Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-03-18
The Pearl Divers,
A TaIe of Mexico.

! AT the commencement Of the last
year S fishery, there Tasa man whom
60 where / would, ! was always GER
tain to meet. Like myself, he was q
diver, and like myself, moreover, he
pretended to have surname, but
went simply by the name Of Rafael
At the cleansing-t trough, beneath the
surface of the sea, no matter where it
WIS, we we're always thrown together,
Sd that we quickly became intimate;
and his remarkable skill as a diver
had inspired me with considerable le es-
tqem for him. Alike courageous as
skillful, he snapped his fingers at the
sharks, declaring his pow er to in TIM
idate them BY particular expression
of the,eye. In fine, he. was a fearless
liver, an industrious workman, and,
above all, most joyial comrade.
Matters went sm5othly enough be
tween us, till the day when girl and
her mother took up their abode at
tile island Estiritu Sante. Some
business that ! had to transact with
the dealers ID this island afforded me
at opportunity of seeing her. ] fell
desperately in love; and as | enjoyed
a certain amount Of reputation, Meth
Ell Sue nor her mother looked with
an unfavorable eye on my suit or my
presents. When the days work was
oyer, and everybody supposed me
asleep in my hut, swan across to
tile Island, whence | returned about
alb hour after midnight without my
absence being at all surmised.
Some days had elapsed since my
first nocturnal visitto Espiritu Sante,
when, as | was one morning going to
the fishery just before daybreak, |
met ohe of those old crones who pre-
tend to be able t charm the sharks
boy their spells. She was seated near
MY hut, ard appeared to be watching
my arrival. AS she perceived me,
size exclaimed, "II6w fares it with my
son, J pse Juan?'
/ GOOD morning, motherl'' ] replied,
and. Was passing on, when she ap-
oaoli no o6d qaid-ATistpn to
me, JJse Juan, | have to speak to
YOU Of that which nearly concerns
you"
in gre ht surprise.
sYfs. Do you deny that your
heart is in Tile island Of Espiritu|
Santt or that you cross the strait
e1er4 might to see and converse with
her j whom you have bestowed your
loYe1I
al tpw kno ov you that?''
"Nb matter; know it we'll. Jose
Juan, for youths voyage lis fraught
with d twofold peril The foes whom
lsy charms can hold harmless during
the dav~oni Y lie in wait for you each
night beneath the waves; on the
tie shore, foes more dangerous still,
and over whom my arts are power
less. dog YOUR steps. come to Of
fer YOU nv aid to combat these dou-
blf dangers" ,
My only answer was BY a loud
laugh of conte mpt. The old Indians
eyes sparkled with fiendish fury as
she exclaimed, "And because you are
without faith, you deem me without
power? Be it so; there are those
who believe in the influence You but
soof at.
AS she spoke, she drew from her
pocket a little case Of printed cloth,
and producing amid pearls of inferior
value one of "a large size and brilliant
water she asked -"Know you aught
Of this?" 1t was one1 had given to
Jesusita; for such was the girls name.
7 .How came you by it?'' cried l.
The witch gave me alooko hatred.
GLOW came l by it? Why, twas
given me by a damsel the fairest that
ever set foot on these shores, dam
sci who would be the glory and hap
piness Of a young man, and who came
I'd crave my proteetlon7- that pro-
lection YOU hold so chedp--for one
she fondly loves. >
ellis name?" | exclaimed, with a
fearful sinking at my heart.
,"What matters it, Jeerlngly re
turned tie bag, "since his name is
not the one you bear!
Island in the 9 Gnlf Of California,
famous fer the quantity of oyster-beds