Sometimes an old man is seen to enter the building above the door of
which is suspended this sign; he is much bent and white of hair, but
sturdy still, despite some four-score years. All men of Boston accord
great respect to this handsome old gentleman.
The man who is head and manager of all the business done within the old
building where that sign is seen, has the tanned and rugged look of one
who had long gazed upon the bright surface of the sea. While he is only
seen in landsmen’s dress, it seems that clothing of a nautical cut would
best befit his stalwart figure.
This head man at J. Dunlap’s office is cavalier-in-chief to three old
ladies, with whom he often is seen driving in Boston’s beautiful suburbs;
one of these white-haired old dames he addresses as “Mother,” another
as “Mrs. Church,” and the most withered one of the three he calls “Miss
Arabella.”
He has been seen, too, with a sweet, sad, yet very lovely young woman in
whose glorious crown of gold-brown hair silver silken threads run in and
out.
[Illustration: “Lucy, I have always loved you.”
Page 340]
A big, jovial naval man periodically drives up before the old sign and
shouting out, “Jack, come here and see the latest!” exhibits a baby to
the sailor-looking manager. The last time he roared in greatest glee,
“It’s a girl, named Bessie, for her mother.”
Kind harvest moon, send forth your tenderest glances, that fall betwixt
the tall elm’s branches on that sad, sweet face that lies so restfully
against a sailor’s loyal bosom.
“Lucy, I have always loved you!” Jack Dunlap kissed his “Little Princess”
and put his strong arms around her.
Everlasting time, catch up those words, and bear them on forever, as
motto of most faithful lover.
An old man, standing at a window in the Dunlap mansion, watched the man
and woman in the moonlight between the elm trees, and what he witnessed
seemed to bring a great joy to his good, kind heart, for he reverently
raised his eyes to heaven and said,
“My God, I thank Thee!”
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blood Will Tell, by Benj. Rush Davenport
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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