After journey long and wearisome, he
Reached the Crescent City and the home of
Colonel Vail. The aged man now mellowed
By weight of years, remorseful, mourning
And alone, received him kindly, answered:
“Her father’s name was Simon Blake, he was
Murdered by a Mexican upon the
Dock. The child, my grandchild’s name was Blake.
The man who loved my daughter came and found her
Dying. ’Twas he who took the child away,
And they were lost at sea.” Gilbert had the
Story of her life—her name was Zola
Blake.
Reached the Crescent City and the home of
Colonel Vail. The aged man now mellowed
By weight of years, remorseful, mourning
And alone, received him kindly, answered:
“Her father’s name was Simon Blake, he was
Murdered by a Mexican upon the
Dock. The child, my grandchild’s name was Blake.
The man who loved my daughter came and found her
Dying. ’Twas he who took the child away,
And they were lost at sea.” Gilbert had the
Story of her life—her name was Zola
Blake.
With heavy heart he homeward turned, yet
No less loyal to his Zola. With sad
Misgivings waited for the coming of
The ship—long overdue—by stormy sea
Kept back. Waiting, pondered gloomily; he
Must go and bear the tidings that would solve
The mystery of her name, but leave a
Darker shadow than before. Still would she
Refuse his name they would go away from
Palomar. They at the rancho, left so
Happily, what would he say to them? At
Last with tattered sail and broken, came
The ship. He hastening, learned that it would
Lay at anchor there yet two days more in
Mending. Hopeless, yet with strange desire to
Linger there, again he visited the
Hospital where Zola’s mother died; but
As before, no voice could answer aught of
Her; yet caught a thread of hope—an aged
Priest in near-by parish might remember.
No less loyal to his Zola. With sad
Misgivings waited for the coming of
The ship—long overdue—by stormy sea
Kept back. Waiting, pondered gloomily; he
Must go and bear the tidings that would solve
The mystery of her name, but leave a
Darker shadow than before. Still would she
Refuse his name they would go away from
Palomar. They at the rancho, left so
Happily, what would he say to them? At
Last with tattered sail and broken, came
The ship. He hastening, learned that it would
Lay at anchor there yet two days more in
Mending. Hopeless, yet with strange desire to
Linger there, again he visited the
Hospital where Zola’s mother died; but
As before, no voice could answer aught of
Her; yet caught a thread of hope—an aged
Priest in near-by parish might remember.
The father heard him,—listened eagerly;
Then in his book of records found the date
When Lola Vail and Cedric Vaughn were wed;
And the christening of her daughter—their child.
Left with him for Cedric, left by Lola,
The treasure he had brought from Mexico,
Lola’s diary, presents he had given,
And a miniature of Cedric done by
Her own hand; then to the house where they were
Married and her resting place. Gilbert took
The proof to Colonel Vail and together
They rejoiced. He begged that he would bring his
Grandchild there when they were wed, and Cedric
Vaughn, that he might grasp the hand of that true
Man. Now, to Gilbert’s happy heart attuned
By hope’s fruition, Nature brought a new
Glad song. The bird notes rang with sweeter
Melody—sunshine brighter—bluer skies—
Even in the tumbling troughs of ocean’s
Depth, he read the mirrored light of love and
Joy. Thro’ long and dreary days beneath a
Tropic sun,—in calm, or fog, or buffeted
By winds adverse, the good ship sped ’til thro’
The mild Pacific’s purple haze, Point
Loma came in view and then, across the
Mesa, to the hacienda, home again.
Then in his book of records found the date
When Lola Vail and Cedric Vaughn were wed;
And the christening of her daughter—their child.
Left with him for Cedric, left by Lola,
The treasure he had brought from Mexico,
Lola’s diary, presents he had given,
And a miniature of Cedric done by
Her own hand; then to the house where they were
Married and her resting place. Gilbert took
The proof to Colonel Vail and together
They rejoiced. He begged that he would bring his
Grandchild there when they were wed, and Cedric
Vaughn, that he might grasp the hand of that true
Man. Now, to Gilbert’s happy heart attuned
By hope’s fruition, Nature brought a new
Glad song. The bird notes rang with sweeter
Melody—sunshine brighter—bluer skies—
Even in the tumbling troughs of ocean’s
Depth, he read the mirrored light of love and
Joy. Thro’ long and dreary days beneath a
Tropic sun,—in calm, or fog, or buffeted
By winds adverse, the good ship sped ’til thro’
The mild Pacific’s purple haze, Point
Loma came in view and then, across the
Mesa, to the hacienda, home again.
