Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-07-21

cause we were young, we might love, We
might marry there was nothing exter>
nally to prevent US. And tn, n what
would become of his scheme
[ think there was born in me, while
the most passive slave to lawful, loving
rule, faculty Of savage resistance TO all
unlawful, unjust power also something
of the female wild beast, which, if left
alone, will lie tame and cowed in her
solitary den, 10 be shot at by any daring
hunter whereas, if she be not alone, if
she have any love instinct at work for
cubs or mate, her whole nature changes
from terror to daring, from cowardice to
fury.
When, as we neared the tropics, L saw
Alexis cheek growing daily paler, and
his eye more sunken and restless with
some secret struggle, in the which NJ.
Anastasius never left him for day, an
hour, a minute, [ became not unlike that
poor wild beast mother. 1t had gone i'll
for the relentless hunter Of souls if he
had come near me then.
But he did not For the last week of
our voyage, NJ. Anastasus kept alto
gether out Of my way.
II was nearly over We were in sight
of the shores of Hispaniola. Then we
should land Ny estates lay in this is~
land. Mr.. Salram's business, I was
aware, called him to Barbadoes, thence
again beyond seas. Once parted, I well
knew that if the power and viii of my
guardian could compass anything, (and
it seemed to me that they were able to
compass anything in the whole wide
earth, Alexis and I should never meet
again
In one last struggle after life, after the
fresh, wholesome. natural life which
contact with this young mans true spir-
it had given me, determined to risk all
1t was rich tropic twilight. We
were all admiring it, just as three ordi-
nary persons might do who were tending
peacefully tothe voyage end. Yet Alexis
did not seem at peace. A settled deadly
palor dwelt on lis face; restless anx-
ie;y troubled his whole mien.
N Anastasius said, noticing the glow
ing tropic scenery which already dimly
appeared in our shoreward viea:
at is very grand bat Europe is more
suited to US grave Norlherns. You will
think SO, Alexis, when you are once
again there.
care you returning - I asked of Mr.
Saltram.
My cousin answered for him-"Yes,
immediately
Alexis started, then leaned over the
poop in silence, and without denial.
felt profoundly sad Ny interest in
Alexis Saltram was at this time (but for
the compuls;on of opposing power, might
have ever been entirely apart from love.
We might have gone on merely as ten
der friends for years and years at least |
might. Therefore, no maidenly con-
sciousness warned me from doing what
my sense of right impelled towards one
who held the same faith, and whose life
seemed strangled in the same mesh Of
circumstances which had nearly paraly-
zed my own.
"Alexis, this is our last evening you
will sail for Europe, and we shall be
friends 30 more. Will you take one
twilight stroll with me ~ and | extended
my hand
If he had hesitated, or shrunk back
one second, l would have flung him to
the winds, and fought my own warfare
alone; | was strong enough now But
be sprang to me, clung to my hand,
looked wildly in my face, as if there were
the sole light of truth and trust left in
the world; and as if, even there, he had
begun to doubt He did not, now.
"Isabel, tell me- You still hold our
faith, you are not going to become a
nun -
"Never will offer myself to Hea-
ven as Heaven gave me to myself, free,
bound by no creed, subservient to no
priest. What is he, but man that shall
die, whom the worms shall cover -
I said the words out loud. meant
NJ Anastasius to hear. But he looked
as if he heard not, only when We turned
up the deck, he slowly followed.
stood at bay. "Cousin, leave me.
Cannot l have any friend but you"
"None whom l believe you would harm