The Morning herald., 1877-05-10

y v
she stopped and came back. She took ii.
vatch in her hands and pressed IL to hel
lips; and then with struggle, as though
tearing fond memento from the network
Of her heart, she laid it down and wen,
away.
| When she had gone I got up and
stepped behind the counter to look at the
pawned watch.
"lts worth three hundred dollars" said
Langford.
"And she has pawned it for tent" 81
Il don't consider it pawned," he replied
'That woman has enlisted my utmost
sympathy, and l will hold this watch fo1
her while she lives"
asked him if she had been 10 him be.
fore for money.
EYES," he said. II think she has, first
and last, received two hundred dollars from
me. She has evidently pawned everything
she could bring"
was telling to the broker what knew
of Mrs. Warland when customer entered.
lie was seafaring man, and l recognized
him as one whom had seen at the theatre
that afternoon. He had sat very near to
me, and had noticed him particularly
because be was man not to be seen with
out notice. He was young, with frank,
handsome, bold face, his hair of dark
brown, clinging about large, well.shaped
head in close, glossy curls and possessing
a frame of marvellous strength and SYM
metry. His garments, though Of the sailor
cut, were ofthe very finest quality, and it
was plain to be seen, from his tone and
manner, that he had been used to holding
authority. He had seen sextant exposed
in the window, and had come ia to look
at it.
Langford took the chronometor from my
hand, and had started to restore it to his
couch, when the stranger interrupted him
"Pardon me, sir; but will you allow me
to look at that watch?'
The broker handed it to him. He took
il, and trembled perceptibly.
"Where did you get-,his ~ the question
was asked with an effort.
II had it Of customer"
'In pawn|
Not exactly !, though. it was left with
me as a pledge"
The man had examined the richly en-.
graved case Of the watch, and finally his
eye rested upon the buckskin pouch. He
picked it up, and saw the words which
were written upon it. For little time
his frame shook as though tempest riven.
Then he braced himself, and spoke in an
entreating manner:
"Will you tell me who left this here p
A light dawned upon me. The man
had interested me with something more
than his grand beauty. There was some
thing in his face familiar to me-some.
thing in its classic outlines, and in its lin.
eamen,s of character, like the face of a wo.
man who had beenemy sisters nurse. And
while the broker hesilated, l answered
him:
"a lady lef'. it here, and her name is
Warland."
He looked at me quickly and eagerly.
"Hss she husband ?' he asked.
"No," l said. "Her husband died in
New York several years since, and she has
returned to the land of her childhood,
widow"
A moments pause and then l added
"Mr. Langford has told you that the
watch had not been really pawned. The
poor woman said that it was not hers. il
had been left with her by her first hus-
banda dying gift for their boy-a boy
whom she had not seen FIR many years."
The man reached @over and took my
hand.
"Can you take ME TO her?" he said.
l told him could, for she lived very
near to my kome
lie wanted to take the watch, but the
broker objected, and he did not urg ge it. ,
And he went with me out into the
street. His heart was full, and l did not
disturb him with idle questions. On board
the ferry boat he paced up and down the
gangway alone, and when we had landed
upon the Island side he took my arm as
though fearful that Ire might lose me.
We reached the door of Mrs. Warland's
dwelling, and were ushered into a small,
scantily furnished sitting room by the lit
tie daughter, who had recognized me.
Mamma mas just come Ill, She Sald. II
will call her"
l would have left, but the man detained
me.
Presently Mrs. Warland entered. The
walk in the cool, bracing air had given
color to her usually pale cheeks, and when
she saw me she smiled welcome. And
then, following my glance, she turned to
the stranger, who was gazing upon her with
the whole of his heart and soul in his lus-
trous eyes. She started, and tottered.
"Molher Do you know me?
And she stretched out her arms with a |
wild cry-she called him "Jackp p and
with sobs of rapture she chung to him and1
was held to his bosom. l felt my pres.
encejto be a ..profanation, and l crept