Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-06-17


SaE1lVRI Ill we're alone. stood
lk,AWll - In silence for few
TW moments outside
NW n the docks, to draw
MW what seemed to me
~ to be the breath OF
freedom. All our companions had
gone their several ways to see 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-
6uasion that he was induced to leave
h'A fairy Pearl, and 1t was arranged
chat 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 It, 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 have!"
The fair young creature chung to my
arm wistfully and fondly.
you are not the only one, dear
child" said !. When / was here last,
my old mother was alive. doubt, alasl
II she be alive now. II she is gone,
also shall be without friend but my
little Pearl, Well dear child, we will
rub along together you and I. You
have no father or mother Of your own,
and have no wife and child"
Am l not your chlld?" asked Pearl,
softly. Never say that again, Daddy
Beecroft! l will be coed 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.
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.
I But there was no time to lose. There
were certain things to be seen to with
put delay. The first was, to inquire
after my mother. Away, then, we rat
tied to Brixton. I directed the driver
30 stop within half mile Of the place,
wishing to walk thither, as | used to
do in the old days. What varied emo
lions agltated me rs Pearl and l
walked toward the familiar spot where
the sign OF "Beecroft, Mariner" used
to standl My little girl saw that l
was agitated, and did not disturb the
current Of my thoughts, except by a
fond and sympathizlng 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 turned
the lane in which our cottage Used to
stand, saw with delight that It was
still there: and as surely as / lived,
the Tondly remembered device Of Bee
croft, Mariner" was over the parlor
window. l paused while.
II have two strong wishes, my dear"
said.
Eyes, daddy" said she.
1.-THE first is, to find my dear old
Aother alive. The second is, that we
may be able to live in that cottage"
"Why daddy" she said, your name
b over it! is 1t yours, then?"
mo, dear child; but my father lived
In it before me, and passed there the
happiest years Of my life, You rustn' t
question me yet, my little daughter.
Out of charity and mercy to one loved
host dearly, have never spoken of it
10 you, My wounds open afresh as l
gaze upon the place where drew my
1rst breath. Come"
l knocked at the door Of the cottage,
an elderly woman appeared. I'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 great shock,
and could scarcely find my voice.
"Forgive, me-" l said presently; my
name Is Beecroft."
Indeed" said the woman, glanclng
in some surprise at the device of shells
above the window. mot that Bee
cr0ft?"
-Beecroft, Mariner, was my father"
replied. II was born here, and ]
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.
l did not require q second invita-
ton. Much Of the old furniture was
there; many Of the old shells also. MY
eyes filled with tears as | 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 off, the landlord OF the
house buying the the furniture him.
self, and letting the place ready fur.
nished. l asked after my mother
but the woman could give me no in,
formation Of her. She had left the
Il III