Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-04-08


Pearl he was lost; she'd Just shake
her pretty head and say: He'll come
back Not mite of mourning
would she wear, even after his own
mother gave him up and put Oh
black; for cir; it stands to reason
hes dead years ego
u looks So
of course it does; nobody else
doubts it but Mrs. Colby. Old
Mrs GoldbY's last words were: I'm
going to meet Hiram, and they say
the dying know. But even that did
not make Pearl think go. She wore
mourning for her who had been the
only mother she knowed of. but no
weeds. Weeds was for widows, she
said, ard she wasn't o widow.
But the stoneY
Well sir, I'm coming o that. A
year ago, sir, fine gentleman from
France came here hunting for a
child lost on this coast. He'd heard
of Pearl by bappen.chances, if there
is such, and came here. When be
saw the clothes, be just tainted like
woman
She was related, then?'
The strangers voice was husky,
but the sea air was growing chill.
Her father SIR
He took her awAy?'
sIla tried TO. He told her of a
splendid home be had in New York,
for he'd followed bis wife and child,
to city they had never reached.
He was rich and lonely. He beg
ged hia child to go, but she would
not. Hiram will come here for me-
she saId. and be will find me where
be left me.o
sOn what has she lived
Sewing, sir, mostly. The cottage
was old Mrs. Goldby's and bless you
Peafl did not eat much more than a
bird, and her dresses cost next to
nothing
'Bat there's no denying she was
very poor-very, and yet Che grand
hoase and big fortune never tempt
ed her So her father came Oh and
on to see her, until April. And he
died, sir, rpd left cur Pearl all his
fortune aud the grand house 10 Nav
York But she'll not go. cir; she'll
die here, waiting for Hiram, who'll
never come
The stranger lifted bis face that
had been half hidden 10 his hand
d said
There was 8 shipwreck 10 the
Pacifo ocean, Davy,years and years
ago, and one man only was saved
-sived Dayy,by savages who made
him slave, the worst of slsveel
But one day this sailor saved the
life Of the Chiefs daughter, who was
in the coils of a huge snake, AMI the
chief released him. More than that
he gave him choice splees and woods
and put him on board The first pass.
ing ship. So the sailor landed 10 a
great city, sold his presents aui put
the geld in safe keeping Then be
Travelled till he reached the seaport
town whore he was born, and COM
ing there ct sunset, beard the story
Of his life from the lips of man
cutting his tombstone.'
Not word spoke Divy. Stand
ing erect, be seized an immense
sledge hammer. and with powerful
blows from the strong arms dashed
the marble into fragments. Then,
painting With exhaustion, he held
out bis brawny hand to the stranger
"a stranger no longer.
'I've done no better work 10 my
life than I've done in the last five
minutes, Hiram. Go homo, man,
and make Pearls heart glad. She
don't need it, Hiram--she don't ne.d
it. You asked me about the stone
The neighbors drove her to ordering
it, twiltipg her thai now she was
rich, che gru1ged the stone 10 her
husbands memory. So she told me
to cut it, but says Don't put dead
upon it, Davy--put lest at sea; tor
Hiram's lost, but he'll be found and
come back to me- She never looked
at i; Hiram nevsr And there's
no. an hour, nor hasn't been for ten
years that she hasn't bean looking
for you TO come back. Go TO her,
man, and the lords blessing be
upon both of you
10, grasping the hard, brown hand,
Hiram Goldby took the path to the
little white cottage in which be had
been born forty.five years before.
TIE sun had set and the darkness
was gathering. but little g,esm OF
light stresmod from the windog OF
bis cottage. He draw near softly,
aud standing on the seat of the
porch, looked over the half curtain
into the neat, but poor sitting-room.
II wss not the grand house, Pearls
heritsgs 10 New York, but Pearl
Was there. A slender woman. with
a pale, sweet face. and black halr
smoothly banded aud gathered into
rich braids at the back of her shape,
Iy head. Her dress was plain DARK
one, with white rufflss, cuffs and So
apron.
Shebad 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 draw closely against
the wall in tbs narrow porch; but
her dark eyes looked mourDfully
toward the sea, glimmering 10 he
half light.
My darliDgi' she whispered, 'are
you dead. and has your spirit come
to take mine where We shall part nc
more?'
OnIy the wash Of the waves be-
low answered her. Sighing softly,
she said: is mY darling coming? j
feel him so near to me, | could 81
most grasp him.
Sac stretched out her arms over
the low window sill,and a low voice
answered her, Pearl PearlI'
The arms that had so long grasped
only empty air were filled then, as
Hiram stood under the low window
do not move, love- she whisp-
cred pressing her loft lips to biz; i
always wake when you move
But now, he said. you are al