Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04
CHAPTER. VII.
'Father, father, l see it and know it,
Only my heart to my heart shall show 1t,
As I walk desolate daE by day.N


Let me omit the record of events FOR the
next two years that followed; but viii
note the changes thatsmarked their flight.
Sailors Home had become one of the
most prominent of benevolent lnstltu-
ttons IN the suburbs of the SeabOard city,
where it was built according to my best
Judgment midway between fathers home
and Strassmere.
The most exclusive ones in social cir
cles visited me as the benevolent direc-
tress of Sailors Home, and-must write
1t a-the young and wealthy mistress of
StFassmere. Their smiles affected me as
little as their scOrn, for the fragile being,
who in the beginning of this story smiled
with delight that she had fashionable
jewels to wear, was as If she had never
been so young and guileless. The
''Daisy" who lived then was dead. 1t
seemed right and pleasant for my ac-
quaintances to call me Miriam, and it was
as Miriam WellbOrn 1 was known.
My home could never be quite desolate or
dreary had no companions, for it was my
joy still to keep 1t lovely; but 1t was very
easy for me to secure the services of an
intelligent lady for h0usekeeper, who was
cOmpanio1able so far as my reserve
would permit. and who kept me from COM
plete solitude. Franz LOehr, the German
lad, was promoted while a youth Of six
teen TO be my head gardener, and faith
full one he proved. Often at night / used
to watch the flicker of his lamp through
the little window while memory held me
in her deathless embrace. AS on that
black night had blessed God for giving
me the power of silence, blest Him for it
still. Over my miserable past and over
him who was gone into some trackless
exile drew a veil through which no one
dared to penetrate.
How gladly would l have welcomed a
kind fathers presence in my lonely home -!
I How his love would have sOOthed my
I griefl But even this was denied me. He
| remained as obdurate as ever.
| A few days after the mysterious disap-
pearance Of Eugene, when was desert
| ed, and father perhaps imagined me grown
| bitter towards him for whom | had for.
saken home, l received g note from Harry
| dictated by my father. He wanted me TO
| come home, but ah the terms! He thought
it would be easy for me to VOW that never
more should | speak the name of my de-
! ceiVer; never more should my heart turn
/ TO him save in adherence. He did not
| fathOm the nature OF woman. | clung to
a hope even then though it seemed dead,
| and would die in loneliness before l would
! shatter it forever. | would not agree to
I renounce the memory of Eugene, so faith.
/ err and Harry were dead to me.
! After Harry's probation Of two years
was over and his restoration seemed sure,
/ DR.. Douglas gave his permission for Jes-
sic to become his wife. They were mar
ried, heard it from others, ana only saw
! them at intervals. as passed them in rid
/ ing about the city. They never recog
nized me even by a bow. Father l never
saw, for they told me that he was growing
too stout and stiff to move about much
! and | did not choose ever to pass by the
cid homestead. 1t was much easier fol
me to bear the new life and to go about
my daily duties among the suffering and
needy when there was no ghost Of Il lost
| joy before me.
Now and then a CLEAN Of comfort shot
across my pathway. l had q visitor one
/ day who gave me his name as Allan
Keith. He handed me q letter from his
mother to myself, and while | read it in
his presence he watched me with earnest
eyes.
l found out from the letter that this
was the rutfian who had attempted Ia
| take his own life one day, and to whom |
| had lent the necklace. lie was an altered
man, as his face and whole appearance full.
! ly showed; indeed, so great was be
/ changed that ! had not recognized him.
His grateful mother wrote me sweet
words of thankfulness that sent a thrill OF
| Joy through my soul. He was not only
! saved from life of sin, but he was restored
/ to one Of usefulness. He returned the
! jeweled necklace all unframed. Truly
! its mission was a sacred One-t that strange
wierd trinket. After he was gone l sat
| alone and thought Of Aunt Miriam's gifts
! to me and all the teachings that had come
to me through them. Though her jewels
were but mute, glittering stones, they
were every day working out good, and
speaking to the hearts of the many who
found a home and friends i'll the far haven
which her benevolent soul provided.
Aunt Miriam was my good angel. She
gave me deliyerance from despair Wher
| she left me a work for my hands to 10, q
mission to accomplish that babe me sac
in the living present"