The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
THE PEARL HE WON
HIWoNDER where on earth Belle
BY HELEN BEEKMAN,


IT WONDER where on earth Belle
Rives gets her beauty from!
This was the remark so commonly
made that it had almost become by
word in the little hamlet beyond the
! hills where she had developed into
such bewildering loveliness, The sur
prise readily was accounted for, as on
a Sunday morning she was seen striv-
/ ing t o walk slowly and demurely beside
the dark-browed, weather-beaten cap
tain, whom she called father, No sign
of resemblance could be traced in the
delicate skin, deep gray eyes and small
mouth shaped like Cupid's bow, to
either parent or grandparent, but the
result was se beWitching one soon lost
sight of their wonderment in admira-
tion. How often she stood gazing out
on the dark blue sea and felt an in
finite longing to know something of
that outside world which, it seemed to
her, that stretch of water shut from
view.
"Sea-gazing, as usual" said voice
behind her one morning, in the midst
of her reverie. what are you think
ing of now, Belle? That Tomorrow
my ship will be bounding oyer those
breakers, and that whole long year
must elapse before again shall stand
by your side?" And Bert Rogers
words somehow sounded hoarse as he
completed the last sentence, and she
turned with blush and smile to greet
him.
$50 soon? Do you sail tomorrow
I wish L were going with you, Bert;
anything, anywhere, to go beyond this
narrow life. 1 am tired-tired of it
ALL"
"Poor child 1t must grow weari-
some, indeed, but to me, Belle, it is
haven of rest. l love the sea. 1t is
home to me, and if, as you say, you
could go with me, I should not care
how constantly l lived upon it. Did
you mean that? Would you go with
me, go as my wife, Belle? I have long
wanted to say this to you, and oh, this
year will seem so short. so happy. if at
its end I may come to claim you"
The girls head had dropped lower
and lower until, his voice ceasing, it
rested on his shoulder; and the frank,
handsome young face bent and looked
into the eyes, which hid themselves be-
meath their jetty lashes, where tear
drop trembled.
So Bert won her premise-a promise
which he made her put in fond en-
dearing words, which he sealed lip to
lip and heart to heart, which seemed
written on his soul, as the next day his
gallant ship unfurled her sails, and he
watched through misty eyes the land
gradually lost te sight.
1t all seemed more drear, more desc
late than ever to the graceful figure on
the shore, as she saw fade away in the
distance the ship which bore from her
her sailor lover. She could recollect no
time when he could not have claimed
that name. From her babyhood she
remembered his devotion to her, but
now it was so different, and a year
was so long to wait she thought, until
she could once again look into his
happy, laughing eyes and hear his
voice say: 81 have come this time,
Belle, for my wife"
She was surprised to find herself at
the cottage door. For a moment she
hesitated lest her red eyes should give
suspicion of the truth, then she gath
cred courage and in another moment
stood within the room, but started
back. amazed at the scene before her.
BY the fireside sat her mother, her
head bowed, her frame convulsed by
sobs, and standing near her father.
with face pale and drawn by suffering.
Opposite a man of tall, soldierly bear
ing and commanding presence was
talking eagerly, but as she entered his
voice died away, and look of rapture
crept into his eyes as they turned upon
her.
"Tell her! cannot" she heard her
father say.
Then the stranger, speaking low and
, rapidly, broke the momentary silence.
"Years ago the ship commanded by
Capt. Rives was wrecked at sea, and
the lives of almost all on board were
lost. Among the passengers were a
lady and gentleman with their little
child of IS months. In the confusion
they became separated. Both were
supposed lost. The little child was res
cued by the gallant captain, who
risked his own life in the attempt.
Then, haying no children of his own,
he took the little desolate orphan to
his heart and home, and when, some
few years later, he gave up HIS sea-
faring life, the people in the place
where he settled supposed her his own.
, Her own father, who was picked up
out at sea on an outgoing vessel, was
saved, but supposed both wife and
child had perished until, after years of
search, Providence guided his steps to
this spot, where he had learned the
capt ain lived, and from whose lips he
thought he might hear something
more definite IF their fate. He found
that which exceeded his widest
prayers. Belle, my child, do you not
know me2 am your father!"
A moments hesitation and the girl
was sobbing on his breast, while his
arms closely clasped his new-found
treasure. Then she raised her head
and threw herself on the peor wom-
70 bOr for n m ny VI n re