The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-08
Ole aEtsLLiaslLlaE
"A LITTLE PEARL

Ihey $1,000 togethef IN the ofchafu-Al
fred Brandon and his pretty sweetheart
Esther Gray, They were not quite alone
for girl, startlingly like Esther, but he
junior by three years, sat perched upon
mighty limb Of u huge old oak not man!
yards away, and swung and swayed, keep
ing time to her own listless, dreamy mo
ton by the murmuriug hum Of most de
licious voice grooming sweet old song,
tits no use, Ali,p Esther said, in re
Spouse to her lovers pleadings, mo usC
in wasting both our lives on fond dream
that never can become reality. Think o
the years 1t would take you to earn for
tune! And while | am waiting, growing
old and faded, and letting other chances
pass me by, you may fall, after all No, nj
give me back my promise our marringt
can never bel"
at can't shall !" cried Alfred, earnest
~. "'0ther chancesp If you loved mi
truly, would you think OF themY Do yot
love me, Esther"
She looked into his flushed and hand
some face and sighed inyOluntarily,
"Yes, do. II you were better off II
marry you and be a happy woman. Blu
that will never be, / love you, but ] HATE
poverty. I've been poor all my life,
must better myself when l marry, Why
shouldn't II You tell me Pm so handsome
Even your brother Henry tells me that
By-the-by, thought You were so sure THU
he would be our iriendF
"IIe tells me no said all he Coul, but
father will not hear it, Whatof that2 lie
finds no lault with you but your poverty
and when | nm no longer dependent upon
him, but my own master, able to support
my wife, he will welcome you rs dalgh'
ter, Essie. Henry says SO; II was Henry
who suggested that should go to Sun
FranCiSCo-th land OF golden dreams and
speedy fortunes, Essie, shall make u for
tune for you 10 share, my darling; only
promise me to wait three years. We are
SO young yet; you are but Is. Oh! what
are three yeard-save for the pain OF part
ing,-to love like ours?"
lie judged her by himself, poor fellow,
and never doubted her loyalty and trust;
but Esther was Of u very different nature
selfish, worldly, calculating and cold, Even
now, while her lovers arms were around
her, while his eager tones yet trembled in
her ear, while his honest, loving, pleading
eyes met her own dark, thoughtful glance,
she carefully weighed her chanCes-set In.
clinatiOn against intorest-pondering thus:
~ do love him-dear, kind ALI. do
wish could marry him. He Is so bright
and hopeful, perhaps he may get rich,
after all, ind, meantime, what other chance
will come to tempt me, living in this out
of-the-way place, and seeing no oneP And
three years will soon pass."
So in tho end she promised 10 wait for
him, truly and faithfully, through three
years, and then, when he should claim her,
become his loving wife.
Meantime, the musical murmur from
the tree had ceased, though quite unno.
ticed by the lovers, and as Esther gave the
promise a graceful, gIrlish form swung
itself down from It's leaiynest, and sudden.
" placed itself before them. Esther's fig.
ure, only less fully and finely formcdi
Esther's beautiful face and glossy, abund.
INT dark hair; Esther's dark eyes, too, you
would have thought at the first glance, lin;
til you slw that quite u different mind and
soul looked out from them.
Alfred held out his hand to her.
~ had forgotten YOU, PEARL" said he.
"Well, you can witness our engagement"
The girl drew herself up to her full
height
81 shall witness nothing SO foolish and
tllsc," she sald, sternly, Then turning TO
her sister: "Why do you promise what
you will never pertormP Why do you de-
ceivo one WHO is so honest and true
hearted2 Esther withnever wait for you
three years, All. You must be mad to be-
lieve itw
And with that she loft them. Esther
looked after her with a smile.
"a silly girl, and you are her hero" she
said, pouting u little. ~ am not good
enough for YOU in her eycsw
He Clasped her to his heart enthusiastic.
ally.
ga MI vnt1 will In trtin my 1nrlinO ilir0IiOI