Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-05-27

sure, and l kissed her again.
Il was afraid" she said, casting
down her eyes, that you mightn't
like to-"
How did such thought get into
your head. little one?" asked. tend
erly.
On that dark night on the ship.
when you spoke to poor little Bob and
| me-"
A sob broke from me.
II don't want to hurt you." she said.
In the sweetest tone Of child-like COM
passion; Il want you to love me, and
I'll do all | can-all l can! You re-
member that dreadful dark night
when you spoke to dear little Bob and
me?"
TOO well!" I groaned; too well!"
."You cared only to kiss dear Bob
then, and thought you mightn't like
to kiss me now"
Bob was my little boy. Pearl-my
child. that l had been hunting for all
enough to understand the story. my
dear: and II you were, l haven't the
heart TO tell YOU"
Il understand a great deal" she
said. gravely. There, now, you are
crying! So have cried. for poor
mother. Oh, she was SO good-so
good! l knew that poor little Bob was
your little boy-the men told me so.
Come with me-"
Sc unloosed her arms from my neck.
and rose and took my hand. had
not yet had time to visit my child's
grave. and Pearl led me now toward 1t.
Had l visited 1t alone. l should have
thought that an angel had come down
from heaven in the night, and had
worked wonders to rejoice and con-
sole me. An angel. indeed. had smiled
upon it. 1t was a bed OF flowers; a
rude fence formed of sweet-smelling
wood. with flowers entwined about 1t.
l knelt by the grave and shed tears OF
grateful Joy.
Can you guess who did it," asked
Pearl.
Yes. my child; it was you. God
bless you!"
mo. not me alone. Tom Wren
found the wood-doesn't 1t smell
sweet ?-and built the fence, and l put
the flowers there. He cut the cross.
too"
saw Tom Wren in the distance.
and l went toward him and wrung
his hand.
Thank you. Tom," said. from my
heart
He nodded. and replied. Il did 1t for
her. She's not human, like us. She's
an angel"
Tom Wren's eyes were wonderfully
bright, and he spoke almost in whis-
per. l thought his manner was some
what strange, but saw that Pearl was
waiting for me to rejoin her, and I
left him.
1--WE will keep 1t always like this"
said Pearl. Bob. likes 1t, l am sure.
and is glad, though we can't see him.
When we die, we don't die quite
mother told me so, often. We come
together by-and-by, don't we?"
so we are taught to believe. dear
child
"And you do believe it? I do"
II do believe 1t, dear child"
"And SO does Tom Wren now. He
never did SO before. he says. Then
I shall see my own dear mother again,
and shall tell her how good you have
been to me-though she knows: and
dear little Bob, too: and We shall all
talk of that dreadful dark night when
l was thrown into the sea-but 1t
won't be dark up there, among the
stars. When mother was alive I used
to dream l heard the angels singing,
and IL l woke up l was sure to see
mother leaning over the bed and sing
ing softly. That is what used to bring
the angels into my head. Don't cry.
l want to beg something very. very
particular Of you."
"Say on, my dear. There's nothing
can refuse you.'
THAT is good of you." she said, with
little pauses between each sentence.
"You won't be angry, l hope. Bob
Is dead"
"Ay, my child"
"And it may be long, long time
before you see him again. Though he
sees you know. And Bob's mother is
dead
ALAS! yes, my child"
my mother. too. Then, don't you
see" she whispered, with her lips close
to my neck, that we belong to each
other? l have no mother now and
Bob is gone. VIII you let me be your
child? do SO want to-for Bob's
sake!"
What could I say but that | would
look upon the little maid as my child?
And the contract was sealed with
kisses.
II shall call you Daddy Beecroft,'
said Pearl. land you must sometimes
call me your little daughter. Bob
hears us, and mother too, SO you
mustn't break your promise. have
father now! l never had one before.
No, put your mouth to mine-no, no.
your lips! That's right. like being
kissed. am your little daughter, and
you are my father. Mother Ihust he
glad Shall We be here all our lives!
Mr.. Bowden says that no ships ever
pass this way, and that we shall live
and die here. Then shall grow up to
be woman. and you will all he old
men-how strange 1t will be! Never