The Tragedy of the Chain Pier

into the sea-it makes a splash that lasts for one second, then it i

all paragraph in the newspapers-it had caused some little commotion on the pier-just a little hurry at the work-house, an

carelessly heard the words that morning there was one who stopped to think of the possible suffering of the child. It is a wide step from the warmth of a mother's arms to the chill of the deep-sea water. The gay tide

ht it had been drugged before it was drowned; there was very little to be said about it. Jim, the boatman, proved the finding of it. The coroner sa

ading boughs of a tree; she had a white pall and a quantity of white flowers. The matron from the work-house went, and it was not at all like a pauper'

d mason asked me what name was to be put upon it, I was puzzled. Only Heaven knew whether the helpless little child had

I said, and the name stand

ks. Found drowned in t

onely, so utterly desolate, that I felt some kind of tie bound me to the little grave, and made me love the spot. It was soon all forgotten, but I never forgot the beautifu

was quite young; they left me a large fortune, but no relations-no one to love me. My guardian was a stern, grave elderly man; my youth was lonely, my manhood more lonely still. I found a fair and dainty love, but she proved false; she left me for one who had mo

ate called Dutton Manor, a fine old mansion, standing in the midst of an extensive park, and with it an income of three thousand per annum. Lance

ry opposite of each other. He was frank, gay, cheerful, always laughing, always with some grand jest on the tapis-a laughing, sunny, blue-eyed fellow, who was like a sunbeam

give to wives, children, parents and relatives I lavished on him. I loved his fair, handsome face, his laughing blue eyes, his sunny smile, his cheery voice;

r annum. No wonder that he was popular. The only thing which troubled me about Lance was his marriage; I always feared it. With his gay, passionate temperament, his universal admiration and chivalrous manner of treating the fair sex, it was certain that he would, sooner or

one of the happiest and most successful men in the world; but if

rable woman in the whole world is waiting for me. I shall be sure to find h

be careful,

t, John, as you are so anxious,

istake when I had to choose for mysel

ed America I remained there three years. I sailed for America in the month of October, two or three weeks after the incident of the Chain Pier, and I returned to England after an absence of three years and seven mon

complished, and such a darling-of course, I might be sure of that. One thing only was wanted to make him perfectly happy-it was that I should see his lady-love. Her name was Frances Wynn, and he

o Dutton Manor. I should find Dutton Manor an earthly Paradise, he said, and he was d

much I love her until you have seen her. She fills the old manor-house with sunshine and music. I love to hear the gentle sound of her voice, sweet and low as the sound of a lute-the frou-frou of her dress as she moves about. I

le town about three miles from the house. If I would let him know by what train I should reach Vale Royal, he would be at th

he said, "I feel like a school-boy out for a holi

ong. I wanted to stand once more on the Chain Pier, and think of my lost heaven. How vividly it all came back to me-that terrible tragedy, although more than three years had pass

und the pier, the beautiful, desperate face, and the vo

ies, the golden letters on the white cross seemed to burn in the sunlight; "Marah. Found drowned."