The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-28

the chapel, jewels for the Madonna.
The church was furnished, the altar
was decked, the image was bought, and
around its neck he hung the string VI lair
large pearls.
Father Kelly saw his dream fulfilled,
and, US success often produces conviction,
he thanked st. Michnel aud all angels for
having turned the robbers booty into sa-
cred treasure. So it was written in his
book, but he told no one whence these
these riches came. Some Of the simple
folks thought the virgin herself had brO't
these jewels to the father. lie, however,
many time, while he sat on the rocks by
the chapel, looking out to seaward, and
watching the white sails 60 by, wandered
back to the question whence these riches
came, and whether. utter all, they might
net hide some aftcr-cursc or other.
One evening, as he sat there, vessel
came around the point, and dropped an
chOr in the harbOr. She drew his attcn.
ton as being unlike the common cOasting
ships, or even the traders which venture
on more distant voyages. She carried
more canvass in proportion to her hull,
and had her sail furlcd almost aS soon as
she had swung round with the tide.
Presently boat came Oft from her, and
was rowcd to the shore, just beneath the
spot where he sat. Two men, apparently
officers, got out and walked up TO him,
begged him to accompany them back Ia
the ship, US they said one Of their crew
was dying, and needed the Offices Of n
priest. lie went with them ut once with.
out suspicion-a man who had been with
him, and heard the summons, returned IL
Derby Haven.
The ShOstly summons, however, was a
rusc this was the sister ship Of the pi.
rate that had been wrecked here in the
storm, now some months ago. The new
Corners had learned her fate, and had land.
I'd TO search for traces Of the treasure she
had ON board. They had first taken the
priest, as they thought, with much proba.
billty, he could tell them whether the in
habilant Of the village had plundcTcd the
wreck, and also whether my Of her crew
survived.
What they learned from Father Kelly
no One ever knew. Some Of the men, re-
turning 10 the shore, strOlled into the
chapel, and doubtless recognized the neck
lacr D. OlIe VI the cOStlirSt items Of their
tspO TREASURE. The next morning the shin
waa s.s.sr, and the people searching for
elsriV l.gieNl, whD had mt returned home
q uiHlss, esssssl Olse cl,aI'el sacked and his
svuVss nj vsvV Ols. altar In the place where
~ iss~a- Il Ilse NaslsInna had been, with
. kasxlEA SSsgvl like hreklace twisted
ssshsiy sssusssA hi~ OhsNat.
~ sapye.siaks OC the natives never
,seu.ioa.d Sisrss I0 use the chapel again
d sss.easlly s.cnmsr . ruin the roof fell
~ Vl.e rs.Fn la-hrh the walls within as
eel .. stal..'ssl. Wntil at last 1t passed in,
b. Ih~ seaas ia Wlsich II H. to-day.
TAis waa the story Of the old man. lie
.l.I. / shat, even now, whoever struck the
I'll. anal liStcMrd could hear n moan
within, and q noise like the jingling O
m.Onry. "IOu can try Il YOURSELF" said
he. and lind whether ! have told you
the TRUTH"
Accepting this rather fearless challenge
Of the old gent!cmnns's, ! walked with
tIItU w tUo Wubt anu NuOSNCuV WuCbS ~
I suddenly found that | had walked my
self BY striking my hand upon the stone
by which had sat down to rest. 1t was
all n dream. had fallen asleep thinking
of the chapel, and, watching the old man
among the rocks. lie was not in sight
now. I was quite alone, and trying tc
replace q piece OF skin which | had
knocked of the knucklc Of my middle
finger, by rapping on II stone. | doubted
even whether | had asked the old man
any questions mt all SO ! shook myself
rubbed my eyes, and lOokcdat my watch
and happily found that ! should not bt
too late for dinner if | set off on my re-
turn ut once.
Directly We sat down to dinner, asked
my friend for the true history Of the little
church, and he told me there was none
'Now,' said |, that remarkable deficiency
has been supplied through me- And
when the cloth was removed, we drew
around the fire. and told my hosts boys
and girls the true legend concerning St
Michael's Island.