cheek grew red, then
pale.
You are y cruel girl, Pearl you will
come to no good end,n she faltered, and
turned and went out OF the room.
Pearl was left alone in the freight.
Across the passage was the bar-room, to
which old Goelet had stumped Off to mix
toddy and iulep for sundry brown fisher
men who began to drop in TO smoke an
evening pipe and gossip with the one
| legged inn-keepcr.
The girl made an enchanting picture,
| lounging there on the high h-backed settle,
her round arms raised above her head,
her fair hair streaming down her bosom,
her violet eyes fixed on the ruddy blaze
OF what was she thinking that she gazed
so steadily? or her lover, Andy Hull
No, Pearl never wasted dreams upon him
From the bar-room the voices of the fish
ermen iloated litfully to her ears.
There be stores,n said one, "that the
sloop Dolphin has been captured by pi-
rates. My nephew. Joe Bagley, wor
aboard of her You remember joe don't
We, Goelet? He wor sweet always on
your daughter Pirates be as thick in New
England waters now as codlish.'
True, replied another and some Of
'em be fine gentlemen, too, scattering
their ducats like princes"
Il saw Fly and his gang hung in Bos-
ton last year put in old Goeet. "Doctor
Colman preached their death sermon in
old I3rattle Street Church. Fly wor a bold
one he wouldn't come inside the door to
hear about the fiery plt-not he! lestood
outside, with nosegay in his hand, hand
some and gay as lord, smiling and bow
ing to everybody. lie wor hung in chainsr
A gust of wind and rain blew the SCOT
suddenly down the chimney and scattered
the brands on the hearth At the same
moment Pearl Goelet turned her fair head
and saw a man standing on the threshold
of the old keeping room, gazing in at her
He was a stranger, young, handsome,
with something in his look and air that
smacked strongly of blue water. His fig-
ure was tall and supple, his face dark and
pale, with straight features and melan-
choly eyes, as black as night His black
hair was slightly powdered. and he wore
a long sea-cloak of blue cloth, under which
one could see a suit Of velvet, rich with
embroidery. ruflles of fine lace and hand
some side-arms
''Is this the Gray Gull Inn. my pretty
maid?" he said, letting his eyes dwell
boldly on Pearl Goelet's face.
She started up from the settle and drop
ped a deep courtesy.
"Ay, sir" she answered, coloring :;
''shall | call my tather?"
The stranger stepped into the room with
a smile on his lips.
Then you are SimonGoelet's daughter !?
BY my soul report, for once. hath not
lied Yes, we will call your father, Mis-
tress Pearl - don't start, | know your
name Halloo. innkeeper!"
Old Goelet stumped quickly in from the
bar. At sight of the handsome, well
dressed figure he pulled his gay forelock
with the Difference due to guest and
gentleman. and bowed halfway to the
floor.
"Your servant. sir!" cried he. "Wel-