South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-06-16

when mention had been made OF helping
her substantially. the widow had drawn
herself sharply up. all the lady shining
in her eye.
IL may have seen my best days. she
said. but haven't come down to that
yet. And il needed any reward, I've
had it now" she added, as she felt the
soft blood mantling in the check that
Belle had kissed.
Long after the two had left. Tom went
about with cloud on his face, and in
his ears were ringing those knocking
words: "rm in love with Tom" a
disgust for his fishing life and for him.
self fo- all their miserable surround
ings OF poverty filed the lads heart
with unwonted bitterness.
Mother" said he one day, ss he sat
darkly brooding over the hearth, "you
said You were a born lady; why didn't
you make gentleman Of me?"
IL hadn't any money left when you
came." said the widow briefly.
Then it's money that makes people
gentlemen and ladies?"
IL don't know" said the widow, puz-
zled; "tEey somehow mostly have it."
One day Tom came and told her he
was going to sea. There had been a
man down looking for hands, and he
had taken Tom gladly. for Tom was q
handy fellow at almost any kind OF sea
craft, aud would soon make good sea.
man.
And you must just bidc here patient
ly till come back, mother; for if there s
better days anywhere, shall bring 'em
with me, TO be sure"
After that the sea looked bluer and
colder than ever, and the solitary wo-
man lived n sort of hermit's life. No
CHEEKY voice ofgossiping neighbor light.
ened the drcary cabin. no children, pratt
tied about her; and only Belle the
bright blithe-hcarted lassie, seemed to
remember to cheer her with letter now
and then. Belle was away now visiting
some distant friends, but in her kindly
heart she kept corner, it seemed, for
the poor old woman who had saved her
life.
Three ycars-four-passed away, and
daily OF summer afternoon you might
have seen the widow sitting in her door.
way, eager and holloweyed, looking
out for some possible ship that might be
Toms. Tom was not good correspon.
DENT, but occasionally up. at the little
postofiice wandering epistlc waited her
trembling hand. She was growing very
old and feeble now; hut Tom was get.
ting up in tho world, Tom was first mate
OF his ship. Tom was SUCCESS, Tom was
gentleman, and oh, above all things,
Tom was coming home
Not every one watches in vain, though
we may not always bc looking in the
right direction. 1t was SO with the wi.
dow. As she sat one day with strain.
ing eye gazing on far.off sun-lit sails,
and seeing how some of them lowered
nearer and nearer, and some, alas took
wing farther and farther away, the door.
way dafkened suddenlyl there came
rushing upon her, rs If dropped from the
clouds. q plump. dark.eyed, rosy.cheek.
ed lady, who flung herself into the arms
of the watcher with cry Of joy.
"Oh, mother!' she exclaimed, half
sobbing, half langhing-"oh. mother |!
don't you know me? Why, I'm Toms
wife. and I've brought the captain with
me ~
Mother" said Captain Tom that
night, you've seen better days, per.
haps, but | never have
For didn't / tell you," said Mrs. Tom,
archly, THAT was in love with Tom?
And father owns half his ship, you know (;
so If Toms captain, I'm second mate,
you see. And we're going to take you
away TO where tcc found our better days"
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