Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-06-17

N(EIAN lill were alone. ! stood
| lG,NWll ~ In silence for few
Nv moments outside
mn T the docks. to draw
| NV what seemed to me
~ to be the breath OF
freedom. All our companions had
gone their several ways to sec relatives
and friends who had believed them to
be dead. Even Tom Wren had left us.
He had two sisters in Devon, to whom
1t was right he should so without de-
lay; but 1t was only by strong per-
suasion that he was induced to leave
his fairy Pearl. and 1t was arranged
that he should come to us at Christ
mas. wherever we might happen to be.
And this Is London!" said Pearl.
gazing about her in wonder. Mother
used often to speak Of 1t. Daddy,
shouldn't like to be left here alone.
It's very large. isn't 1t? And to think
that, of all the people in 1t. you are the
only friend l have!"
The fair young creature cluns TO my
arm wistfully and fondly.
you are not the only one, dear
child" said l. when l was here last,
my old mother was alive. doubt. alas!
II she be alive now. II she is gone, !
also shall be without a friend but my
little Pearl. Well. dear child. we Will
rub along together, you and !. You
have NO father or mother OF your own.
and I have no wife and child"
Am l not your child?" asked Pearl.
softly. Never say that again. Daddy
Beecroft! will be good child to
you: and what father have but you.
my dear? You. are not tired OF me,
are you? We are going to live here all
our lives. you say. Say. Welcome to
our home, dear daughter.
1 said the words. and kissed her In
the streets-I didn't mind the people
looking. They would have liked to
have been in my place. do not doubt.
But there was no time to lose. There
were certain things to be seen to with
out delay. The first was. to inquire
after my mother. Away. then. we rat
tied to Brixton. directed the driver
to stop within half mile Of the place.
wishing to walk thithcr, as l used to
do in the old days. What varied emo
tions agitated me as Pearl and l
walked toward the familiar spot where
the sign Of "Beecroft, Mariner. used
to stand! My little girl saw that
was agitated, and did not disturb the
current of my thoughts. except ty a
fond and sympathizing pressure OF the
arm. Great changes had taken place.
New streets had been formed: new
houses had been built: old landmarks
had disappeared. But when l turned
the lane in which our cottage Used to
stand, saw with delight that 1t was
still there; and as surely as l lived.
the fondly remembered device OF Bee
croft, Mariner" was over the parlor
| window. l paused while.
,"I hnye two strong wishes. my dear,
I said.
Yes, daddy" said she.
1.-The first is, to find my dear old
mother alive. The second Is. tnat we
may be able to live in that cottage
"Why daddy" she said. your name
is over It! is 1t yours. them"
mo, dear child; but my father lived
| in It before me, and passed there the
hnpp,est years OF my life. You mustn't
question me yet. my little laughter.
ont of charity and mercy to one loved
most dearly, have never spoken OF 1t
| to YOU. My wounds open afresh MS
gaze upon the place where l drew my
first breath. Come"
knocked at the door Of the cottage,
m elderly woman appeared. l hardly
dared to hope that my mother would
have answered me; but the disappoint-
ment, for which l ought to have been
fully prepared, gave me n great shock,
and I could scarcely find my voice.
"Forgive, me-" I said presently; my
name is Beecroft."
in some surprise at the device OF shells
above the window. mot that Bee
croft?" a
"Beecroft, Mariner. was my father
replied. II was born here, and l
have Just returned to my native land
after an absence OF many years.
"perhaps you and the young lady
would like to walk In" said the civil
woman.
did not require second invita-
tion. Much OF the old furniture was
there; many of the old shells also. My
,yes filled with tears as l gazed on
the dear mementoes. l entered into
particulars with the woman. who in
formed me that she and her husband
had lived in the cottage for ten years !;
that the last tenant. an old woman.
whose name, she said, was the same as
my own. had fallen into poverty, and
had been sold of. the landlord of the
house buying the the furniture him
self, and letting the place ready fur
nished. I asked after my mother,
but the woman could give me no in
formation of her. She had left the
neighborhood when she was turned
out OF the house. and had not been
seen in 1t since. Upon further in
quiry, l ascertained that there would be
no difficulty in obtaining possession of
the cottage. providing was willing to
ray n certain sum OF money to her hls-
band. To be brief, / concluded the
arrangement the same day, and the
next morning took possession by con-
sent of the landlord. of whom l pur-
chased the furniture at price satfs-