Pearl o’ The Sea

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 25

Pearl o’ The Sea

{Written by Santoy (13), Hastings.) (Continued from last week.) JgEN, Maggie and Pearl sat round the big open fire. “Ah,” said Ben, “ ’twas just such a night that I found you, Pearl, and aye, we’ve been blessed, and we’ve blessed the sea many a time for you.” Pearl smiled softly, and kissed the old couple lovingly. She rose, crossed the room, and stood by the window and gazed out into the darkness of the night. The next moment she called out excitedly, “Look, there is a ship sending distress signals out by the Shark’s Tooth Rocks!” The old couple joined her, and all three stood straining their eyes in an effort to pierce through the blackness. Down on the beach a crowd of people had gathered and a boat was run out, but a minute later the ship gave up the struggle and was flung against the rocks and quickly disappeared. Ben turned away from the window and looked at Pearl. Her face was deadly white. “No, dearie.” he said. “You shouldn’t have watched it.” He put his hand on her shoulder, but she abruptly shook herself free. “No!” she cried sharply. Then a low wailing souiid broke over the angry sea. Maggie's face went ashy white. She clutched Ben’s arm. “What is it?” she said. But Pearl’s eyes were shining softly. Her head inclined as if listening. She walked to the door and out into the night, her white dress floating about her, and her long hair streaming in the wind. “Pearl,” Maggie screamed. But Pearl, looking straight ahead, walked down towards the sea. The folk waiting there tried to stop her, but like Ben and Maggie, all seemed held to the spot by some invisible force. She walked right out into the sea. As the water reached her waist, she turned and waved and then disappeared beneath an arch of green. Then the spell seemed to break, and the people broke into a wild babel of talk, some trying to comfort the distracted old couple. Then the old man’s quiet, steady tones broke out. “You could not keep her. She belonged to the sea. She had to go back some time, but you have been blessed with her and you have her blessing and memory.” j And indeed, not only Ben and Maggie, but also the village, had Pearl’s blessing.' For never again was anyone taken by the sea from that place. The fishermen’s nets were always full and the villagers lived in the peace of the blessing of Pearl o’ the Sea.