The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-10-26

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"ofeourse Il does; nobody else doubts
1t but Mrs. Colby. Old Mrs. Goldby's
last words were-Tm going to meet
Hiram, and they say. the dying know.
But even then that didn't make Pearl think
90. She wore mourning for her who had
been the only mother abe knowed oil, but
NOT weeds Weeds was for widows, she
said, and she wasn't widow"
"But the stone"
"Well, sir, I'm coming 70 that A
year ago sir, fine gentleman from France
came here hunting for q child lost on this
coast, He'd heard of Pearl by happen
chances, Il there Is such, and came here:
When he saw the clothes, he just tainted
like woman"
"She was related, them?
The strangers voice was husky, but the
sea air was growing chill.
"Her father, sir."
"He took her away
"He tried to. He told her OF splen.
did home he had in New York, for he'd
followed his wife and child, sir, to the
city they had never reached. He was rich
and lonely. He begged his child to go, but
she would not Hiram will come here
for me- she said, and he must find me
where he left me.
.1On what has she livedg
'.Sewing, sir, mostly. The cottage was
old Mrs. Goliby's, and bless you, Pearl
did not eat more than bird, and her dres-
ses cost next to nothing. But there's no
DENYING she was very poor-very, and
vet the grand home and big fortune never
u hoe kathar emma nH and
on 70 see her, until April. An he died,
sir, and left our Pearl all his fortune and
the grand house in New York. But shel
not 90, sir; she'll die here, waiting for
Hiram, who'll never come"
The stranger lifted his lace that had
been half hidden in his hand and said:
'sThere was shipwreck in the Pacific
Ocean, Dayy, years and years ago. and one
man oniy was saved-saved, Davy, by
sayages who made him slave, the worst
OF slaves! But one day this sailor saved
the life ofth chiefs daughter, who was
In the coils OF huge snake, and the chief
released him. More than that he gave
him choice spices and woods, and sent
him aboard the first passing ship. So the
sailor landed in great city, sold his pres
ents and put the gold in safe keeping.
Then he travelled till he reached the sea-
port town where heswas born, and coming
there at sunset, heared the story OF his life
from the lips OF 4 man cutting his tomb
stone"
Notaword spoke Davy. standingerect,
he seized IN immense sledge hammer. and
with powerful blows from strong, uplifted
arms. dashed the marble into fragments.
Then. painting with exertion. he held out
his brawny hands to the stranger-a Stran-
ger no longer. -.
ave done no better work in my life,
than I've done in the last five minutes,
Hiram. Go home, man, and make Pearls
heart glad. She don't need It, Hiram
she don't need II. You asked me about
the stone. The neighbors drove her TO
ordering it, twitting her that now she was
rich, she grudged the stone to her hus-
bands memory. So she told me TO cut 1t,
but says, Don't put dead upon II, payy
put lost at sea; for Hiram lost, but he'll
be found and come back to me- She
never looked at It Hiram, never. And
there's not an honr, nor hasn' { been for
ten wears, that she hasn't been looking for
Won 10 come back. Go to her, man, and
the Lords blessing be upon both OF you"
So. grasping the hard. brown hand,
Hiram Goidby took the path to the little
white cottage where he had been born
forty.fiye wears before. The sun had
set and the darkness was gathering, but
A little CLEAN Of light streamed from the
window OF his cottage. He drew near
softly, and standing on the seat OF the
porch. looked over the hall curtain into
Tho naat lint noOr gittinS.rOOm
X was not the grand house, Pearls
heritage in New York, but Pearl herself
was there. 4 slender woman, with q
pale. sweet face, and black hair smoothly
handed and gathered into rich braids ut
the back of her shapely head. Her dress
was a plain dark one, with white rutties,
cuffs and an apron.
She had been sewing, but her work was
put aside, and presently she came to the
open window and drew aside the curtain.
She did not see the tall figure drawn close
ly against the wall in the narrow porch,
but her dark eyes looked mourntully to-
ward the sea, glimmering in the half
light. ~
.sJfy darlins!' she whispered, "are you
dead, and has your spirit come TO take
mine where we shall part no more?'
Only, the wash OF the wave below
answered her. Signing softly, she sail
ais nv darling coming? feel him so
near to me, could almost grasp him"
She streched out her arms over the low
window.sill, and low voice answered
her: "Peari! Pearl"
The arms that had so long grasped only
empty air, were filed then, as Hiram
afn6d nnder the window,
"Do not move love" she whispered,
pressing her soft lips TO his: II always
wake when you move"
''But now" he said, ''you are already
awake. See, Pearl, your trust was heaven
given. tits myself, your fond, true hus-
band, little one, who will never leave you
again."
at is true! You have comet" she
cried at last, bursting into torrent OF
happy tears. ~ knew you were not
dead. You could not be dead and my
heart not tell me. 1t was long before
they could think Of anything but the hap.
piness OF reunion after the many years OF
separation, but ut last, drawing Pearl
closer, Hiram whispered-"1 walked from
j., love, and am enormously hungry"
And Pearls merry laugh chased the
last shadows from her happy lace, and
she hustled about the room preparing
asupper for two?" she cried, gleefully. |
The grand house in New York is tenant |
ed by It's owners, and Hiram goes to sea
no more; but in the summer time two
happy people come for quiet month to
the little white cottage at Monkton, and
have always to listen 70 Davy's tale OF the |
evening when he was cutting Hiram Gold. |
dys tombstone, and ended by smashing it
into atoms.
For" is the invariable ending OF the |
tale. Pearl was right, and we were
wroBg, all OF us; for Hiram Colby was
lost at sea, sure enough, but he was not
dead, and he came TO her faithful love as
she always said he would.
brooke County Crops This season.
Panhandle News.