The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-12-04

Harry-Hsrry! be cannot be 81
Icroel!"
HE can and wilI,n said Harry
bitterly. "But think of him no more
1.-THE world is eli before me. Will
health and strength l fear not. Sure
ly on the wide surfsce of the earth
some humble hone may be found for
yen and me. 20 now to seek it
Farewell, dearest! And when mex,
we meet, may the dark shadow of 9
fathers curse be uplifted from our
path !"
The brilliant stars that night look
ed down upon : lonely maiden in her
chamber; . youth Fastening along a
silent roadway. tie future a fathom-
Hess abyss and as old man in his sol.
itary room. He paced to and fro
far into the night. steeling bis heart
against the promptings of nature; be
fought the unnatural battle with the
vigor of stern nature, hut the
thoughts which revolved through the
busy brain are known only to his
Maker and himself
NIGHT THE SECOND.
Nine weary months had passed, and
the glorious mantle of the summer
wac again upon the village of Hor-
ton.
Little was known of Harry; a
brief lessgf to bis father, and long,
loving one to Annie informed them
he had left bis native land, q COM
mon sailor on board the Early Hope.
From that hour no letter came,
and the poor old man yesrned more.
day by day. for his lost son. The
hidden love of years welled up, food
ed the stern will, and drove the sor-
rowing father to distraction.
my boy !" be would cry, "to what
suffering have l cast you forth? In
what distant land roams my only
child? May heaven pardon my hasty
VOW and bring bsck the only tie that
binds me to this world"
But regrets were useless now, and
in the impotence of bis sorrow be
wept aloud.
Poor Annie kept to her home with
heavy heart As the weeks passed
on, with no news of Harry, hope
sank within her-the joyous light lift
her face. and the sunshine of her life
was gone.
Mr.. Weston, her aged father, knew
not the story Of her sorrow, and
grieved to see his darling pining
away. His was truly rugged ma
ture, but sterling and kind. He dot
ed on bis daughter, for in her he saw
again the wife who cheered his hum
BILE home and paced away when long
years of happiness seemed before
him. Of late he was sadly broken !;
nature weakening her hold of him
time. the grea; destroyer. had set his
fatal seal upon bin, and his hour
was almost come.
Seated in an easy chair, Annie at
his feet, be was gazing upon the ia
miliar landscape with the feeble eye
Of age, and the trees be climbed as
boy aud loved as 3 man, gAaed down
upon his sinking form, and stirred By
the wind murmured soft lullaby to
bis approaching rest
Annie, my child" be said, "My
BROTHER John has sent me paper
from town; it came this morning. 1t
is there upon the table Read lit
tie while; like to hear of that busy
town where my dear youngest broth
er has lived 80 long. John knows it,
and through the long years be hasn't
forgotten me. Poor John, He was
always kind-very kind"
81 will, nv dearest father" Annie
readily replied; and opening the pa
per she inquired, what shall | read?
Here's 9 great deal of news"
"Read to me-" he said, "the deeds
of some good, brave man"
"Whst is this paragraph" Annie
said.
"Fire at sea .'' / will read that.
A thrill of horror passed through
her frame, and with loud scream
she tainted away.
Mr.. Weston, affrighted, summoned
q woman from the next room, who
kindly assisted Annie with her invs-
lid father.
She raised the insnimats form of
the poor girl and bore her to q
couch.
Wonderingly, be raised the paper
and slowly perused the following
lines:
"FlRE AT SEA.-That fast sailing
clipper, he Screw, arrived yester-
dsy. Her captain states that FIVE
DAYS out be observed Q FIRE at sea,
but was unable to come up with it.
Part of vessels stern, with Early
Hope painted on it, and q sesman's
chest marked Harry Barton, was pick
ed up, but after cruising about for q
time, was unable to end any signs Of
the survivors."
sit cannot be this" mused the in
valid, "some sudden pain, doubtless
-ah, some sudden pain"
Mr.. Barton that morning received
bis papers by post, and in the course
Of perusal came upon the fatal para
graph.
All the sorrow of the past niue
months vas but drop in the ocean
to bis sgony now.
He raved egainst the paper-said
it lied; but oil the rawlings of the
world could not blind him to the
truth, and be cried aloud that be was
"the murderer of his son."
Through the long day be wander
ed about the house, moaning over bis
lonely lot; and ss evening approach
ed, be WAS impelled by some unseen
agency to seek the spot where last be
saw bis con and ask pardon Of him
who alone can give il. for the crime
of his unnatural curse.
With feeble, tottering steps he waD-
L.