Year: 1877

come INTO the Worl0.


Then one day there came a grand and
stately lady. who took me away to live
with her, and her own little girl. The
lady wore shining silks and lived in
splendid house, and had lad in vel
vet jacket who was about as big as Jim.
1t was all like a strange bright dream
if | could have forgotten Jim. But l
could not.


Jim was surplus population no lon-
ger: perhaps he was drowned; his rag
ged jacket and crownless hat might be
buried now away down under the sea-
Nobody about me now wore patched,
shoes, or trowsers out at the kness, and
nobody, it seemed to me, not even Louis,
who was so kind to me, even he, had
an eye as bright as Jim's, or hand as
warm. And so l never forgot Jim. but
always in my heart of hearts l seemed
listening and waiting for him.


Sometimes l used to lure Louis down
to the wharves, and always when |
walked by myself my steps turned
thitherward. and thus it was that l
never lost sight of the ships, and dimly,
family, unreasonably, looked for the re-
turn of Jim.


But it began to be years since dear
old jim went away, and Louis was tall
youth home from college, and l was
we'll, folks called me young lady, and
said that l would marry Louis some
day. And perhaps they might have
been right but how could l be a lady
real lady, you know-with an old
straw hat and a ragged jacket slowed
away in my heart? Even after grew
up had fits of silent fretting for Jim
that seemed as if they would eat my
life away. Mrs. Belden said it was be-
cause | was growing. and she took me
away one beight summer to the seashore
Oh, the seashore l cannot tell you
what l felt when first saw the sea
the real sea-stretching away from the
white line Of shore, throbbing and
sounding as it brimmed to the horizons
edge. This was the glori6ed sea; the
sea no longer grimy and smoky and
gray with getting its living, but the
sea translated. purified, made holy as if
after death. The days went and came,
shining and beautiful and every day
walked on the shore with Louis, ran
races with the breezes, picked up shells,
or gathered sea-weed, or watched the
sunset gliding the sails of some far-fit-
ting ship. Louis's face sweet in those
days, and kind as sunlight, and his
voice was music to me, for he SAID that
we were old friends now, and had known
each other so many years that we ought
to love each other always. One after
noon we strayed further than usual,
and the twilight deepening as we walked
think we both forgot everything, save
that We were young and happy, and life
was glorious. Lovel The word dropped
warm from his lips. and seemed to color
all my lips, and seemed to color all my
future with rose tints. All my past
seemed sinking out of sight. The gates
of paradise were open. and | was free
to walk therein. if l would. Not fol
me the barrenness, the disappointment
that blighted other lives. l nigh
make mine what 1 would, with wealth
and love for my servants. and luxury
and joy at my command. All, well
remember that afternoon by the sea
the long line of white beach, the over
hanging cliffs, the twilight touching tn,
water with a golden glow, aud glitter
ing on the tall masts, and ship lyin,
at anchor beyond. Oh! life was s.
beautiful OH love was SO beautiful
A lightness of heart, a capricious, in
tangible, elf-like mood fell upon me
born, perhaps of the very overflow o
bliss. | remember clapping my hand
as skipped along, and challenging
Louis to race. Perhaps he urged m
too persistently TO respond to his affec
ton, to say when | would be his wife


Wife l wanted to be no ones wifi
just then. but only to love and live
"Would | answer him ?" sighed Louis.


when you catch me-" l responded
mockingly, fitting about the sand
Away l went with Louis following
breathless. We rounded the curve O
the shore. and l was just about sinkin
down upon the sand to wait for hin
when an old boat, with broken oal
caught my eye; it lay swinging in tn
shadow just where great rock over
hung the beach. Lightly, thoughtless
ly. stepped into the tiny craft. an
waving my handkerchief laughingly
Louis, caught up the oar, and set my
self afoat. l scarcely thought what


was doing; it was mere caprice, Dor
of lightness of heart and youthfulnes


But single glance at Louis's count'
nance reused me to the folly / was con


mitting.


| Come back Come back !" he cried


"the current will carry you out of reac
in a moment r.