The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-05-22


snow white shawl, With long trailing
'r'ngcs and 8 web OF folded silk tint
4 i;'eHined like the bosom, Of swan; ant
o'e!fcr still ~ little caskci, and in tia Lace
ven hat looked like film of moonlight
ana u string of great milky pearls as lus.
'rous rs Eastern moons.
mere was a strip OF paper, and scrawl.
ca on It were these Words
Ny darling. When come home
shati ask you to he my wife, and if YOU
say yes, these may help FOR your wedding
things
Janet LET the battered lid fall, and drop
pea her lead HpoM it, Then she broke in
70 Il storm o. passionate tears. Poor
good Jack. and she had forgotten him and
given awe his ring. Then she wen. on
with he: sob!jing ill the sound Of = vote,
below interrupted aer-AIiss Tabitla Tur-
lei voice raised to an excited pitch.
ics. it's SO, an no mistake, lake Mil
! Ter g"I Icrc this norllin' and he was
pilot o ili: White Swan, ve know. He
SAYS she TUX fire in the mid ocean AN
every soul vas lost 'ccpt the second mate.
doe darwin. an him. Jake SAYS that poor
Jack worked Ike Il hero, but he saw him
90 down wi his own eyes Poor Miss
hil!ard IS like on crazy scncc shes got the
news
The girl rose 20 her feet and crep; down
to The sitting room With face like death.
Tell me the truth, she gaspcd. tell me,
mother what is ii about jack"
lies lost, put in Miss 1altla; "his
snip burnt 4; sea; the pilot got here this
mornin
Janet crossed the room aud sat down
on Inc doorstep. The sane familiar sights
and sounds: the sane Old Life, and Jacl,
gone.
\ dull aching pain filled her heart. a
pain hat nothing in all The after years OF
her life could ever alleviate.
Miss PAMELA came GU, on her way
home.
"Good-by, child" She said kindly:
don't take il to heart, but lis awful sud-
den. know. How | pity poor Jacks
mother Id go down and try aud comfort
her, but they have sent for ne at Judge
Sections. The Davcnports got in from
Europe this morning. and Tom Seatan' 5
engaged to Lizzie Davcnpor;--thc we'd
din 20 come oil this winter. they saw
Janet heard the words like one in a
dream Tom Seaton TO be married and
for his meaningless ilaitcry she had been
false to poor Jack.
Christmas day came and, according to
an established custom. Farmer Gresham
ana his wife went to dine with an old UNI
Gle: but Janet begged to remain al home
The great logs mouldcrcd into glowing
Goals. Presently the Old watch dog began
u. 4
crunchcd the slice; upon the porch She
took The candle in her hand ard opened
tie door
tail figure confronted her, a man
dressed in sailors garb and all bronzed
and bearded and changed, but she knew
him in an instant
ooh, blackjack, are YOU alive? Has
God sen; YOU back to me-
Ills strong, claSping arms, his hot kisses
on her lips and face, answered She
clung to him, sobbing Ike a child He
drew her into the room and up to the
glowing fire.
Ny beautiful darling. he cried. gazing
down cnrap;urcd into her sweet face, land
You TO love me, you are my OWN
Your own forever more. please God,
she answered solcmnly.
Then. sitting beside him in the freight
she heard The story of his miraculous cs-
cape from death, and in turn told the
story of her own folly and untaithtulncss.
But he only claspcd hcr"il the closer as
he listened
And when the Spring came and the
b!ucbirdS sang the contents OF the cam
phorwooI hex were brought 10 Light, and
The shecny silk WAS fashioned into a
bridal robe. and with the lusirous pearls
amid !.cr goldhrGwn hraids. Janet looked
the loycicSt bride that ever the sun
ShoNc on.