Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-10-07

few strong-minded persons who declar-
ed that nothing would give them
more pleasure than to see the ghostly
visitor. They never saw it; but the
i'll name still chung to the deserted
place.
Pearl was in no mode for fear, in
deed, she was in proper frame of
mind to question and defy her fate.
AS she drew near to the old build
ing, which looked wierd and dismal
enough with wide yawing windows
and doors, an odd project came into
her mind, and taking the great ball
of yarn which she held, she threw it
into the old house, startling swarm
of rats, that rushed across the floor
in eager haste, their wild, pattering
feet making startling echoes in the
still night. Then, winding at the
other end slowly, she repeated me-
chanically;
II wind-who holds?
Come my true love, unto mo,
Thy dear face long to sec,
Alive or dead come to me.
| wind-who holds ?"
Hank! Was it the rats, or foot
step upon the rotten floor that echoed
in the deserted room? Was 1.-THE
yarn grew tighter in her grasp, and
an echoing voice answered from the
darkness within:
"Allen Rider holds the ball,
He has listened to thy call,
He has come DER hill and dell,
Listen, love, and he will tell"
Bat Pearl waited to hear no more.
She threw the ball which she had
been winding and turned to flee, but
her limbs had lost their strength, and
she sank down upon the damp ground,
staring wildly at the open door of the
old house, where something was surely
moving.
Oh, why had she tried the witch's
spell?
Every drop of blood seemed chilled
in her veins, for, out of the blackness,
with eager haste came well-known
figure, and a well-remembered face
bent above her in the dim light, i'm
patiently trying to read her own with
hungry, loving eyes.
1t vast could be no ghost.
pearl! my priceless Pearl !" MUIR
INJURED a wished-for voice, as he wound
his arms about her and lifted her to
his breast, where she could feel the
earnest throbbing of living, human
heart. No it was a living breathing,
ANXIOUS lover, come to claim his own,
and he was not repulsed.
"Ah, Pearl, 1 hungered so for sight
of your dear face that l could not
stay awayW he murmured fondly.
81 got no answer"
"And / did not get this until to-
day." she answered quickly, holding
the letter up in the mellow light of
the newly risen moon, while she told
of Jacks forgetfulness.
"And what would my answer have
been ?" he asked suddenly.
A swift, shy uplifting of the sweet,
blue eyes, moment of maidenly
hesitation, then two arms were entwin-
ed tenderly around his neck, and, in,
a soft kiss that fell upon his cheek, he
received the answer which he craved.
"But-I thought that you were
dead" she said with sob.
81 sailed in the Columbia" he an
swered. l was determined to see you
once more, and try my fate again il
no one else had won you from me.
l was reported missing, but passing
vessel picked me up, when l had drift.
ed for miles clinging to plank which
scarcely bore my weight. 1 reached
port this morning. Twas on my way
to your house when l heard you
coming.
"Not wishing to be seen here until
l was sure of your welcome, entered
the old house. When you began
your witch's rhyme l determined to
humor your mood, with no thought oil
frightening you as must have DONE
but = Well, all is we'll that ends we'll
l have won my Pearl, my jewel among
women. My precious wife,"
So, after time came the sunshine
of love and perfect happiness.
There was u wedding shortly at the
Walton homestead, and among Pearls
wedding gifts was one from her hus
banda title deed of Mount Solomon
, and of the old deserted house.
The old house still stands desolate
and lone, for she will not have it re-
moved.
A beautiful SUMMER house is buil
upon the top of the mount, where
Pearl Rider often sits and thinks o.
that dark dav, when she sat there
alone in the first misery of a great
sorrow, nor dreamed of the joy which
wonld come to her after time.
So mote it be.