Omaha daily bee., 1884-07-12
A MELsAGE FROM THE pEEr.

When Mable arrived home from tho
beach she babe her cousin good. by and
told him not to call that evening as she
| felt too tired to entertain him. He was
only to glad to get away, for his shoes
were filled with sand and his heart with
sorrow. He plainly saw that his fair cou-
sin cared no more for him than if he had
never enlisted.
Mable went at once to her room, and
was so curious to see the contents of the
package which came to her in such a
mysterious manner that she could scarce
ly wait until her maid left the room.
With trembling hands she broke the seal
and unrolled the outside wrapper. Within
was a small box containing u magnificent
diamond ring. She gazed at it with great
astonishment and admiration. Exami-
ming it closely she discovered that the
same monogram which was impressed on
the seals was engraved on the inside.
j ust then q paper which she had not
previously noticed tiuttered to the
floor. She picked it up and read as
follows:
Perchance this message from the sea
May meet the eyes of one whose heart
VIII yetTu bS Illhc uOtS NJ" U llets
Whose voice will warmly welcome me
And say, "My love, why should we
part?"
Take then this talismanic ring,
Which now into the sea / fling
In hopes it may ~fruition bring.
"Well, this is almost as wonderful as
anything in the Arabian Nights" said
Mabel. "Poor fellow! He must be aw-
f,,llr, ,.~tn,,s 10 find Soma nnn fn lpua
Goodness! How Cousin George would
growl if he knew what | found in that
old bottle ON the beach. won't show it
to him, anyhow, because he's a hateful
old thing. I'm not going to tell anybody
about it. Let me think"
She tried on the ring and found it fitted
her perfectly. She gazed at it in admira-
ton for several minutes, as if in deep
thought, and then exclaimed:
"Ah, I have it! The inspiration has
come at last"
William Walstvn awoke the next day
in a queer frame of mind. The card
which the genial major unwittingly gave
him still lay on the bureau and seemed as
much a puzzle to him as ever.
"Pshaw!" he exclaimed, chow stupid
l am! Why, that must be his daughters
name. Mabel Maythorp-1 wonder if
she is as pretty as her name2 Ii [ should
meet her l don't propose to tell her that
/ was fool enough to throw a diamond
ring overheard in hopes that some fair
maid might find it and fall in love with
the idiot who wrote the ridiculous verse
accompanying it. Wouldn't it be a good
joke If some old fisherman or colored
cook found it? 1t would serve me right
for my foolishness.
The next few days he devoted to bust
ness connected with his property, and
then one morning he made up his mind
to call on Major Maythorp. He found
the address in a directory and Boon
reached the handsome residence OH the
Heights. The Major was delighted to
see him and introduced him to his
daughter, Mabel, with great ceremony.
For the old gentleman was wise in his
day and generation, and had found out
all about his ocean friend beforehand.
When Walston told him about the
card of his daughter the Major pretend
ed it was e joke, and laughed heartily
oNCL is llO pDOit DuSii q PiCuouiiV wv
ming that he determined to call often, il
invited. Mabel was quite charmed with
her fathers friend, and made up her
mind when they became better acquaint.
ed to tell him of her message from the
sea; for she had long ago given up all
hopes of ever hearing from the sender.
One evening Mr.. Walston said
Miss Maythorp, wont you favor me
with some music2 Please sing something
new, if you can"
Mabel's eyes sparkled as she took her
seat at the piano.
81 will sing you a song which neither
you nor anybody else ever heard. com
posed the music but tho words must
have been written by old Neptune"
"Why, how did you get them" asked
Walston.
''Oh, they came to me from the briny
deep" she gayly replied.
Walston started and turned pale.
"No, it is simply impossible" he
thought.
"She could never have found that bot
tie. / only wish it were So"
His thoughts were interrupted by the
prelude to the song, and then in a low,
sweet, thrilling tone she sang:
Perchance the Tessage from the sea
May meet the eyes of one whose heart
Walston sprang formard and seized her
hands.
"Miss, Mable, where did you find
those words?" he exclaimed in IN agitated
voice.
"From the sea, ] told you. Why, Mr..
Walston, what is the matterf"
He was 30 pale that she was frightened
and offered to go for her father.
"No, mol" said he; 81 want you and
you alone"
Like the small boys who swap jack
knives, each thinking the other has the
best of the bargain, they exchanged
stories and kisses.
Mable wears the diamond ring on her
engagement finger and sings her sweet.
hearts first song every evening he calls.
Her cousin George has gone west for
good, as he says the smell of salt water
gives him the heartburn, and he has
signed the temperance pledge, as the
sight of a soda-water bottle breaks him
all up.
Hunts kidney and Liver Remedy is