With mysterious air, and teasing told,
Or partly told the story. Yes; he had
Found a fairy queen and when again the
Great round moon came o’er the mountain top, she,
Riding on its silvery beams, would come in
State,—would come with him—come to the rancho.
They must “’bide-a-wee” and trusting him, wait
Patiently. So he left them wondering.
Or partly told the story. Yes; he had
Found a fairy queen and when again the
Great round moon came o’er the mountain top, she,
Riding on its silvery beams, would come in
State,—would come with him—come to the rancho.
They must “’bide-a-wee” and trusting him, wait
Patiently. So he left them wondering.
CONCLUSION.
To Palomar he flew—told all that he
Had learned—laid the proof before them—described
The house where Cedric lived—told of the battle on
The dock—how Morales died—the bags of
Gold from Mexico. Thus aided, Cedric
Woke as from a dream, remembered all; then
Placing Zola’s hand in his, withdrew to
Be alone with sacred memories.
Had learned—laid the proof before them—described
The house where Cedric lived—told of the battle on
The dock—how Morales died—the bags of
Gold from Mexico. Thus aided, Cedric
Woke as from a dream, remembered all; then
Placing Zola’s hand in his, withdrew to
Be alone with sacred memories.
Hand
In hand the lovers blissful roved among
The crags and overhanging boughs where she
Had watched unseen, for him. Led him thro’ the
Brake, in forest solitudes, where lemon
Lilies nestling grow, and clinging vines
And nodding ceanothus plumes bedrape
The foliage in Nature’s millinery.
In hand the lovers blissful roved among
The crags and overhanging boughs where she
Had watched unseen, for him. Led him thro’ the
Brake, in forest solitudes, where lemon
Lilies nestling grow, and clinging vines
And nodding ceanothus plumes bedrape
The foliage in Nature’s millinery.
With love and kisses roamed until the day
When proudly and triumphant, Gilbert led
Them thro’ the avenues of spreading palms and
Vine-clad arches of the hacienda.
His mother welcomed her with tears of joy,
“Her daughter”—then met the fathers—met in
Glad surprise—for Cedric Vaughn and Homer
Lee stood face to face; again renewed the
Old time bonds of love and friendship made the
Stronger.
When proudly and triumphant, Gilbert led
Them thro’ the avenues of spreading palms and
Vine-clad arches of the hacienda.
His mother welcomed her with tears of joy,
“Her daughter”—then met the fathers—met in
Glad surprise—for Cedric Vaughn and Homer
Lee stood face to face; again renewed the
Old time bonds of love and friendship made the
Stronger.
Then came another presence on
The scene. Radiant in the ripened bloom
Of womanhood—as beautiful as in
The happy days of old—came Dora Lee
To welcome Cedric Vaughn and Lola’s child.
The scene. Radiant in the ripened bloom
Of womanhood—as beautiful as in
The happy days of old—came Dora Lee
To welcome Cedric Vaughn and Lola’s child.
On the Gilbert rancho (named for him), in the
Dreamy quiet of a summer eve, while
Softly chimed the distant mission bells,
At the hacienda, sweet Zola Vaughn
And Gilbert Lee were wed. And when the
Autumn came, and vine, and bough and field gave
Forth their richest fruitage, and falling leaves
Betokened ripeness—the sure reward
Of patient waiting—two faithful souls were
Joined as one. Again rang forth the silvery
Chime of wedding bells—old mission bells—that
Echoed from the gilded cross above its
Hoary walls, a benediction sweet as
Incense from its altars.
Dreamy quiet of a summer eve, while
Softly chimed the distant mission bells,
At the hacienda, sweet Zola Vaughn
And Gilbert Lee were wed. And when the
Autumn came, and vine, and bough and field gave
Forth their richest fruitage, and falling leaves
Betokened ripeness—the sure reward
Of patient waiting—two faithful souls were
Joined as one. Again rang forth the silvery
Chime of wedding bells—old mission bells—that
Echoed from the gilded cross above its
Hoary walls, a benediction sweet as
Incense from its altars.
A New Book
Up the Grade
BY
DAVID W. EDWARDS
Author of
“The Hidden Cabin,”
“Billy Birdsall,” etc.
A strong romance, natural and absorbing.
It has a special message to young men.
Both young and old will find pleasure and profit in its pages.
The hero is a fine type of manhood.
A healthful and helpful story with inspiration to human betterment.
Illustrated, $1.50
At all Book Stores
The C. M. Clark Publishing Company
BOSTON, MASS.