Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-02-19
THE STONE-CUTTER'S STORY.

He was whistling over his work, care
less, from long custom, OF the solemn
Significance Of the letters he was cutting
in the white marble. The June sun was
nearly at the end Of the days Journey,
sinking slowly to resi- upon the bosom OF
the broad Atlantic, whose waves washed
the shores of the little seaport town of
Monkton A stranger, handsomely
dressed in gray, with large, iustrous
brown eyes, came to the fence that was
around the yard where the stone-cutter
worked, and read the lettering, almost
completed, upon the tombstone:
HIRAM GOLDBY,
Aged 49,
LOST Ar SEA, JANUARY l56b.
The last six was nearly completed. A
strange pallor gathered for n moment
upon the strangers face, and then he
drew long. deep breath and said
"Is not ten years long time to be
cutting letters on tombstone, friend {"
"Eh, sir ?
The stone cutter looked, shaded his
eyes with his brown hand, AZ he turned
his face TO the setting sun.
"This is 1876" was the grave reply,
"and Hiram Goldby must have been ten
years under the waves.
"Well, sir, that's the question lis he
there?"
"Is he there? Your stone tells us he
is, and has been for ten years.
Eyes, sir, it does--so it does. And
vet she has ordered it. She came over n
week or SO back with II worried look upon
her sweet face, that have never seen
anything but patient in ten long years,
and she said TO me- You may cut n
stone, Dayy,' she says, and put it up in
the church-yard, and don't want to see
it, IN pay you whatever you choose to
ask, Davy, she says; but he's moi dead,
and don't want Il tombstone. Lor,
num-: says /, he'da turned up all these
years If he was not dead. But she
shook her pretty head, he prettiest |
ever seen, sir, and she snid: My heart
never told me he wns dead, Dayy, and
III never believe it till my heart tells
me SO.
Ills sweetheart p questioned the
stranger.
His wife, sir,--his loving, faithful
wife, that's had poverty, and loneliness
and misery her full share, and might ha'
better'd herself.
How was that p
"Mr. Miles, sir, the richest shipowner
hercabouts, he waited patiently for seven
long years, trying to win her. Then he
said that she was free even If Hiram did
come back.
"Enoch Arden. muttered the stran-
ger.
What did you say, sir.
Nothing, nothing. What answer did
she make Mr. Miles ~
"'If Hirnm's dead, said she, I'm his
faithful widow while | live. II Hiram 5
living. I'm his faithful wife. Maybe you
are from the city, sir, and have heard
the story of our Pearl?'
"What story is that?'
''Well. sir. it's been told many times,
more particularly in the last year, but
you're welcome to what ! know of 1t.
There. that is 6 done, and I'll leave the
Scripture text till morning. II you'll
come to the gateway and take a seat on
some of tho stones I'll tell you, that is,
If YOU care to hear Il,
81 do care, was the grave reply; Il
want very much TO hear the story
"Maybe you're some kin to tine Pearl
OF Monkton--that's what they call Mrs.
Colby hereabouts It's a - OF
thirty-three years lack, sir, here
was r wreck off Monkton rocks, tnuJ you
can see from here. SIR, now tides low.
Cruel rocks they are, and many a wreck
they've seen, the more the pity. You
see them, sir?''
Il see them. r