Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/303

 another; and thus, while they surrounded Alice with their loving attentions, and comforted and supported her by every means in their power, they regarded it as only cruelty to encourage in her hopes which they felt a sure conviction must only end in disappointment.

One day, when Alice was searching at their desolate home for some article which her grandmother required, she chanced to come quite unexpectedly upon the little wampum chain which Pashemet had given her at their last parting; and as she lifted the simple pledge of friendship in her trembling hands, and thought of the kind words then spoken by him, her tears fell freely over it. The peaceful scene when it had been bestowed upon her—the quiet water, the overhanging trees, the mellow sunset—all rose upon her memory in strong contrast with the fearful present. Could it be indeed the same world? That happy, untroubled security! It was so short a time ago, in reality, and yet, in the momentous events which had crowded into it, it seemed like a period of long years.

"Oh, Pashemet, Pashemet! my brother!"