The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-19

drifted back with all her wealth, and her crew
OF frosty bearded men, dead these many years.
Marguerite poured out gold with a lavish hand.
Children of men who had staked their all in tcat
disastrous voyage were paid in full, with inter
est. 1t was like those old French war claims.
The ghosts OF dead fortunes coming from Con-
gress halls resembling with eloquence of mighty
men, coming TO fnd-only moss-erown graves.
Coming to 60 shrieking away, 81 sm thy stolen
treasure, Captain john or Captain Daniel. /
have returned to you, but you are dust"
Some old fishermen were yet alive, and these
accepted their rightful due with scans courtesy,
and many bitter complaints, IF this had a como
afore she might q lived ~ might q bean q
we'll man slider . helpless cripple" A hundred
querulous memories. outspoken and unkind.
Marguerite listened with infinite patience and
persevered. She never thought from the first
there would be the consciousness OF O good
action performed IN paying these debts; 1t was
only duty. unthanked and lovslsss. At last
there came q time. however. when grim faces
lightened at her coming. and once . gray old
fisherman met her on the wharf with . hearty
God bless you, young Teddy; there Is no one
but speaks kind Of ye, whatever has been said
Of him.
She burst into O wild ft Of sobbine, so discon-
certing him that on that very night he walked
out to the poor farm to beg Miss Tarbox to be
forRiving. Marguerite never went to the grave
under the light now. for the past had not yet
been blotted out. Each day the trip to the Cape
grew more difficult. and the second week in
April the girl took 90 her bed. She quietly put
aside her weary striving TO make restitution.
and with q sad hope that the curse bad come TO
her in the form Of kindly death, drifted into un-
consciousness Ann never left her side, and the
Captain and Sol lowered miserably about her
door.
"Poor stricken heart, /" the Captain murmursd
the fifth day of her sickness, "a livin' over In
her mind all these sad days"
Al she cries so. too said Sol; 'allus a
talkin'. tslkin'. I wish there nsverd bean no
Areosy. don't your
lay, lad answered the Captain, t~iptosing
81 tell you. Mr.. Barnes. cried Marguerite.
wildly, "all that Argosy cost muss-shall be
paid. They are so unforgiviDg-so hard. She
will not take the money; she has cursed my
father. and he cannot rest in his gravel Always
before the frightened eyes OF the sick girl was
that stern, gloomy old face, the remembrance of
the wrecked lives, the ruined home on the cliff.
"And he" once she screamed, The rises dripping
from the seattle drowned man. He. too, ac-
cuses me-"
The sixth day the ''ssa GULF sailed over for
Marthy Pierce. for Ann was worn out with
watching and worry. Sol went along full Of his
own schemes. When the boat landed, the Cap
tain saw q knot of fishermen standing on the
wharf. All the way across he had been wonder
ing if Marthy Pierce would come. bus said not q
word Of this to the wise. silent child.
Whats upl" said Sol, shrilly. A fisherman
bowed with weight of years and toll, came close
to the boat.
'How is the little leddyir he asked, as the
Captain stepped ashore. A great sob rose In the
Captains throat, a blur over mis- eyes.
tine doctor thinks she'll die he answered,
meeting the extended hand.
"Wed hserd il" said another; 'we'd prayers
for her in the schoolhouse last night"
The Captain did not ask how the i'll news came
so quickly. his heart was flied with the desire
that she should know this. They had prayers
for her. those deceived. wroneed men. those
gray-haired. wrinkled fishermen. Prayers for
the child Of the man who had blighted their
lives. Eric Stockdsle could rest in his grave
now, and his daughters lips might dwel on hap
pier times. The old Argosy itself might be at
anchor 10 the harbor. freishted with forgiveness
and affection. No need TO ask Marthy Pierce a
to go. but Marthy insisted on her right. At the
wharf the "Sea GULF had to wait, though her
wins 90 were outspread. eager to hold the fresh
enlng breeze. Sol had disappeared.
Sol had been very quiet all the way across
filed with q weighty idea. secretly scared at his
old Ooldness. When they reached the cape he
slipped of as fast as his thin legs could carry
him and ran to the poor farm. He found Mrs.
Tarbox alone IN the kitchen knitting a coarse
blue sock for one of the psupers. :.
Ohio" she said. sneeringly, 81 knew we'll
enuff she'd quit comm"
Yes" cried Sol. but don't you talk thater
way. She's goin' ter die. an its your doin, fur
all she talks of is you. am with a sob, shes
wuss all the time
.Dyinr' the grim lips quivered, 'the pretty
girl"
Soils sharp eyes saw the hard features soften.
He went on tn tell all the sick girl said in her
delirium. besides much she did not say. IAN
avery bcdys furgive her but YOU continued
Sol; where kin you 60 TO but to everlastin'
birthstone when you're so sot agin one
There was q terrible struggle in that fne old
face. A battle OF love and forgiveness against a
lifetime OF wrong and poYerty. AT last she