Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-09

n<uasknbss Sasalss1 IN nssl Llss ~ feu~y.
usns PsestcAS ssesy sfsss Lsvs anssssrsws
s q kssch Ardsn. Asne tes, end shslls Rsy.
A f,our Branch special TO the PhiIsdei.
pkla T33n<s says: The little village OF
Qetanpor4. about two miles 10 the north OF
Long Brunch. Il the scene Of an extraordi.
nary realisation Of Tennyson,s poem OF
Enoch Arden. The SURROUNDINGS are IN
thorough harmony with the story. The
Village Is composed Of q few scattered
housxp. little clap-boArded structures,
peiu,td sober brown and surrounded for
The mort pars by white paiings. Il lies upon
tbc lands, and the surf DISHES upon the
single AZ is doors. Although within few
mfpnfcs' ride Of gay and worldly Long
Brunch, tho villagers retain simplicity OK
manner that Is charming. This may be ac-
counted for by The fact that the only visi-
tors from the outside world that they zee
ere those WHO 70 there from this place to
cut freshly-caught fish and clans. Even the
ehsngsful lie history, revealed only upon
dtathhed, has aeitatcd ITS primitive atmos-
pbsre but little, aud 20 many OF the simple
folk the fcnsuc Of gossip has not yet con-
vtyed the story. The history bai to be
gathered BY bits. The work was not an
easy one, since those who knew 1t best
manifested disposition 10 talk the least.
But here IL the story:
soFr-KysD MATILDA souTEs.
A pretty gIri lived near Manasquan thirty
years ago. Her name was Matilda Dulci-
ncr Squires. Those Who knew her then
say that her eyes were wonderfully soft and
blue, her figure was trim and graceful, aud
her brown hair long and lustrous. Besides
these gifts OF beauty. she had the qualities
requisite FOR good housewife. She was
the daughter Of fshcrman--a thrifty,
staid, and practical old dad. Two young
men paid her court-IIiram Olive. Whose
father had recently died and left him farm
near the quaint old village Of l,ranchburg.
and Samuel Barton, who. like Matilda's
father, was q toller Of the sea. Hard luck
had come 10 Basion, and he had little 20
oAcr his loyo beyond bis heart and hand.
Old man squires. with bis eve always TO
the main chance. was an advocate OF the
suit Of Olive, and curtly hinied 10 Barton
that he need not hope 10 become the hus-
band Of the pretty Matilda. The pretty
Matilda and Barton, however, had notions
81 their own Gil that subject. Barton had
already declared bis love, and Matilda had
told him that she was "fondr OF him.
Her fathers opposition but increased the
intensity u her attachment. They met by
stealth. and in the end were married in
secret. The truth could not be hidden al.
ways, and when, In the course OF time, old
Squiies discovered II he was furious. He
was hardly the man 10 forgive and bless.
As his child had chosen. he said, be il unto
her. He sent her away from his house,
and declared that, as she had disobeyed
him, she had despised him, and must no
more think OF him as father.
SAMUEL BARTos's ILL.LUCK.
The III luck that attended Samuel Barton
as lover followed him as a husband. No.
thing seemed 10 prosper with him. Three
children came. They. Ike their mother, were
bright and pretty. But they were not gold
or silver. 1t was natural that Matilda, uu-
der these circumstances. should sometimes
revert 10 The old days and think with re.
gre, OF what might have been. Hiram Olive
was stiA in fortunes favor. But he never
thought OF marriage any more, and there was
no girl 40 Manasquan who could truthfully
say that his attentions TO Der meant any
more than polite form. After Matilda
squires's marriage he lost much OF the gay
bcoyaney that hsd characterized him be-
fore. His relations with Matilda and Sam
uel BartoD, however, still remained kindly. |
II Is related OF him taat on one occasion, |!
when Matilda's eldest child was taken sud- |
ctnly vi leBtly III, he rode six miles |
through snow-storm to bring physician. |
All this, however, did not alter the fact |
that Matilda was discontinued. She vented |
her feeling upon her husband, repro9ched |
him for avlng, as she put 1t, seduced her |
into espousing his fortunes aud ehidcd |
him with ms poverty. Her husband one |
day informed her that he had got a chance.
1Rh frf m. -
bound from New York 10 China, aud had
accepted the offer.
THE husbands DEPARTURE.
The voyage, he said, would take about
year. he received bali his pay 10 advance
and gave u 10 her for the support OF herself
and tie little ones. He sold his fishing
boat and gave her that money, TOO. When
they parted-he to 20 on his long journey,
sLe 10 patiently wait his return In the li!tle |
fishers coitage-she fell in his arms, weep
ing IS II she never would zee him again.
Va lifted ger up and colby said 81
thought thai you had got tired n me. MS-
Iildy. I've brought you no good-no, no
good: but maybe this Will be a change In
ny fortune" Ten months after that Ma
ida received intelligence that the vessel
IN With her husband bad sailed was
Wrecked IN southern Sens. The months
md wears went by and she heard not
cord from The ocean. Just ten years after
her husband had sailed away she married )
gain. The groom vas Hiram Olive, 1ia.
ilda's father lived long enough 10 witness
he ceremony and 10 take his daughter back
o bis heart. Hiram Olive sold his farm
md bought one near Oceanport and took
,is bride and the children OF his old rival
With him and lived there.
TBE wAspEEEa's RETURN.
Three weeks ago a weaiher.beaten old
man, IN shabby clothes, appeared ia Oceau-
port. His cheeks above bis gray, griz.led
beard were pale and sunken. He said that |
he had come down from New York. lie !
got lodging in the house OF the widow |
Josephson, q kindly old soul, sometime.
called In pleasantly Grandmother joe"
The second morning after Lis domicile he
could not rise from his bed.
a. shah never get up again." he said to
anxious Grandmother Joe; "Pye got con-
sumption bad. have dragged myself
here 10 die; but don't fear, when I am
gone you will find money enough in belt
around my waist 10 paw you for all your
trouble. buno on 60 that, though every
thing else left me. As i came down here |
heard the name OF a certain woman. Is |
was Matilda Dulcimer Olive. She was
once the wife OF fisherman who lived on |
the coast near here, named Sam Barton. |
She was the daughter OF old man SQuires. |
Do you know her 2"
YES
"Well, 20 tell her 10 come here TO see |
NE. Tell her she must come; only once.
That will lie all. Go right now"
"Who are youf'
"She will KNOW
The widow, full OF surprise and curiosi-
~. hurried away, leaving the SICK man In
charge OF her reu.haired maid Of all work.
Susie. When she returned, Matilda was
with her. The two women entered the
sick-room together. The stranger was
lying With his shining eyes fixed upon the
doorway. Matilda's eyes met bis. For an
instant she stood staring hard at him, 40 II
bait In doubt; then she started back and
cried aloud.
YES said the stranger: "yes, it's
snm Barton; not dead, but lying
PICKED UP AT SEA.
Then he explained how he had been
picked up. after his ship had gone down,