National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-11
AN ooEANpoRr ENooH ARDEN.
Touching story OF n sesfsring nan
who Returns After n Long Absence
90 Find Hts WHO Welded 10 n
Former RivaI-IIO Very Properly

W hu htNuNhh hNhtE N hfpNN NNh'hNN
90 Find Ills WHO Welded 10 n
Former Rlvai-II0 Very Properly
Dies and Untanglcs the skcin.
Long Branch Correspondence.
A few scattered houses, painted a sober
brown, rest upon tho sands two miles
north Of this place and constitute tho
village of Ocoanport. Tho little houses
are tenanted by people whose hardy
lives and simple manners contrast
strongly with tho luxury and gayoty Of
Long Branch. 1t Is only ohco in while
that fashionable visitors And thoir way to
ocoanport, and then they go for the ex-
press purpose of eating freshly caught
fish and clans.
A pathetic story, closely resembling
the story OF Euoch Ardon and AMMO Loe,
has recently boon disclosed upon death
bed In this quiet aud primitive village.
The narrative, however, has agitated
the simple minded folks but little. aud
tho tongue of gossip has scarcely touched
upon II. The history had to be gathered
by bits. The work was not an easy ono,
since those who know IL best manifested
a disposition to talk the least. But here
Is the story:
A pretty girl lived noar ManasQusn
thirty years ago. Her namo was Matilda
Dulcimer Squiros. Those who know her
then say that her Dyes werc wonderfully
soft and blue, her figure was trim and
graceful, and her brown hair long and
lustrous. Bcaide these gifts Of beauty she
had the qualities requisite for good
housewife. She was tho daughter of n
fisherman, q thrifty, staid, and practical
man. Two young men paid her court
Hiram Olive, whose father had recently
died and loft him farm near the quaint
old village Of Brauohburg, and Samuel
Barton, who like her father was n toiler
| of tho sea. Hard luck had como to Bar
| ton, aud he had little to offer his lady
loyo beyond his heart and hand. Old
man Squiros, with his eye always to tho
main chance, was an advocate OF tho suit
Of Olive, and CURLY hintod to Barton that
he need not hope TO become tho husband
of tho pretty Matilda. Tho pretty Ma
tilda and Barton, however, had notions
of their own on that subject. Barton had
already declared his love. and Matilda
had told him that she was fond" of him.
Her fathers opposition but increased the
intensity of her attachment. They met
by stealth, and the end were married in
secret. Tho truth could not DO hidden
always, and when In tho course Of time
old Squires discovered II he was furious.
Ho was hardly tho man to forgive and
bless. As his child had chosen, he said.
40 DO IL unto her. Ho sent hor away from
his house, and declared that AS sho had
disobeyed him, she had dospisod him, nnd
must no more think of him as father.
Tho i'll luck that attended Samuel Bar
ton as lover followed him as husband
Nothing seemed to prosper with him
Three children came. They, like thoii
mother, were bright and pretty. But
they were not gold or silver. 1t wa
natural that Matilda's thoughts, undel
these circumstances should sometimes
revert to the old days with something o.
regret for what might have boon. Hiram
Oliver was still in fortunes favor. Bu
no never thought Of marriage any moro
and thore was no girl ut Manasquan who
could truthfully say that his attontionI
to her meant moro than polite form
After Matilda Squires's marriage no los
much of the buoyancy that had oharao
terisod him before. His relations with
Matilda and Samuel Barton, however
still remained kindly. 1t Is related o.
him that on ono occasion, whom Matllda'i
eldest child was suddenly taken violently
i'll, he rode six miles through a snowstorn
to bring u physician.
Matilda was discontented, and she
vented her feelings upon her husband
representing him for having, rs she put 1t
seduced her into espousing his fortunes
and chided him with his poverty. He
J husband ono day informed her that b.
had received M offer through friend +
go as mato on vessel bound from Ney
York to China and had accepted tho Offer
Tba kn aotl xpntih tulfa ahnnf
year, He received half his pay in I'D
, vance and gavo 1t to hor for the supper
of herself aud the little ones. He sol,
his fishing boat and gave her that none.
} too. When they parted, he 10 90 on hi
, long Journey, she to patiently his return
/ In the little fishers cottage, she foil int
! his arms weeping as If she mover woul'
D SEQ him again.
Ho lifted her up and coldly said; Z"
thought that you had got tired O. me
Matildy. I'vo brought You no guod-nC
no good--but may be this will BIO
/, change in my fortune"
Ten months after that Matilda receives
l. intelligence that the vessel on which he
. husband had sailed was wrecked In south
. orn seas. Tho months and years won't b
4. aud she heard not word from the ocear
Just ton years after her husband ha
h sailed away she married again. TIL
" groom was Hiram Olive. Her fathc
= lived long enough to witness the core
mony and to take his daughter back
D his heart. Hiram Olive sold his farI
e and bought one near Oceanport, and too
his bride and tho children OF his old rive
with him and lived theIS.
. Three weeks ago weathcr-beaton oil
;. man In shabby clothes appeared in OcoaI
port. His checks above his gray, grizzle
. beard were pale and sunken. lie sal
that he had come down from New Yorl
/ He got a lodging In tho house of Wido
Josephson, q kindly old soul, sometlm,
' called grandmother Joe." Tho sccon
morning after his arrival he was unab
;. to rise from his bod. II novor shall 4,
up again" no said to anxious Crane
mother Joe. "I've got consumption ba,
/ have dragged myself down hero to die
but don't fenr whom am gone. You wi
find money enough in belt round IL
,. waist to pay you for oil your trouble.
I hung on to that, though everything ell
. left me. AS / came down here heal
r the name of certain woman. 1t WI
o Matilda Dulcimer Olive She once vi
,, tho wife of fisherman who lived on Il
a coast noar here, named Sam Barton. 81
!, was the daughter Of old man Squiors. l
7 you know horP'
. yes"
7. "Well, 60 tell her to come her to s.
.; me- Tell her she must come; only once
9, that will be all Go right now"
9; "Who arc youW
!; "She will know"
q The widow, full of surprise and CT
0. riosity, hurried away, leaving tho sit
n man in charge of her red-haired main
q all work, Susie. When she return'
IS Matilda was with her. Tho two WON,
Y entered the sick room together. III
j stranger was lying with his shining ey
- fixed upon tho doorway. Matilda's ey
g. met his. For an instant she stood sta
e. ing hard at him as If half in doubt, tn,
y abe started back and cried aloud,
" Yes" said tho stranger, yes, yes, 1
4; Sam Barton--not dead. but dyingn