Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-10-06
v F2JTT & e1s4o


circle, held out her hand for pennies, which were
showered down with extreme liberaty. When
she CAME near Ellis, she glanced up in his face
with her large black eyes, wondering, no doubt
at the presence OF one elegantly attired as he in
such company. She started with surprise as.he
dropped piece in her palm il was gold eagle
'Monsieur has made q mistake she said IN
her soft, svery tones, holding up the glittering
coin his face.
.sNo keep it." he answered in choaking voice,
! and she felt another drop in her open palm. She
! blushed red as scarlet, for the last drop was a
tear of fire. ~
The girl returned TO her station in the himan ring,
and again glanced poring look at The old hunch
back. Fle scowled as before and waved another
angry gesture. She then took from the folds OF
her dress two small gilt castinets, poised them an
! instant above her head, then whrled thom around
her with motion gracefully pid as the flight of
wings, sta rting away in dance airy, buoyant,
md incredibly swift, that she actually seemed 10
float like syIph in the pure sunshine. But al
that moment an event occurred 10 interrupt the
general enjoyment. A dull, booming noise was
| heard-the rush of 4 torrent of water, and loud
scream of terror arose-"The crevassei The
crevasse! The levee Of the Basin is broken
| We shall be oil drow ned - The King of Congo
tore off his crown, and king and subjects alike
attempted a grand charge towards the gates
The flood came roaring after them, and in three
! or 1Our minutes ONcrSpreaQ lne green, Dut ICrlu-
naely, as yet to no considerable depth.
! There were two persons only in the crowd who
did not fy-Peier Ellis and the poor singer. The
former approached the girl with a feeling Of
strange interest.
| "Why do you not fly, my pretty one p he
asked. "Are you not afraid you will be drown
ed 20
! "Oh! God. wish were :" she reoined. with
a look of such hopeless that it thrilled
4 II hpnrt in Epp- he
wound of a digger.
I "Then 1t seems you do not like your present
professions !'' Ellis inquired.
Like it ~ the girl exclaimed, in tone which
proved the very question itself 10 be torture.
r "Why, then, do you not leave it :"
"Monsieur, have no other" She uttered the
answer in voice indeacribably mournful, folded
her hands TO her bosom, and looked up to heaven
"Ilns DO one ever proffered assistance TO enable
you 10 raise above your degraded condition -
i "Many, very many she replied sadly.
"Why, then, did you not accept such beneyoicn
aid ~
Because. Monsieur" faltered the girl, blush
ing deeply; and letting her dark eyes fall TO thC
ground. IL would rather suffer his cruel hatre
/ than endure their wicked love -
'.His hatredl The hunchback you mean -
4 "Yes.'' ...
$ ais he not your father ?'' ..
'sNo. Monsieur he brought me up ever since
was little child, bu, he is not my father"
-"Where is the hunchback now 20
'Goue to his pawnbroker's shop, beyond III
, basin. He fears il is overfowed."
"IIave you no mother :"
' "None in this world!' and again the darl
3 eyed girl glanced through her tears towards heo
S ven.
j ''Do you remember your parents?''
3 81 remember my mother, | have at least
faint image of her. She had black eyes, such 4
Tla
I sweeter than any starlight"
| Peter Ellis started as if to rush forward an
/, seize the girl, but Immediately checked himscI
d murmurng, mo, it cannot be!' and proceede
: with his lnterrogations.
? "Do you recoect your mothers name -
He put the question in tone gasPing with dread
ful earnestness.
: mo, Monsieur, knew her only q mothsr.
I "Wha is your name -
"They now call me Cuntatrce, but my mothe
] did not so call me.''
"What did your mother call you %
"Mary." ......
!. Peter Ellis started as if he had been shot i
v the heart, but once more calmed himself, an
continued: -....
"Have you any recollection Of your father -
d "No Monsieur; but | have memory of In
d home they brought me to the city,
d "Can you describe il z"
}, "Oh yes,'' she answered, claspinG her lIant
tightly her forehead, if 10 press the fe,
e BILE ges from their old dark inches in tho brair
Then she added, "The pictures are dim, MOI
4 sieur, very dim and very beautiful, like dee
t dreams. There, see it all in the sunny air no.
: the tall white house, with stone chimney
!, each end-,he two great trees in the yard, wi,
the big red painted gate before them, the blue lok
9 beyond the gate; | can never forget that, for
J., slipped into it once, and drawn out, half deat
/! by an old one-eyed negro.''
;. The face of Peter Ellis was palid os that of
. corpse as he put the last question: in voice hoars
d as the rattle in the throat of dying man
e "Have you any relic-a hondkerchief-a b
n Of clothing-anything-lef by your mother -
: 81 have her miniature, Monsieur"
"Where Where 2"
: "Here in my bosom, close beside my heart
a "Let me see il ~ cried Peter Ellis, Ieaping fo
g ward wildly, and gasping the girl by the
She raised the miniature by its slight silver chai
= and held it up before his eyes.
at is she 4! il is she !" he shouted, and the
!. caught the young girl to his bosom, murmurn:
d "Nlary, oh Mary-my dear daughter!'
: Let half hour of the scene pass. 1t neve
D shall be profaned by poor pen mne.-
4 And yet cannot end without recording one cl,
: sing incident.